November 26, 2024

Mercy Home’s annual signature fundraising event, the Lux Gala, enjoyed a successful second showing on November 16 at Chicago’s Old Post Office. CBS2 News Chicago Anchor Joe Donlon served as master of ceremonies, with the help of remote event previews from CBS2 News Chicago reporter Sabrina Franza. 

The live auction included a one-week stay in a private villa in the U.S. Virgin Islands, four tickets to see the Eagles at the Las Vegas Sphere with a stay at the Bellagio Resort & Casino and airfare included, a luxury African safari for two, A VIP IndyCar weekend at the Music City Grand Prix in Nashville that includes a behind-the-scenes experience with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, and a Stay-and-Play weekend at Streamsong Golf Resort in Florida, which includes a resort stay and 12 rounds of golf.

The silent auction included incredible items like a travel package to Paris, a luxurious Chicago staycation, stunning jewelry from James & Sons Fine Jewelers, other travel packages, sports tickets and memorabilia, and more. Raffle drawings at the end of the night also sent three lucky guests home with incredible cash prizes, with the grand prize winner taking home $25,000.

However, the highlight of the evening was the dinner program, which featured a moving new video story about Mercy Home alum Natasha Perssico Escobedo. The video, produced by CBS2 Chicago’s Jim Williams, described how Perssico Escobedo went from a lonely and isolated childhood to Mercy Home’s Friends First Mentoring program before entering our residential care. With the support that she received there and her own drive and determination, she went on to earn an MBA and became a partner in the business valuation and forensic accounting practice at Epstein Nach Escobedo.

“It amazes me,” she said in the video. “Every time I think about it, I’m truly grateful and amazed just how far I’ve come and how different my life is. Mercy Home was my saving grace.”

“You create miracles,” Fr. Scott added in the video. “And through God’s grace and us working together, look at the hope, the light, and the future, that you bring to so many.”

In the end, the Lux Gala grossed $1.4 million. The live pledge alone raised $403,000 exceeding our $300,000 goal and unlocking a $160,000 matching gift from the Bobby Rahal Foundation, Joe & Janet Nolan, The Duchossois Foundation, and The John Jordan Foundation. That will enable us to open our doors and provide round-the-clock care, healing, education and opportunity to more kids by January. 

“If you hear nothing else this evening,” Fr. Scott said, “I want you to know how truly grateful I am to each and every one of you. Thank you for coming out and supporting this mission of 137 years.” Fr. Scott framed his remarks around the Thanksgiving season, and expressed gratitude on behalf of so many who help make Mercy Home a place of belonging.

The Lux Gala debuted last November as the successor to our signature fall fundraiser, Ringside for Mercy’s Sake, which ran for 28 years until the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancelation in 2020. With our goal of creating a new annual tradition with a long life like Ringside enjoyed, our friends came out and made certain that Lux would continue to be as great of a success as Ringside was. That includes all of our guests and all of our generous sponsors, including the Bobby Rahal Foundation, Joe & Janet Nolan, The Duchossois Foundation, and The John Jordan Foundation for providing a generous pledge match.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a success—far too many to list in this space. And a special congratulations to our Special Events team for another successful year of Lux!