There aren't too many options for a young kid to start a fundraiser, but Rivadeneyra and his father went with a tried, tested and true method and constructed a lemonade stand. In the five years since he was first moved by the commercial, Rivadenerya, who spends one day every summer selling lemonade, limeade and baked goods, has raised $10K for St. Jude.
"I'm extremely proud of him," Oliver's mother, Nancy said. "He's all heart. He's a good kid and is very caring."
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During his first year, Rivadeneyra raised $861.25. Last summer, he raised the highest funds to date at $3,725, while simultaneously reaching his five-year goal of raising a grand total of $10,000 to St. Jude.
Now, having just finished fifth-grade at East Islip's Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School, Rivadenerya has continued the annual event to raise funds for the hospital, but the effort has become a whole community affair.
"We send out postcards to his classmates, to his teachers, we put flyers out, we invite the fire department, the ambulance companies in our local area," Mrs. Rivadenerya said. "They're a huge support. We have a parade of firetrucks and ambulances down our block. We've had police officers stop by. We get a lot of support from the community."
While St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is located in Memphis, TN, the Rivadenerya's usually make a trip into the city to donate the funds at a satellite office. This past year was special, as Oliver had the opportunity to go out to Memphis and visit the hospital in person.
"This past year, we actually did go to visit the hospital in Memphis," Mrs. Rivadenerya said. "He didn't get a chance to go into the hospital floor because you have to be 16 years old]. They have a museum on the premises so we were allowed there. He actually got to physically see the hospital from the outside. He got to learn more of the stories and the history of it all. It was a really good experience for him to see it in person."
With the COVID-19 international outbreak, the Rivadenerya's have not been able to run Oliver's lemonade stand yet this year. While this year's stand may not be the traditional setup as it has been in year's past, they're brainstorming alternatives to still give back to the cause near and dear to Oliver.
"We're not giving up," Mrs. Rivadenerya. "He's keeping his options open as to what can we do under the circumstances."
*Nominated by Islanders Alumnus Steve Webb's Team Up 4 Community Program [www.TeamUp4Community.org*
