Three Small Boys, One Small Act of Kindness

You may have seen three industrious little towheads near the corner of West Street and Harrison Avenue peddling their wares on a sunny Aug. 19. They were in town from Manhattan Beach, CA visiting grandparents Bob and Barbie DeCanio of Wheaton when they thought it would be a great idea to raise money for charity. 

Rager brothers Patrick, 7, Tyler, 4, and Noah, 18 months old—dressed for success in their shirts, ties and name tags—practiced good manners and their math skills as they sold lemonade to passers-by. Their efforts raised approximately $36.  

They chose the Special Olympics as the recipient of their donation after having spent time earlier with a great-uncle who has Downs Syndrome. Grandma and Grandpa contacted Shelia Devine, director of philanthropy for the Special Olympics office in Glen Ellyn, who gladly accepted the largess: $40, half of the boys' earnings and some money from their grandparents and their mom, Beth Rager, added in for good measure.