Face painting, magic tricks, dancing, cotton candy, games and, most important, smiles were on the menu for the second Disability Day at Marist High School, 4200 W. 115th St., on July 15.

This entirely student-run event was born out of one student’s experience with a unique Marist program called “student service,” in which seniors have the option to take a traditional religion class or take one of two service-learning courses. Those year-long courses consist of tutoring other Marist students or volunteering every school day for 90 minutes at places such as nursing homes and day programs for people with developmental disabilities.

The program started over 30 years ago and is inspired by Marist founder St. Marcellin Champagnat’s vision of making Jesus Christ known in the world.

Alex Lyons started Disability Day last year as a senior after he served at Park Lawn day program for people with developmental disabilities in Oak Lawn.

“I got to really fall in love with the people who are attending today,” said Lyons, who currently attends Loyola University Chicago. He hopes to open his own day program for people with disabilities.

While at Park Lawn he learned that most summer events for people with special needs are outdoors. The heat can be dangerous for people who may have breathing or other health issues. It was then that Disability Day was born.

After securing approval from Marist, Lyons recruited fellow students to organize the event from planning to fundraising to execution.

Lyons and some of his fellow alumni returned to help lead the event this year. They raised enough money to pay for the event two months early but kept “crazy fundraising” to give $2,000 to each agency to help families with financial needs, Lyons said.

“A lot of generosity from others really makes this event happen,” said event director Tara Carson, a 2016 Marist graduate and a student at Saint Xavier University.

What do the young people get out of the event?

“Happiness,” Lyons said. “To be a part of this community you don’t do it for the credit, you don’t do it for the ‘thank you.’ You do it because you see there is a significant need to do so.”

Carson agreed.

“Even with all of the stress of putting the event together, when the event happens and you see all these smiling faces and all of the people having fun, you see that it is worth it. Every single minute is worth it,” she said.

The enthusiasm rubs off on participants.

“My son loves coming here,” said Dolores Hollingsed, who brought her son Michael to Disability Day.

Michael especially enjoys dancing with his friends from Park Lawn and with the Marist students.

“It’s so nice to have something to do on the weekend. It means a lot to us that there is something that he’s engaged in,” she said.

The students’ enthusiasm also rubs off on Marist staff.

“This is one of the best things we’ve got going,” said Deacon Andy Neu, chaplain and director of campus ministry at Marist. “That’s the beauty of this thing. It’s all homegrown from the students. I firmly believe the reason why is that they take to heart that line in our mission about making Jesus known and loved.”

While service hours are common today in Catholic schools, Marist started senior service in the late 1970s.

“We have a number of options for service but through this program they’re out every single day. Five days a week,” said Brother Hank Hammer, Marist president. “We wanted them to have an experience where they’re consistently immersed in service.”

Senior service has long-term effects on the students.

“We’ve heard a number of stories from our kids that this is what shaped their careers,” Hammer said. “When we want to know if we’re being effective as a school, you look at something like this and you say, ‘Yes, they get it. They understand about making Jesus Christ known and loved. I couldn’t be prouder.”