High school rivals join forces to help at Ray Graham

After winning their respective state championships, members of the Driscoll Catholic High School football team and suburban Catholic rival Montini Catholic High School wrestling team came together April 5 to spend the day with residents of a Ray Graham Association home in Villa Park.

The residence is home to six men with developmental disabilities.

The teams presented residents with autographed T-shirts, washed windows, cleaned the garage and took group photos. They also left residents with an autographed football to display at the home. The residents were thrilled to spend time with both teams.

"It was great to meet new friends," said Tim Granahan, who has lived at the home for several years. "And we all got a shirt. That was my favorite part."

The event was coordinated by Dr. John Jevitz of Jevitz Chiropractic in Elmhurst, who serves on the Ray Graham board of directors.

"It was great to see these student-athletes get past their rivalry and come together for this reason," Jevitz said. "It was a great day."

For more than 55 years, Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities has been helping adults and children with developmental disabilities.

The Ray Graham Association provides a broad array of services and support, including early intervention, residential, day programs and supported employment services, to thousands of children and adults with developmental disabilities throughout the Western suburbs.

The nonprofit organization was named in honor of the late Ray Graham, the first director of special education in Illinois.

For details on Ray Graham Association and its services, call (630) 620-2222 or visit raygraham.org.