Rev. L. Scott Donahue is the president and CEO of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls and the principal celebrant of the popular televised “Sunday Mass at Mercy Home” program, which reaches more than 50,000 Chicago-area shut-ins.
Fr. Scott has worked with Mercy Home since 1990, when he joined its Board of Regents. In 1993, Fr. James Close, then-president of Mercy Home, invited Fr. Scott to join him in working directly with the children. Fr. Scott was named Mercy Home’s Associate President in 1996, a position he held for 10 years.
During his tenure as associate president, Fr. Scott instituted Mercy Home’s MercyWorks faith-based volunteer program and assisted Fr. Close in raising $10 million in order to expand and provide for even more kids in crisis. Thanks to the efforts of the two priests and the support of committed donors, the Rev. James J. Close Home opened in August 2003, enabling Mercy Home to accommodate 40% more youth than ever before. In 2006, Fr. Close retired after 33 years of leadership. With the blessing of Francis Cardinal George, Fr. Scott became Fr. Close’s successor and Mercy Home’s eighth president.
