On Tuesday, December 10, bikers on Harleys rode into Edison High, engines roaring. Leading the charge was Ms. Donna Rivella, the Edison High Administrative Assistant. The bikers and her got off their rides, swaggering with their “Ride for Charity” slogans, and presented the EHS mascot with twenty $50 gift cards for the Edison High Giving Tree.

The Edison High Giving Tree tradition started over a decade ago with sponsorship from Edison’s very own Dora and Jimmy Ramos. All the Edison schools anonymously purchased gifts (e.g toys, clothing, gift cards) for families in other district schools. Over the last four years, the Edison High Counseling department has worked to revive the legacy of the Giving Tree. This year, the Counseling Department is sponsoring 12 EHS families.

“The giving tree aims to highlight some of our students and their families here and help make memorable memories this holiday season by providing wishlist items to our students and their minor siblings in the household,” said Ms. Kimberly Zavistoski, the school counselor in charge of coordinating the donation. “We try our best to work behind the scenes to orchestrate staff and students wanting to give back with our families’ present needs.”

In the spirit of giving Rivella, who is not only an administrative assistant but also the President of the Edison Elks Lodge #2487 Motorcycle Club, organized a collaborative effort between the two organizations. The Edison Elks is an organization for people wishing to give to charity, and within the Elks, there are several committees and clubs. The Motorcycle Club “rides for charity,” and hosts several fundraisers throughout the year: a Cinco de Mayo dinner, aluminum recycling, and a white elephant party.
“We are all about community and paying it forward. I may not have everything, but I have enough, also to give is always an incredible feeling and honor to help where it’s needed,” explained Ms. Suzanne Cordeiro, an Edison Elks rider and the mother of two EHS graduates.

“We are very proud of our group as we hold events to raise money to donate,” Cordeiro said. “It takes a lot of teamwork, as you know there is no ‘I’ in team. Together we can accomplish great things, but divided we can not.”

Reflecting on her experiences, Rivella echoed the call to kindness.

“If you want to donate, you don’t even have to be rich. You just have to donate your time or your special skill or anything,” she explained. “My husband passed, and I raised three kids by myself, and people reached out. They gave us great things, like turkeys and food baskets. After a couple of years, I was back on my feet again. Just the thought that people reached out just made the family feel great. So that is really important–to make people feel included as you never know what anyone’s going through.”

The success of the Giving Tree initiative highlights the impact of community collaboration. With the support of organizations like the Elks Motorcycle Club and generous individuals, the Giving Tree continues to provide support and care to Edison High School families. As the Counseling Department works behind the scenes to make efforts a reality, the true spirit of the seasons shows. Whether it’s through gift cards, toys, or the time and effort volunteered by our staff and students, both the Giving Tree and the Edison Elks Motorcycle Club show the importance of making others feel supported.