Special Olympics Athletes Shoot for the Stars

Four years ago when Mikey Curtiss brought her autistic son, Scott, to his first basketball practice for the Junior Jordans Special Olympics team, they made it as far as the hallway.

“When he was out in that hallway kicking and screaming and crying that he didn’t want to go in, we could have easily given up,” Curtiss said of her now 13-year-old son shooting baskets in the gym. “Now he runs in.”

The Oak Lawn Eagles and Junior Jordans basketball squads gathered for a full-on practice before the media to promote their annual fundraising game at Proceeds will benefit

For the big game, the high school-aged Eagles and the younger Junior Jordans will split up their teams and face off against each other in two, exciting basketball games.

John Zawaski, who used to bring his sons to watch the Eagles and Junior Jordans started the event four years ago after he realized the teams received no state or local government funding.

“At the time they had bad uniforms and were getting charged in Oak Lawn for gym time,” Zawaski said, president of Zawaski and Associates, a local firm plans special fundraising events for organizations and neighbors hit by catastrophic illnesses and life events.

“I found that really hard to believe,” he said.

The annual big game has come along way since its humble beginnings four years ago, when 350 attended the first Special Olympics basketball game in the St. Linus School gym and raised $1,000.

More than 1,800 attended last year’s game at the larger Brother Rice sports facility and raised $12,000 for the park district’s special recreation programs. He still dreams of expanding the annual game by moving it to

“Every cent goes back to these kids and building new programs to give them a chance to play in different sports, buy uniforms and equipment, and defray fees for parents,” Zawaski said.

The practices also give parents like Curtiss a chance to go out and socialize with other families facing the same challenges with their own children.

In addition to autism, Scott also deals with severe separation anxiety, socialization and comprehension issues, especially at school.

“Mom and dad aren’t allowed to go out,” Curtiss said. “We’re on an extreme routine.”

The game takes place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Brother Rice High School located at 10001 S. Pulaski Road (Pulaski and 100th Street). The afternoon features two exciting basketball games, in addition to special appearances by the Brother Rice Marching Band and singing the National Anthem.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased or through the Junior Jordans’ website. Checks can me made out to SRASA Ltd., a 501(c)3 parent-run organization that raises money for the park district's special recreation programs.

Curtiss said special needs children often experience isolation and loneliness. Being part of the Junior Jordans has helped bring Scott out of his shell.

“All I can say to other parents is don’t give up,” she said. “Don’t ever give up.”