Betting on a Great Night: Mercy Home Poker Night Another Success

February 12, 2026

This year’s 13th annual Mercy Home Poker Night fundraiser proved that even a baker’s dozen can be a lucky number. Held at The Forum @ 110 inside the Bank of America Tower in January, the event was yet another full house, bringing together more than 275 card sharks, high rollers, novices, and spectators alike. The popular annual gathering provides a welcome measure of Las Vegas sizzle to a chilly Chicago winter evening. And with the proceeds supporting our mission, the biggest winners of the night are always our young people.

Guests enjoyed a mouthwatering array of food catered by Gibsons, the former home of the first many Mercy Home Poker Nights, as well as casino tables, raffles, and the evening’s main event, a Texas Hold’em tournament. There were numerous incredible prizes on the line this year, including the grand prize, a seat at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Before the first cards were dealt, Fr. Scott Donahue thanked guests for their support of Mercy Home at events like Poker Night and all year long. This year’s gathering echoed past years’ success with another sold-out and enthusiastic crowd. Poker Night began after Mercy Home board member Peter Argianas, Chairman, President, and CEO of Gold Coast Bank, approached the Home about creating a new fundraising event for the Home that leveraged the popularity of Texas Hold ‘Em style poker. Since the first hand was dealt in 2014, interest in Mercy Home’s Poker Night event has snowballed, seeing larger crowds year after year. Held in late January when fewer social events dot the calendar, the Mercy Home Poker Night is always one of Chicago’s best bets for beating back the midwinter blues. 

In addition to raising funds, special events like Poker Night bring the opportunity to introduce new friends to Mercy Home and connect them with ways to support the work we do. We are thankful to our event host committee for bringing friends to join us for this fun night of poker, togetherness, and helping youth and families. The night provided great opportunities for guests to interact with Mercy Home coworkers and board members and learn more about our mission. 

This year’s raffle included a chance to win prizes that included a Bartesian professional cocktail maker, a Sonos Era 300 speaker, Bose headphones, a Ooni Karu pizza oven, and a liquor basket. Poker players vied for incredible prizes like four mid-court tickets to a Bulls vs. Nuggets game, Blackhawks tickets that included a post-game meet and greet with team captain Nick Foligno, all-inclusive 1914 Club tickets to see the Chicago Cubs, a golf threesome at The Beverly Country Club, an Air & Water Show experience for six, a Sony Bravia 5 mini LED TV, an overnight stay at the Godrey Hotel with a Gibsons gift card, and of course, the grand prize of a seat at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, valued at $10,000. 

The funds raised at Poker Night, including ticket sales, sponsor sales, tournament rebuys, raffle ticket sales, and other donations, will make a positive impact on the support we provide our boys and girls here at Mercy Home.

We are thankful to our board members who made this event possible. Without their support in securing sponsors, inviting guests, and providing auction items, this event would not have been such a success. We are also grateful to this year’s presenting sponsor, Performance Wealth, for their support. Thank you also to our Royal Flush sponsors, Cavanaugh Sorich Law Group and Outdoor Interiors, and our media sponsor, 670 The Score. 

Thank you to all our guests, host committee, event staff and volunteers, and all our generous sponsors. Because of you, this was an incredible night of competition and community. We look forward to seeing everyone at Poker Night 2027 and at any of the exciting fundraising events held throughout the year!