My husband and I run the Chicago Marathon every year. Each year, we say we should run for charity, but when I would research, we could never find a good fit in the Chicago area. When I received a note from Jim calling all Mercy Home Heroes, it seemed like the perfect time to finally put our miles toward a cause. At first glance, Mercy Home seemed amazing, but I had no idea just how amazing. Mercy Home hosted an introduction night for all the Mercy Home Heroes at their boys home location where we were able to tour the location and learn more about what they do. I was completely blown away. It was truly an organization that synced up with my personal passions and values. The leadership philosophy and compassion within the walls of Mercy Home were undeniable. What stood out to me the most was not just that Mercy Home was doing a fantastic job of helping Chicago’s youth, but they are teaching skills and growing them into strong adults. They do not treat their students differently or give them excuses to be anything less then their full potential, and this is seen so much in the stories and interactions I had with the students at Mercy Home.