Iona Prep Students Deliver Christmas Cheer To Kids With Disabilities

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The smiles evident on the faces of children this week at Hawthorne Country Day School during an annual, 35-year holiday tradition, was as much a present for the gift bearers as the event was for the kids who unwrapped the donated toys and books.

Three buses loaded with gifts and Iona Preparatory School students brought seasonal joy and cheer to the Hawthorne Country Day School, which provides academic and vocational skills to children with autism and other intellectual disabilities.

The Iona Prep students met with elementary, middle and high school students at the day school and handed out Christmas gifts that the Iona Prep community purchased and wrapped over the last few weeks. This was part of an ongoing relationship between the two schools that has now entered its fourth decade of sharing.

The unique holiday partnership first began with Eileen Bisordi, a parent of a 1991 Iona Prep graduate and the founder of the Hawthorne Country Day School (originally the Margaret Chapman School).

Each year since , Hawthorne Country Day School has provided a "wish list" of student presents, which are then purchased by the Iona Prep community.

The Iona Prep Mothers’ Auxiliary joined students over two days, wrapping more than 350 gifts which were hand-delivered to the Hawthorne Country Day School students before Christmas. In return, according to organizers, the Iona Prep students received a number of creative and grateful thank you cards, as well as some firsthand perspective on what the Christmas season should really be about – spreading hope, peace, joy and love.