Mount Prospect boy delivers toys to Ronald McDonald House

Graham Ellis had a few special requests for his 10th birthday celebration in late June. A picnic and miniature golf at Maggie Daley Park were high on his list.

But Graham's number one priority was to deliver the 220 toys he and his family collected for children to the Ronald McDonald House at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.

The St. Raymond School fifth-grader held a toy drive during the 2016-2017 school year with the help of his parents, Dayle and Ryan Ellis of Mount Prospect, and school personnel. He advertised the drive by posting fliers throughout the school and creating a commercial for the school's WSRS News channel.

"I did it so when the children were visiting at the Ronald McDonald House, they could have something to play with while they're in the hospital or their siblings are in the hospital," Graham said.

"It's important to me because my family stayed there when I was born, and it just has a special place in my heart."

Graham's parents and his sister, Audrey, a seventh-grader at St. Raymond School, lived at the Ronald McDonald House when Graham required two brain surgeries, one shortly after birth and again at 3 months old.

Dayle Ellis recalled feeling relieved and grateful for the support the family received during a difficult time. In addition to accommodating the family, the Ronald McDonald House provided them with food, museum and Shedd Aquarium passes, and toys for Graham and Audrey.

A social worker also worked with 2-year-old Audrey, who didn't believe she had a baby brother because she wasn't able to see him in the NICU.

"When your child's so sick, the last thing you want to worry about is where you're going to stay and how much it's going to cost," Dayle Ellis said. "The Ronald McDonald House is amazing, and I had no idea how amazing it was before we stayed there."

The couple has made a point of giving back since Graham's recovery. For five years, Dayle and Ryan Ellis worked with Ronald McDonald House families through their roles on the Comer Children's Hospital parent advisory board, making meals and counseling other parents of children with neurological issues.

Dayle and Ryan Ellis have passed down their generous spirit to their children. With his sister's help, Graham held his first toy drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House when he was a second-grader. That collection was much smaller, so Graham focused on spreading the word at school this time.

"This was 90 percent Graham. We just helped him with the things a child can't do," Dayle Ellis said.

At the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, Graham emailed St. Raymond School principal Mary Eileen Ward to discuss plans for the toy drive. Ward said she immediately threw her support behind the project because it "truly shows who we are at St. Raymond School."

She and the school's computer teacher, Kathy Goldberg, worked with Graham to plan his outreach.

Ward noted that Graham's project allowed the school's 517 preschool through grade eight students to learn about the Ronald McDonald House and what it offers to families at a time when they need support.

"It helps all the students understand that we can give support to others outside of just our community," Ward said, adding that the project reflected the school's motto of faith, academic excellence, and service.

"We were able to give back to others in a way all students understand."

Graham collected 120 toys at school, and his family collected 100 additional toys from donations dropped off at their home and toy drives held by extended family members.

Graham said it was important to him to deliver the toys on his birthday.

"I wanted to do something special because it was my 10th birthday, double digits."

Although he wasn't able to give any toys directly to children at the Ronald McDonald House, "I just hope they have a smile on their face when they receive the toys."

"It's so special that a child whose family used the House when he was born loves to give back," said Ronald McDonald House Manager Mardelle Gundlach. "We have a room filled with toys, and we added the ones Graham donated to it."

She explained that children who check in at the RMH are given a toy coupon, and they get to pick out a toy for themselves and their siblings at home.

"It makes a hard time for them very special."

Graham plans to continue holding toy drives for the Ronald McDonald house every two years.

"Not to say we are happy about everything we've gone through, but Graham certainly has tried to turn lemons into lemonade," Dayle Ellis said. "He has a really big heart."

• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.