‘Sweet Baby Ray’ speaks with Willowbrook MENTORS students

On April 28, Dave Raymond, creator of Sweet Baby Ray barbecue sauce, spoke with Willowbrook students.

Raymond, who is better known as “Sweet Baby Ray,” met with male students who are members of the school’s MENTORS group, a program designed to train upperclassmen to mentor underclassmen through being mentored by adult men. The group meets once a week during lunch, and community members provide motivational and educational presentations. MENTORS is sponsored by Willowbrook Social Worker Erik Engel.

During his visit, Raymond brought pulled pork and his sauce for the students to enjoy. Raymond shared with the group how he grew up on Chicago's west side with a single mom and four siblings and how his family struggled financially. He told the students he considers himself to be an “average” person, and even a “regular” person can be successful with a lot of heart, hard work, big dreams and faith. Raymond also focuses on giving back to the community through mentoring at inner-city programs for fatherless youth, donating meals to the DuPagePads homeless shelter at First Presbyterian Church of Itasca and more.