Mercy Home officially rang in the Christmas season with the 27th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, where kids, coworkers, and special guests gathered to shed light on all the ways that compassion, humanity, and service can strengthen ourselves and our city.

After sharing the Christmas story with a hushed crowd, Father Scott Donahue reflected on the majesty of redwood trees, one of the oldest living things on Earth. He marveled at the key to their longevity—a system of horizontal roots that intertwine and support each other and allow the mighty trees to tower over 350 feet in the air.

Father Scott compared the redwoods’ root system to how Mercy Home’s community of support bands together to help those in need, most recently reflected in the Love Chicago campaign, a project that challenged our kids and coworkers to complete random acts of kindness.

“Love Chicago shows ways that we are interconnected; how we hold each other up and together; how we enhance and make better life,” said Father Scott. “To my coworkers at Mercy Home, and certainly to our young people, that’s what you’ve been doing over and over. That interconnectedness reminds us that we’re all a part of the same family of God.”

Youth representatives from each program then spoke about the service projects in which they participated, ranging from making care packages for the homeless and cooking meals at a shelter, to writing letters to sick kids in the hospital and cleaning up abandoned lots, among many other acts of kindness.

Our young people presented Chicago’s First Lady Amy Eshleman with the ceremonial Book of Service, which details each home’s community service projects, illustrating how our boys and girls give back to their community and beyond. Each Christmas for the past 27 years, our young people have presented this summary of service as their gift to the city of Chicago. Eshleman gratefully accepted the book on behalf of the city.

“The mayor and I have had the privilege of visiting Mercy Home many times, meeting with young people, hearing your stories, and celebrating your graduations,” Eshleman said. “After every visit, every conversation, we are filled with hope, for the bright future for all of you, and for our city.”

In gratitude, Eshleman encouraged our kids to build productive futures, not only for themselves, but for others.

“[The lit Christmas tree] symbolizes for us the light that each of you shine on our city through your generosity, your compassion, and your desire to make a difference,” Eshleman added. “Mercy Home is a beacon and model for how we meet the academic, spiritual, and emotional needs of young people, while also challenging them to think about their role in building a better community through service.”

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., and Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez were also on hand to hear our kids inspiring stories.

Mercy Home then honored the Chicago Bulls as our 2019 Corporate Partner of the Year. The legendary NBA franchise has been involved with Mercy Home for over 30 years, helping our young people succeed on and off the court. Generous grants from Chicago Bulls Charities, basketball clinics, and the Bulls-sponsored Hoops to Homework program have helped our young people develop sportsmanship, teamwork, and athletic fundamentals. The Bulls have also giving our youth opportunity to shop for holiday gifts and donated tickets to our kids and coworkers.

On hand to accept the award were former Bulls player Mickey Johnson and Director of Alumni Relations Tony Rokita.

“On behalf of the Chicago Bulls and the Reinsdorf family, we are glad to be a part of Mercy Home—to help spread the love that we can provide to help anyone we can,” said Johnson. “It’s very touching to me. I grew up in north Lawndale and still live there. And I can see the despair of so many people in my neighborhood. Because of Mercy Home, there is hope. Hope is all we have, and we should never lose it.”

Rokita added: “The reason why we’ve been with you 30 years and will continue to do so, is because of all the youth and the incredible staff who work here at Mercy. Thank you so much for honoring us, but we share this with you. You inspire us every day.”

Following the ceremony, guests, coworkers, and kids gathered outside around Mercy Home’s tall fir tree. Father Scott—alongside the officials from the city and from the Bulls, Seton Home’s Anthaniya, and Daley Home’s Deandre—led a joyful countdown before the tree jumped to life with multicolored lights. The crowd then returned to the soccer building to end the night with hot chocolate, cookies, and more fellowship.