ORLAND PARK, IL — An Orland Park organization driven by the goal to create employment opportunities for adults with intellectual developmental disabilities played a special role in the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
RISE Packaging and Assembly Co., a division of CTF Illinois, helped bring the mission of inclusivity to life by packing more than 55,000 participant bags for the race, while Team CTF Illinois joined the thousands of runners who took part in the celebrated annual event.
RISE (Realizing Inclusion by Supporting Employment) is a packaging and assembly business with a mission that "goes beyond the production line," the organization said in a release. RISE provides "meaningful employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), helping individuals build skills, independence, confidence, and connections through purposeful work."
The completion of the participant bags for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon represents another milestone in RISE's longstanding partnership with the event. Since first partnering with the organization in 2014, RISE has helped prepare marathon participant bags, giving its employees the opportunity to contribute to one of Chicago's most recognized sporting events.
For the RISE team, every bag represents more than a completed assignment, the organization said. It "reflects the dedication, teamwork, and capabilities of employees whose contributions help make a major community event possible."
The work also showcases the value of inclusive employment and the importance of creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate meaningfully in the workforce.
"RISE greatly values our longstanding partnership with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon," said Mark Goryl, Vice President of CTF Illinois. "We look forward to packing the participant bags every year. This partnership provides RISE with the opportunity to employ and train people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are proud of our team's accomplishment in preparing more than 55,000 bags for the 2026 race and look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come."
The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon also brought the mission of CTF Illinois to the streets of Chicago, as Team CTF Illinois completed the race, with runners helping raise awareness and support for the organization's programs and the people it serves.
Through the Community Services Foundation, CTF Illinois' nonprofit affiliate, fundraising efforts support opportunities that help individuals with disabilities lead more independent and fulfilling lives. Contributions help advance essential services, including housing opportunities, job training, transportation, and expanded programming.
The participation of Team CTF Illinois reinforces the connection between the marathon's spirit of perseverance and the organization's commitment to creating possibilities for people with disabilities. Every mile completed and every dollar raised helps support a community where individuals are valued for their abilities and empowered to pursue their goals, the organization said.
With the 2026 race past, RISE and CTF Illinois celebrate "not only a successful marathon partnership, but also the employees, runners, volunteers, families, and supporters who make this work possible.
"Together, they demonstrate that inclusion is most powerful when it is put into action- through meaningful employment, shared accomplishments, and opportunities that strengthen the entire community," the organization said in a release.
"The fundraising generated from the marathon is invaluable to improving life for the people we serve at CTF Illinois," said Elise Simcox-Zenner, Senior Director of Development. "We are forever grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something so important."
CTF Illinois has supported individuals in Illinois since 1971, initially providing vocational training for people transitioning from prolonged mental health hospitalization. Over the years, the organization expanded its services throughout Illinois while maintaining a commitment to vocational opportunities and light assembly manufacturing for adults with disabilities.
In 2023, CTF Illinois established RISE (Realizing Inclusion by Supporting Employment) as a division of its programming, operating as a packaging and assembly company that promotes financial independence through meaningful employment in a supportive work environment.
Guided by the philosophy of fostering futures, not profits, RISE invests in its employees and provides packaging and assembly services to local and national businesses. With an 85 percent employee retention rate, RISE demonstrates the value of a workplace that prioritizes employee support, skill development, and a shared commitment to quality and reliability.
CTF Illinois supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through programs and services designed to promote independence, personal growth, community participation, and quality of life. Community Services Foundation, its nonprofit affiliate, helps advance this mission by supporting fundraising and opportunities that strengthen services and expand possibilities for the people CTF Illinois serves.
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