Mercy Home Presents 6th Annual Have Mercy! Spring Gala at the Trump International Hotel and Tower

By Jorge G. Zavala | Creative Director, Richard Chiang | Resident Media Director

On April 13th, 2013, the Junior Board of Mercy Home hosted the 6th Annual Have Mercy! Spring Gala at the Trump International Hotel and Tower. An evening filled with decadent hors d'oeuvres, savory wine and spirits, and plenty of dancing brought together a philanthropic, upwardly-mobile crowd to raise funds for the Legacy of Learning Campaign.

Guests, upon arrival to the 16th floor of the Trump Tower, were greeted by members of Mercy Home's Junior Board and encouraged to help themselves to the diverse wine and spirit offerings of the evening.

A wide-range of hors d'oeuvres were available for attendees to try, including miniature ice cream cones stuffed with spicy tuna: a spicy tuna cone of sorts.

Guests came together Saturday evening to raise funds for a wonderful cause while reacquainting themselves with old friends and making new ones.

Over 400 young professionals from across Chicagoland made an appearance and found themselves delighted by the evenings offerings. These two young women made note that their favorite part of the evening was meeting new friends and sipping on a few glasses of wine in a sophisticated space.

Guests enjoyed an evening of dining, dancing, and entertainment at the spectacular Trump International Hotel Chicago. These young women were taking a break from hitting the dance floor when PdM spotted them discussing the importance of giving.

This group was all smiles for the camera!

The evening's attendees, which included members of Mercy Home's Junior Board, were proud of the gala's success.

A diverse array of silent auction and raffle prizes were present throughout the evening, including autographed sports memorabilia and spa packages.

In addition to the delicious hors d'oeuvres present throughout the evening, decadent desserts were a part of the evening's highlights. One guest stated that the pastry offerings were simply "divine".

This year’s proceeds benefited the Legacy of Learning Campaign, a $20 million sustaining fund that will ensure children’s academic prosperity for generations to come.

The Junior Board of Mercy Home gives young professionals a special opportunity to aid children in crisis. Their goal is to promote the mission of Mercy Home by engaging young professionals through social, volunteer and fundraising activities.

Members, in addition to having a wonderful time, had opportunities to network with other professionals from diverse backgrounds and industries who share a similar concern for children in crisis.

As the evening developed, guests decided to both mingle and boogie on the dance floor. While guests were looking forward to attending the official after-party at Cuvée, many were not able to do so: the club denied entrance to many Have Mercy! Gala attendees.

In addition to supporting programs facilitating the welfare of children in the Chicagoland area, Mercy Home encourages their youth to understand and accept civic and community responsibilities.

This happy couple was all-smiles as they made their way towards the dance floor.

Jim Marrese, Director of Corporate Sponsorship at Mercy Home, described the importance of the Junior Board to PdM. "It's a great time and the energy they bring is always for a good cause."

As the clocks began to near midnight, guests took the time to get a few pictures with some of their close friends and professional acquaintances.

While the after-party was a flop due to Cuvée's negative attitude toward Mercy Home and their gala's guests, the Junior Board knew how to let loose and throw a successful event with a philanthropic mission. In addition to raising funds benefiting youth programs, the crowd made a true effort to understand the disparities children encounter daily in Chicago while discussing manners to foster positive changes.

Une soirée remplie de plaisir et de la philanthropie vaut en profiter.