Trinity Hall is a place where many students find unique ways to volunteer and give back to the community. So far this year, two students have stood out in raising awareness for charitable causes.
Addie Schivell ‘26 volunteers for Breakthrough T1D, an organization that aims to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Last October, one of Schivell’s family members with Type 1 Diabetes passed away. Instead of flowers, Schivell’s family asked for donations to Breakthrough T1D, leading Schivell to get involved with fundraising for the organization. Since last October, Schivell has found great success in her fundraising efforts.
Schivell owns and operates her own business called Addie’s Bake Shoppe, where she makes homemade baked goods. This past month, Schivell created a new challenge for the followers of her Instagram account, @addiesbakeshoppe. Anyone who donated $40 or more was rewarded with six cookies. Through the success of her challenge, Schivell was able to raise over $500 for Breakthrough T1D. Along with this, Schivell is part of Boyd’s Breakthrough Team, who had an initial goal of raising $2,500 for the organization. The fundraiser began with a post to her Instagram page in October, and the objective has been met since then. However, Schivell plans to continue fundraising until the Breakthrough T1D walk in Philadelphia on November 10.
Furthermore, last year, Addie hosted her annual Christmas cookie drive, a fundraiser where 100% of the proceeds go to charity. Schivell raised and donated approximately $750 for Breakthrough T1D. Schivell will be continuing with her fundraising tradition again this year and hopes to increase this donation to $2,000 in the coming year.
Although Schivell is the face of her fundraising efforts, many people help her behind the scenes. Her mom, her two cousins Samantha and Jessie, and all of her Instagram followers have helped her raise money. Schivell is grateful for each donation and supporter of Addie’s Bake Shoppe: “I appreciate each one of you, especially the community at Trinity Hall!” she stated.
Another excellent example of Trinity Hall students giving back to the community is Maggie Burns ‘27. Burns raised over $10,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation with the help of her close friend Maddy, a student at The Academy of Saint Elizabeth. Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation was created by Alex Scott, who was diagnosed with childhood cancer as an infant, when she told her parents she wanted to set up a lemonade stand in their front yard. She planned to give the money to doctors to help find a cure. Alex sadly passed away at the age of eight due to her diagnosis. Her parents founded Alex's Lemonade Stand to help raise money for children with cancer.
After Burns’ cousin Josh passed away at the age of 10, she became very involved in different types of cancer research, which resulted in her discovery of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. She held her first lemonade stand at about five years old. As Burns grew older, she realized the opportunity she had to make a real difference in the community. Burns commented, “For much of my childhood, I remember my family members constantly trying to save Josh, and through the fundraiser, I was able to help families and children like my cousin.
Burns and her friend were responsible for organizing the fundraiser's date and gathering other volunteers to help run the stands. The fundraiser was held this past July at Lavallette Yacht Club alongside a regatta held in honor of former sailor Caryn Wilson, who also passed away from childhood cancer. By the end of the summer, the pair exceeded their goal by raising $10,000 for the charity.
Trinity Hall’s student involvement with charities is unique and inspiring. The school fosters participation in the community and provides a variety of ways to give back to others. All students at Trinity Hall uplift and encourage each other’s endeavors, making Trinity Hall a welcoming and supportive environment that spreads beyond the school’s walls.