Hoops Draft Night Brings in Chicago Bulls

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 by Jenny Giudici

As the Hoops to Homework draft neared, energy was high among Mercy Home’s young men, who all wondered which college team they would be drafted to. As the night approached, they had no idea that a draft pick from their favorite university would be trumped by surprise guests.

As all of the young men gathered in Mercy Home’s Noha Gymnasium, Fr. Scott kicked off the draft by welcoming special guests, Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman, his wife Leslie, Bulls guard Jimmy Butler, Bulls point guard John Lucas III, and Benny the Bull!

“I am deeply grateful to the Bulls organization for being here today,” Fr. Scott said. “You are terrific and you really are a source of inspiration, certainly to me, and to our young people and co-workers here at the Home.”

As each young man was drafted to a college team, Butler and Lucas congratulated them and posed for a photo, while Benny the Bull wrecked havoc on everyone else, spraying youth and co-workers with silly string.

As Hoops to Homework, a weekend basketball league which gives our youth incentive to do better in school, enters its 22nd year, Fr. Scott thanked Tom LeClair, its founder, for his time and dedication to the youth at Mercy Home, and reiterated the impact Hoops has on the young men here.

“This program was designed to help develop the minds, bodies, and spirits [of our youth],” Fr. Scott said. “It is an educational program that challenges [them] to do better in school—to use that great gift of a mind that God gave to [them].”

A special thanks to the Chicago Bulls organization for celebrating our draft night with us, and gifting each youth with a Bulls hat! It certainly made everyone’s night.

Check out photos of the Chicago Bulls at Mercy Home.

 

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2. Chicago Bears and Celebrities Celebrate Thanksgiving at Mercy Home

Tagged: Chicago Bulls, Hoops to Homework     Posted in Photo Gallery