Winning on the River—12th Annual Mercy Home Poker Night a Hit

February 13, 2025

Our friends went all in for Mercy Home at our annual Poker Night fundraiser this January 30th. A record 275 card sharks, high rollers, novices, and spectators filled The Forum @ 110 inside the Bank of America Tower to enjoy some Las Vegas sizzle on a chilly Chicago winter evening. With the proceeds of this event supporting our work at Mercy Home, the biggest winners were, like every year, our young people.

Guests enjoyed a mouthwatering array of food catered by our friends at Gibsons, as well as casino tables, raffles, and the main event of the evening, our bit Texas Hold ’Em tournament. A number of incredible prizes were on the line this year, including the grand prize—a seat at the 2025 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Before the first cards were dealt in the tournament, Mercy Home President & CEO Fr. Scott Donahue thanked guests for their generous support of our mission both at events like Poker Night and year-round. This year’s event built on the success of last year’s Poker Night with another sold-out crowd.

In the 12 years since Mercy Home Board of Regents member Peter Argianas first proposed a fundraiser to leverage the growing popularity of Texas Hold ‘Em, Mercy Home Poker Night has become one of our most popular and anticipated evenings, and one of the best bets for beating back the midwinter blues. The event ultimately outgrew its original venue, famed Gold Coast restaurant Gibson’s, and was first held at the new Bank of America Tower on the Chicago River in 2023.

In addition to raising funds, events like Poker Night also help introduce new friends to the Home and connect them with multiple ways to support our work. Our event host committee was especially instrumental in bringing people out to join us in this fun night of poker. The night provided opportunities for guests to learn more about our mission while interacting with Mercy Home coworkers and board members.

Generous sponsors provided products to enhance the guest experience, including a Killarney Irish Whiskey tasting station for guests to enjoy. The raffle included a chance to win prizes that included a stay at the Godfrey and gift card to Gibsons, a Connor Murphy framed autographed jersey, a golf threesome at Ridge Country Club, a Sonos Era 300 speaker, Bose headphones, and much more.

Poker players vied for incredible prizes that included four sideline and four mid-court tickets to a Bulls vs. Lakers game, two suite tickets to WGN Radio’s suite to the Blackhawks vs. Maple Leafs, two all-inclusive passes to the BCBS VIP tent at the 2025 NASCAR street race, an Air & Water Show experience for six, a Cubs game and hotel stay at Le Meridien Essex Chicago, ten Late Night Lux tickets, and of course, the grand prize–a seat at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, valued at $10,000.

The funds raised at this year’s Poker Night, including ticket sales, sponsorships, tournament re-buys, raffle ticket sales, and other donations, will make a positive impact on our boys and girls.

We are thankful to our board members who made this event possible. Without their support in securing sponsors, inviting guests, and providing auction items, this event would not have been such a success.

Thank you to all our guests, our host committee, event staff and volunteers, and all our generous sponsors, including this year’s presenting sponsor, Performance Wealth, whose participation was encouraged by Mercy Home Ambassador Board member John Salvino.

And we are grateful to our All-In Sponsors and the members of our boards who represented many of them, including Outdoor Interiors (Ambassador Board member Tim Cimaglio), Ambassador Board member Terry Muldoon, Nuance Solutions (company CEO Jim Flanagan), Gold Coast Bank (Board of Regents member Peter Argianas), and AArete (Board of Regents member Liz Levy)

Special thanks to Chicago’s sports radio station 670 The Score for helping us get the word out with on-air promotions of the event, as well as Badger Mountain Certified Organic Winery and Chicago Beverage for their event support.

Because of good friends like these, Poker Night was an incredible night of competition and community. We look forward to seeing everyone at Poker Night 2026!