Connie Payton Visits Girls at Summit Hill Jr. High School

Connie Payton, wife of the late, great Bears legend Walter Payton, recently visited two students at Summit Hill Jr. High School.

Eighth-graders Anjela Thomas and Autumn Polchow have been key players in the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation Holiday Toy Drive for the last two years.

Anjela and Autumn went above and beyond in their volunteer efforts, according to the school. Autumn contributed her own toy donations, and for the past two years, Anjela has donated her birthday gifts to the toy drive, the school reports.

Summit Hill Junior High has sponsored the toy drive for five years and finished second in donations among all participating Chicago-area schools this past holiday season, the release said.

Connie Payton visited on May 21 to say thank you, according to the release. She spent an hour talking with Anjela and Autumn over sips of tea, giving them encouragement, advice and her friendship, the release said.