Philanthropy as a Family Value

July 30, 2026

This summer, members of the Speh family came to Mercy Home to tour their namesake residential program and offer encouragement to our young people.

“When I was young, my grandfather found out about Mercy Home,” Wood said. “Around Christmastime, we would go [to Mercy Home] as a family and buy Christmas gifts for the kids.”

Their involvement continued to grow, according to Wood. “Before the foundation started, the whole family was involved at Mercy Home in some way,” she said.

When Wood was in graduate school, Albert and Claire came up with the idea to start a foundation dedicated to helping young people.

“I believe that our country is only as strong as its commitment to its youth,” the late Albert Speh wrote in the foundation’s legacy statement.

Reflecting on her years of work with the family-led board of directors, Wood said “we’ve tried to adhere to what he [Albert Speh] and my grandmother were passionate about, which was definitely the children of Chicago.”

The trip was also intended to excite the youngest generation of Speh family members about service and philanthropy, a principle Albert Speh also articulated in the foundation’s legacy statement. Several of the couple’s great grandchildren helped the adults purchase hygiene supplies and other gifts at Target for use by our young people and made cards with words of encouragement for Speh Home residents.

Fr. Scott welcomed the group, some of whom came from as far as California and New York for the visit. Fr. Scott showed them a painting of the Madonna and child surrounded by sunflowers, noting these as his favorite flower. He told them the story of St. Julie Billiart who founded the Sisters of Notre Dame. St. Julie used the sunflower as a spiritual metaphor, encouraging her sisters, students, and others to keep unwavering focus on God in all things:

“Be like the sunflower that follows every movement of the sun, and keep your eyes always turned toward our good God,” St. Julie taught.

Fr. Scott said for this reason, the sunflower was his favorite flower.

Guests also toured Speh Home, where they learned more about the daily routines and activities of the young people living there.

The afternoon underscored the ways that the Speh family’s kindness spans generations. In 2016, a large group representing the foundation came to the Home to celebrate 20 years of service and support. The foundation provides funding for many areas of our work, including education and career programs. Additionally, they help make birthdays special for our young people by providing gift cards.

“We are incredibly grateful for all the ways the Speh family supports Mercy Home’s young people,” said Mercy Home Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Elizabeth Norden. “It was wonderful to meet the youngest Speh children–such kind-hearted boys and girls already bringing goodness into this world.”