Our Kids Count: Graduate Speeches Celebrate Success, Acknowledge Support

June 25, 2025

The 23rd annual Graduates’ Luncheon, hosted by the Leader Council of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, provided attendees with an afternoon of hope and inspiration at the Chicago Hilton on Thursday, June 12. Like always, this special Mercy Home event included stories of success from our graduates, raised support for our young people’s education, and demonstrated the many ways our generous friends make a difference in the lives of our youth, even as they move forward into their futures.

The luncheon is a beloved event because it provides the opportunity for our supporters to celebrate the many accomplishments of our graduates. With an introduction from eighth-grade graduate Julian, our graduates processed through the ballroom and took to the stage to a standing ovation of around 550 guests and coworkers. Eighth-grade graduate Simone then took to the stage to share a little about the upcoming trip to Ireland she and Julian, along with six other youth, would be embarking on the day following the luncheon.

“I’m excited to learn more about the Irish culture and meet new people from overseas,” she said. “It’s just one example of the kinds of learning and growing opportunities that Mercy Home makes possible, thanks to supporters like you.”

Simone then introduced WGN-TV 9 anchor and emcee Micah Materre, who welcomed our guests before introducing Mercy Home President and CEO, Fr. Scott Donahue.

In his remarks, Fr. Scott talked about what St. Thomas Aquinas said about love, which is simply wishing the best for one another.

“It’s something we all need,” he said. “God knows the city and world, we need to love and support one another, to wish the best for others. If we can only continue to love and show that love, the world would be transformed. It would be a better place for all of us.”

Following Fr. Scott’s remarks, our guests enjoyed lunch before Eileen Mitchell, Mercy Home Board of Regents member, former chair of the Leader Council, and the President of AT&T Illinois and Midwest States, addressed our guests on behalf of presenting supporter AT&T.

“As we recognized the great promise of these graduates today, everyone in this room can feel the pride, the joy, and the love for these graduates and for the work of Mercy Home,” she said. “That feeling is a great example of how we are all connected, and we like to think it also shows how connecting changes everything. … In recognition of your journey to this day, and to support your journey beyond this day, AT&T is providing each of your with a laptop of your very own.”

As our young people celebrated this generous gift, Materre returned to thank the companies who supported the event, including presenting sponsor AT&T, match sponsors Robert R. McCormick Foundation and Ullico, premier supporters Exelon and Michael J. Leon, and media supporters WBBM Newsradio 105.9FM and WGN-TV 9, along with other companies who generously support our children’s education.

Joanna, the first of three graduate speakers at this year’s luncheon, took to the stage to share her journey to earning her high school diploma.

Joanna grew up in a close relationship with her mother. Even though she lived in a rough neighborhood, she had happy memories of childhood and earned good grades. But in middle school, she said she started going down the wrong path. She was surrounded by negative influences, and began to fight often with her mom. Her grades dropped. Both she and her mom decided that Mercy Home was the best place to turn things around.

Joanna’s therapist helped her learn to communicate better, and this helped her relationship with her mom improve. They also gave her other tools that would help her succeed, including self-discipline, patience, and knowing when to ask for help.

“They pushed me to do better,” she said. “They wouldn’t let me settle for just ‘okay.’ They saw something in me that I wasn’t even seeing in myself, and they wouldn’t give up until I started believing it, too.”

Joanna moved back in with her mom in high school, but stayed closely connected to Mercy Home through our Community Care program. She and her mom continued with family therapy, and Community Care provided support through a care manager and by helping with the costs, logistics, and encouragement needed to succeed academically.

Joanna will attend Illinois State University in the fall, majoring in biological sciences with a concentration in pre-health. She hopes to become a general surgeon. She reflected on all the people at Mercy Home who helped her get to this point, including her therapist and care manager.

“Years from now, I’ll still remember their advice, and how they made me feel seen and heard when I felt invisible,” she said. “Things I never thought were possible for people like me. Mercy Home is not just some place where ‘troubled kids’ go. It’s a second chance. It’s a place that gives you space to breathe, reflect, and grow, even when it’s uncomfortable. Mercy Home really changed my life.”

Mary Dempsey, Board of Regents member and the founder of the Leader Council, came to the stage to announce that Joanna is this year’s winner of the Mary Dempsey Scholarship. Named in honor of Dempsey’s faithful support of education, the award has been given each year at the event to a Mercy Home youth who exhibits leadership, academic achievement, and perseverance—all traits Joanna possesses.

Dempsey then introduced our next graduate speaker, Jamiyah. Jamiyah shared that she grew up in a home where there were financial struggles and she lacked support when it came to education. A studious and independent-minded student, Jamiyah was determined to build a better life for herself. Jamiyah wanted to go into business, and told everyone who would listen. But few were supportive of her dreams until she came to Mercy Home. She was excited to move in.

“What I loved most, and needed most, was a quiet place with lots of academic and emotional support,” she said. “Once there, I finally had the foundation I need to excel.”

Even when the COVID-19 pandemic hit while Jamiyah was in high school, she remained determined to succeed. She had multiple internships, and was in math club, debate club, and academic decathlon. She graduated at the top of her class, and received the Mary Dempsey Scholarship to continue her education. She enrolled at Harold Washington College, and was active in student life, serving as the president of the Black Student Union, working at an internship, and participating in the Phi Theta Kappa honors society with a 4.0 GPA in finance.

When she moved out of Mercy Home, she too stayed closely connected through Community Care, which continued to provide her with support. She named all the coworkers who helped her along the way, including Vice President of Community Care, Daniel Nelson.

“From the first time I met him, Daniel saw a light in me and helped me nurture it,” she said. “All of you. You were all I had. You were my village.”

Jamiyah graduated from Harold Washington and transferred to DePaul University, where she majored in finance, made the dean’s list four times, and graduated with honors. Following graduation, she started working on a data analytics certificate and is launching a career as a data analyst to help organizations, nonprofits, and communities use data to measure and create impact.

“I want to empower others to drive change from the grassroots to the boardroom,” she said. “My work is more than charts and spreadsheets. It’s about making sure every number counts, especially for those who are too often counted out.”

She ended by acknowledging donors and everyone who supports Mercy Home. “Graduates, statistics show that young people like us are not expected to graduate. But everyone in this room knows we count, and they show it by supporting Mercy Home.”

Materre then welcomed the final graduate speaker, Chris, who recently earned his MBA.

Chris shared that growing up, his father was addicted to alcohol and his parents divorced. He grew up in an unsafe neighborhood, surrounded by the wrong people. In high school, a friend was shot in front of him. Fortunately, he survived, but the incident was a wake-up call for Chris.

“I realized it could have been me,” he said. “I didn’t want to put my family through something like that. I knew if I didn’t change my path and my surroundings, I might end up behind bars or six feet underground.”

After his brother moved into Mercy Home, Chris followed his footsteps by enrolling at North Park University as a student athlete and moving into Mercy Home himself. There he learned all the skills he needed to be successful.

“I was one of the oldest in my program at the time, so I felt like I should set an example for the other kids,” he said. “That allowed me to practice the leadership skills that continue to serve me today.”

He said that that a Mercy Home therapist guided him through many of the difficult changes in his life and noted how coworkers at every level worked together to create a supportive environment.

Those coworkers helped him develop the tools and skills he would need to balance multiple obligations at school and after.

“That’s the thing about Mercy Home. They helped me become confident and independent.”

When Chris moved out of Mercy Home and into the dorms at North Park, he continued to receive support from Community Care. And when Covid hit and he had to move in with his mom, Mercy Home helped his family with groceries, gift cards, and care packages.

Chris graduated with a degree in business and a minor in marketing. He hadn’t planned on going to graduate school, but Mercy Home encouraged him, with extra prodding from his very proud mother. He began the MBA program at North Park while working a job at an engineering and architectural firm. Mercy Home helped him balance work and school. He was hired at Bulley & Andrews, but right after receiving the job, his father passed away. While processing the loss, Chris decided it would only make him more determined to succeed. He became chair of the multicultural group and continued to build relationships. And, with the support of Bulley & Andrews and Mercy Home, Chris became the first in his family to earn a master’s degree.

“I have you, our donors, to thank,” he said. “Although we never met in person, you helped me personally.

He then made what amounted to a closing argument for the afternoon by referring back to the previous graduate speakers.

“And not just me. Joanna’s going to heal people and save lives. Jamiyah’s going to drive change for communities. And 31 other graduates here today are going to make their own mark on the world, with the education you made possible.”

He concluded, It’s a beautiful creation your generosity has built, and for that, we will always be grateful.”

Following Chris’ speech, our graduates exited the ballroom to a round of applause. Fundraiser Chris Hensley then took to the stage to conduct a paddle raise to support the education of our young people. Gifts were matched by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and Ullico up to $50,000 each—a goal that our record-setting pledge amply exceeded. Attendees also participated in a paddle drop for a chance to win a trip to Portugal, raising even more to support our mission.

We are incredibly grateful to our graduate speakers, sponsors, board members, coworkers, and all our guests who made this event such a spectacular success. 

We especially want to thank the Leader Council for once again hosting the Graduates’ Luncheon. We are so grateful to Sue Golden and Bridget Gibbons for their leadership and to the Council members for their investment in our young people’s success.

Founded in 2002 by then Chicago Public Library Commissioner and now Mercy Home Board of Regents member Mary Dempsey, The Leader Council is a volunteer organization of prominent professional women in greater Chicago that supports the education of the young people at Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. The group draws members from among the top levels of Chicago’s business and civic institutions. Members donate their time, talent, financial support, and professional resources to open doors to academic and vocational opportunities for Mercy Home’s children. 

Thanks to their efforts, Mercy Home’s young people go on to succeed in school, in higher education and in their careers. The Graduates’ Luncheon is the Leader Council’s signature annual fundraising event.