Fr. Scott was invited to give the invocation at the Irish American Labor Council dinner. The evening was held to honor friends of the Council and to raise funds that improve the quality of life in the community, including those that support Mercy Home.

Among the honorees celebrated was Mercy Home Board Chairman Emeritus Rich Daniels, who was recognized for his dedication to service and community outreach. Daniels is President of the City Lights Orchestra, Chicago’s premier concert and event orchestra. He frequently shares the gift of music in support of many Mercy Home events. The City Lights Orchestra performs for an impressive list of corporations, associations, government agencies, non-profit organizations and social galas, including the Archbishop’s Christmas Concert. Daniels joined Mercy Home’s Board of Regents in 1997, and served as its Chairman from 2006-2009. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Federation of Musicians, and the board of the Illinois Arts Council.

Fr. Scott kicked off the evening by thanking the Council for inviting him to speak, as well as for their commitment to transforming the lives of our young people. He also congratulated the honorees on their prestigious recognition and expressed his admiration for the virtues the recipients shared.

The dinner celebration happened to coincide with the 34^th anniversary of Fr. Scott’s ordination as a priest. Fittingly, Fr. Scott shared the values he had learned from his graduation from the seminary—values he felt were exemplified in the words and acts of the night’s honorees.

Later in the evening, the Council presented Fr. Scott with a $10,000 check toward helping our boys and girls to heal, learn and grow.

A nation-wide organization, the Council’s Windy City Chapter, founded in 1995, began as a movement to honor Irish labor leader James Connolly. The group worked to raise funds to build a statue in Union Park commemorating Connolly’s life’s work. Once the Council achieved their goal in 2008, they have since dedicated their efforts to aiding nonprofit organizations, and have been longtime supporters of Mercy Home’s mission.

Thank you to the Irish American Labor Council and our dear friend Rich Daniels for their commitment to improving the lives of our young people, and a special congratulations to Mr. Daniels on this prestigious recognition!