The annual Give-A-Thon is a four-decade-plus tradition at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.

In its 41st year, Give-A-Thon for 2025 included the Wednesday, Dec. 3 distribution day when students helped to load bags of wrapped gifts, baby items and food for delivery. Bicycles and trikes, totaling 48, were either assembled, some donning bright bows, or the large boxes of bikes were wrapped with festive holiday paper for later assembly by mystical helping hands.

Give-A-Thon is a student project of the National Honor Society (NHS). During November, students networked to raise funds to purchase items such as clothing, food, toys, baby needs, plus more.

Right, in lightbulb festive headband, Logan Trojan, 17, a senior from Hawthorn Woods, is among student volunteers bringing holiday donations to trucks parked outside during the Give-A-Thon distribution day at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire on Dec. 3, 2025. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Approximately 200 boxes of food were brought to the Vernon Township Food Pantry in Buffalo Grove. Baby items, including 83 boxes of diapers and wipes, were delivered to PADS Lake County in Vernon Hills. Catholic Charities of Lake County (with a warehouse in Libertyville) provided household wish lists for gifts. The project’s philanthropy benefited 328 families, resulting in 1,135 children being assisted.

Give-A-Thon directors this season were Tanvi Shitole, 17, a senior from Buffalo Grove and Aaron Wu, 17, a senior from Lake Zurich.

“Stevenson really strives to give back to not only our community but the community surrounding us,” Shitole said.

Adlai E. Stevenson High School is home of the Patriots.

“I think that being a Patriot, that if you are a Patriot, that you really care about the community,” Wu said. “In Stevenson, we’re all taught a lot of good values, but now you get to put these good values in place by helping communities in need and these underprivileged families.”

Cam Jacobs, a senior from Buffalo Grove, was among the student volunteers braving the deep cold to load donations on a box truck.

“People that need it are getting food,” Jacobs said.

Examples of food donations at Give-A-Thon distribution day at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire on Dec. 3, 2025. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Wearing holiday reindeer antlers, Hannah Diab, 18, a senior from Long Grove, said, “It’s a lot of gratitude to think that I am able to contribute.”

Alexa Segovia, 17, a junior of Vernon Hills, appreciated the collaborative philanthropy, saying, “I get to be a part of it.”

Wearing a festive holiday light bulb headband was Logan Trojan, 17, a senior from Hawthorn Woods.

“I think it’s just the aspect that we know that this is going to a great place,” Trojan said.

“All this stuff that we worked so hard to donate and we worked so hard to raise, we all know that it’s going to a great place, to families in need,” Trojan added.

Some of the bikes were ridden for fun to the hallway leading to the dock for loading to awaiting trucks during the Give-A-Thon distribution day at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire on Dec. 3, 2025. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

“And so the fact that when we’re loading it into trucks when we know that’s where it’s going, that’s the destination, it’s all this hard work and dedication that all the Stevenson students put in to help all the families involved, it just feels so good to us and me and … all of the other NHS members to be able to help fulfill the need in the community,” Trojan said.

Among students bringing bicycles to an awaiting truck in a frigid outside dock was Grace Shin, 16, of Buffalo Grove, who said, “I really like to help others. I think it’s really nice.”

Also transporting a child’s bicycle was Kaitlyn Jiang, 15, a sophomore from Long Grove, who said, “I feel like it’s very cute and I love it.”

From left to right, bringing bicycles to an awaiting truck are Grace Shin, 16, of Buffalo Grove, who said, “I really like to help others. I think it’s really nice.” Kaitlyn Jiang, 15, a sophomore from Long Grove, said, “I feel like it’s very cute and I love it.” Taken at the Give-A-Thon distribution day at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire on Dec. 3, 2025. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Courtney Zabrin, among National Honor Society sponsors and Stevenson’s community service coordinator, agreed that owning a bicycle empowers a child.

“A bike gives them freedom, flexibility, time to spend with their friends around the neighborhood,” Zabrin said with a smile.

The packed gift staging area is being quickly cleared during the Give-A-Thon distribution day at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire on Dec. 3, 2025. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)

Head National Honor Society Sponsor Jennifer McBride also summed up distribution day with a smile.

“It’s so fun,” McBride said. “It’s like the best day.”

See https://connect.stevensonschool.org/portal/stevenson-giving-day

Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.

 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/05/stevenson-high-school-give-a-thon/