Ray Graham Association

09/02/2026

👟 𝟭𝟵 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀. $𝟭𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹. In the last 24 hours, Monarch Walk fundraisers helped us jump from 38% to 44% of our goal!

That momentum has us wondering...

Can we reach 50% before the holiday weekend?

A gift of any size empowers people with disabilities, and a share from you may give someone who already cares the opportunity to help.

Below are some teams that could use a fundraising boost right now. Drop them some encouragement in the comments, make a donation, or help spread the word:

🦋 Wilshire Butterflies https://p2p.onecause.com/mw26/team/willshire
🌱 Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic
https://p2p.onecause.com/mw26/team/emerge-3
💪 Williams 4 Man Crew https://p2p.onecause.com/mw26/team/williams-8
✨ Sparkling Starling https://p2p.onecause.com/mw26/team/starling-2
🍰 Pershing Golden Girl Power https://p2p.onecause.com/mw26/team/pershing

Support Ray Graham Association's Monarch Walk 2026! Empower people with disabilities, provide community-based homes, and create life-changing opportunities through our fun, fall fundraiser.

08/26/2026

🦋 Y’all. Dolly Parton gave the world a lot, but did you know…

In 2016, a Dollywood safety manager kept noticing that families with autistic children were arriving excited and leaving early. When the crowds and lights and noise got to be too much, they were retreating to bathrooms and first-aid tents because there was nowhere else to go.

Dolly Parton went looking for a better answer and found that no theme park anywhere had one. So Dollywood Parks & Resorts built it.

The calming room opened that May, the first of its kind in the world. Dimmable lighting, cool blues and greens, weighted blankets, a rocking chair, a six-foot beanbag, sensory tools. A quiet place to reset, and then head back out and enjoy the day.

What a thing, to have shared a world with her.

08/25/2026

In 1999, the same year Cody was born, the Supreme Court's landmark Olmstead decision affirmed that people with disabilities have the right to live, learn, and work in their communities instead of being unnecessarily placed in institutions.

Today, those protections are facing new challenges.

"The integrated setting affects school. It affects where you can work. It affects community-based programs like what my brother uses," said Kaleigh, who, like her brother Cody, is blind and has relied on the protections and opportunities created by the ADA and the Olmstead decision.

A lawsuit called Texas v. Kennedy and recent actions by the Department of Justice could weaken the federal government's role in enforcing community-based disability services. More than 8 million Americans rely on these supports to live independently and participate fully in community life.

At its heart, this is about the dignity, opportunity, and independence that belongs to every American citizen, regardless of ability.

Siblings Cody and Kaleigh Brendle have grown up with the right to community integration. Now, they worry those protections for people with disabilities like them are being eroded.

08/24/2026

Illinoisans with disabilities want to work and be part of the community. And we’re incredibly grateful to State Senator Seth Lewis for helping make that happen!

The Carol Stream job expo was a fantastic way to connect talented job seekers with local businesses looking to hire.

Read more below.

Gabriela Wojciechowski and her son, Ivan, took their time perusing over 60 booths Thursday at a Disability Resource and Job Placement Expo in Carol Stream. Ivan, who studies horticulture and culinary ...

08/24/2026

AGREED? Animals have a beautiful way of bringing out the best in us!

A huge thank you to the Palumbo Foundation for supporting the well-being of children and young adults with I/DD through RGA.

By investing in the Ray Graham Association Hanson Center therapeutic horsemanship program, they're creating spaces where meaningful connection and personal growth can happen. 💙

08/20/2026

TODAY: We’re officially kicking off the Monarch Walk and Fall Fest!

Then, over the next 30 days, we're coming together with one big goal: raising $100,000 to empower people with disabilities.

Every dollar you raise and every step you take helps expand access to safe homes, behavioral health services, and critical family support systems.

After the walk, stick around to celebrate! The Fall Fest offers something for every age and ability, including a DJ, pace painting, petting zoo, food trucks, and an art & craft fair.

📅 When: Sunday, September 20, 2026 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
📍 Where: RGA Hanson Center, Burr Ridge

Ready to champion people with I/DD?

Register, create your team, and start fundraising today at TheMonarchWalk.org

Support Ray Graham Association's Monarch Walk 2026! Empower people with disabilities, provide community-based homes, and create life-changing opportunities through our fun, fall fundraiser.

08/17/2026

Question: Why do we expect nonprofits to solve society's biggest challenges with less investment than we expect from other sectors?

For decades, nonprofits have been celebrated for stretching every dollar. And while stewardship matters, there's a difference between being efficient and being under-resourced.

🤔 Maybe a better question is: How can we fully resource the innovation and solutions our communities need?

At RGA, we're having honest conversations about what it truly takes to create empower for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In a recent episode of the Business Behind Fundraising podcast, Pres. & CEO Kim Zoeller shares how transparency and relationship-building are building stronger, more sustainable services for the people and families we support.

🎧 Take a peek behind the scenes of RGA's funding philosophy and hear Kim's conversation with Sherry Quam Taylor.

Nonprofit CEOs: if 75-80% of your budget already comes from governm...

08/13/2026

⏰ The countdown is on.

In one week, Monarch Walk fundraising officially begins.

Every dollar raised helps support the programs and services that empower people to reach, grow, and achieve.

You don't have to wait to get started. Register today, create your fundraising page, and be ready when the campaign kicks off next week!

👉 themonarchwalk.org

It's our favorite day of the year, and it's even better with you in it.

Support Ray Graham Association's Monarch Walk 2026! Empower people with disabilities, provide community-based homes, and create life-changing opportunities through our fun, fall fundraiser.

08/12/2026

🏆 We're proud to celebrate an outstanding achievement by our Community Living Residences team!

Ray Graham Association earned the 2026 Impruvon IMPACT Award for Complete Care, receiving Gold recognition for Vitals Completion Rate and Silver recognition for Effectiveness Check Completion. The Gold award represents the best result among organizations of our size.

This recognition reflects the care, attention, and professionalism our employees bring to their work every day.

Thank you to our entire CLR team for helping create safe, responsive, and supportive home environments for the people we serve.

Read the full story:

Ray Graham Association's Community Living Residences team earned Gold recognition for Vitals Completion Rate and Silver recognition for Effectiveness Check Completion in the 2026 Impruvon IMPACT Awards.

07/20/2026

Love a good accessory? Love giving back? This week, you can do both! 👜✨

Our online-only Designer Handbag Auction is officially LIVE. From polished everyday crossbodies to hand-beaded showstoppers, there's something for every style and budget.

While government funding covers the basics, your bids help fund the things that turn a life into a full life—like job coaching, community outings, and social supports that empower people to reach, grow, and achieve.

A designer bag for you. A fuller life for someone else. That's a good trade. 💙

The Details:
⏰ Bidding automatically closes Friday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m. sharp.
💳 Don't want to wait and see? Use Buy Now to claim your bag instantly.
📱 It's all online. Bid from your phone, anywhere, anytime this week.

Click here to browse the collection and place your bids: https://onecau.se/_mm4m21