Happy Hour At Franconello To Help Special Olympics Marathon Team

CHICAGO, IL - For the second year in a row, Franconello will host a "rooftop happy hour" that will help the Special Olympics Chicago team in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Neighborhood residents are encouraged to stop by the restaurant at 10222 S. Western Ave. from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28 for drink specials, appetizers and raffles.

Celebrity bartenders will include 19th Ward Ald. Matt O'Shea, Former Cook County Sheriff Mike Sheahan, State Reps Kelly Burke and Fran Hurley as well as Skinny Sheahan. All tips gathered from the event will be combined with money from the raffles to be given to Special Olympics Chicago and the runners who will make up the Special Olympics Chicago Marathon team for the big race on Sunday, Oct. 7.

O'Shea is a frequent member of that team, having run the 26.2 mile race through 29 Chicago neighborhoods four times. He isn't running it this year, but says he'll be at the race as the team's "biggest cheerleader" this year.

"I will be out there supporting the runners," said O'Shea, whose "personal best" time in the marathon is just north of 4 hours. "I'm taking this year off, but will be back out there in 2019."

O'Shea and other Special Olympics supporters in the 19th Ward will be cheering on two runners in particular. Guy Conners, a 28-year-old Special Olympic athlete who competes through the Mt. Greenwood Park Special Recreation Department, will be running the marathon with his training partner Mike Guinane, a 44-year-old ward resident and IBEW 134 electrician. The two run together twice a week, including one day as part of the training program at Running Excels.

"Special Olympics is a wonderful organization, and everyone should be proud that it started right here in Chicago 50 years ago," said O'Shea, the newly named president of the organization. "To talk to the families who are involved in Special Olympics... you can tell it means a lot to them."

O'Shea praised the Ruffalo family, owners of Franconello, for their frequent support of the organization.

Frank Ruffalo hopes to see a great turnout Friday night as he donates the space, food and alcohol for the rooftop event.

"It is for a great cause," Ruffalo said. "It's for our young people in need, helping them get out there and becoming active in the community."

Ruffalo said 100 percent of the proceeds from the event will go toward Special Olympics. Anything rung up by O'Shea and the other celebrity bartenders goes to the organization.

"It's something dear to my heart and something I'll be involved in for a long time," he said.

Patch file photo / Tim Moran