Community Rallies for Baby Ollie at Fundraiser Volleyball Tournament

Above are Allysa, baby Ollie and Corey Skiles. Those who would like to donate to the GoFundMe can find it at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-alyssa-and-corey-help-baby-ollie

Mascoutah – Mascoutah residents gathered at Scheve Park on Saturday, August 9, for “Volley for Ollie,” a fundraising volleyball tournament held to support a local family facing an extraordinary medical journey.

The event was organized through the combined efforts of Warrior Logo, Delta Theta Tau’s Mascoutah chapter, and the Leu Civic Center, with additional help from Betty Ann’s and other community members. Proceeds are going to Alyssa and Corey, whose infant son, Ollie, was diagnosed with two rare genetic disorders shortly after birth. Since just a month old, Ollie has endured seizures and prolonged hospital stays, and earlier this month underwent a 12-hour brain surgery. Doctors determined that a hemispherotomy would be necessary to disconnect the hemispheres of his brain in an attempt to preserve healthy tissue.

Jenna Smith, Director of the Leu Civic Center, said the day showed Mascoutah at its best. “We put together a volleyball tournament to try to alleviate some of the burden on the family,” Smith said. “The Civic Center organized the teams and brackets, Warrior Logo handled food and shirts, Delta Theta Tau purchased the trophy and supported the day-of, and Betty Ann’s donated drinks and helped with the food. It was such a phenomenal event. The vibe of the day was everyone being there knowing what they were supporting. I think everyone felt like they were part of something very special.”

The fundraising stretched beyond the tournament itself. Event shirts were sold to participants and supporters, with all proceeds going to the family. Mike Klein and Betty Ann’s donated a grill to help feed attendees, and other donations came in throughout the day.

One of the most powerful moments came when Ollie’s parents surprised the crowd by arriving at the event just two days after their son’s surgery. Their presence underscored the importance of the community’s efforts. “It was so wonderful to see them there,” Smith said. “It was an incredible example of the community coming together to support a family going through something so difficult.”

Above are the Volley for Ollie champions, “The Volley Llamas.” (Photo provided by the Leu Civic Center)

The family has also received support online. A GoFundMe campaign launched in May, Support Alyssa and Corey: Help Baby Ollie, has raised more than $9,000 across dozens of donations to help cover medical bills and time away from work.

Organizers said they are considering making *Volley for Ollie* an annual event, either to continue supporting the family or to raise awareness and funds for others in need.