19th Annual Graduates' Luncheon Program Book

1
Program
19th Annual Graduates’ Luncheon
Honoring Mercy Home for Boys & Girls’
Class of 2021
Tuesday, June 8
Proud supporter of
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls

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How to Watch
ON A DESKTOP OR MOBILE DEVICE
Click here to watch the livestream, chat with other attendees, make a donation,
and more!
BEFORE JUNE 8:
ON YOUR TV
Visit the Graduates’ Luncheon website, which will redirect to the YouTube page for
the livestream.
Click the “Set reminder” button so you’re notified when the livestream is about to
start.

3
While you’re on the page, click the Subscribe button to keep up with the latest videos
from Mercy Home. Next, click the bell so you’re notified every time a new video is
posted!
Make sure you have the YouTube app set up on your TV.
Here are instructions:
On smart TVs
On Apple TV
Casting from your phone
On Amazon Fire
On Roku
ON JUNE 8:
Ready for the big event? Turn on your TV and access YouTube using the instructions
above.
Use the search feature and type in “19th Annual Graduates’ Luncheon.” The event
should be at the top of the page. Click on the video and it will start when we go live!

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About Mercy Home
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls provides critical, life-saving care and support for more than
1,400 children and family members every year.
Our full-time, residential programs provide around-the-clock care within a safe and stable
home for young people, ages 11 to 21. Children who have experienced adversity and trauma
from abuse, neglect, poverty, housing instability, loss, or community violence before coming to
live at Mercy Home are given the opportunity to rebuild their lives and the encouragement to
realize their dreams. We offer therapeutic, life skills, academic, and vocational support in order
to help young people build futures of self-reliance and success.
Mercy Home’s Community Care program extends our support to youth and families so that
they can continue to achieve their goals. Meanwhile, our volunteer mentoring program,
known as Friends First, matches young people with adult role models who encourage healthy
personal and social development. And through our admissions process, we offer professional
referrals to hundreds of children and families every year who need additional supports from
qualified social service programs throughout the Chicago area.
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is a not-for-profit agency that raises nearly all of the funds
it needs to save young lives through private sources—including the generosity of today’s
luncheon guests. We operate on two Chicago campuses—a home for boys in Chicago’s West
Loop, a home for girls in Chicago’s Beverly community.

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Today’s Program
12:00 pm Program Commences
Jim Williams
Emcee
Invocation
Father Scott Donahue
President & CEO, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls
Presenting Sponsor Presentation
AT&T
Keynote Address
Dr. Angelique Richard, PhD, RN, CENP
Chief Nursing Officer, Rush University Medical Center and
Rush University System for Health
Senior Vice President of Hospital Operations,
Rush University Medical Center
Graduate Address
Mary M.
Paddle Raise
Micah Materre
WGN Evening News Anchor
12:50 pm Program Concludes
EMPOWER YOUTH THROUGH EDUCATION
Thanks to a generous matching gift from Robert
R. McCormick Foundation, we will receive an
additional $50,000 if we reach our goal of
$100,000 in donations before or during this event!
Donate now to help us to reach our goal and make
the gift of education go even further for our young
men and women. Thank you for your support!
DONATE NOW

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Mercy Home for Boys & Girls
Class of 2021
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Malik A.
Omar B.
Mikal C.
Jacob G.
Mia G-M.
Troy’auna I.
Kalen J.
Melissa J.
Carlos L.
Tony L.
A’Naiya M.
Saria M.
Joanna N.
Alexa R.
Chastity R.
Deborah C.
Antonio F.
Khalid G.
Vincent G-R.
Rashaun J.
HIGH SCHOOL
Alejandra M.
Renee M.
Zion M.
Zitali M.
Antonio M-B.
Wonyell N.
Aaron R.
Codell R.
Fernando R.
Galilea R.
Michale R.
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE
Nadine A. Alan M. Yasmin R-B.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Mary M. Tyrone N.
MASTER’S DEGREE
Jessica P.

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The Leader Council of
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls
The Leader Council generates critical funding for education that offers Mercy Home’s children
a fresh start. All dollars raised through the Graduates’ Luncheon will support educational
programs at Mercy Home, assuring that kids have the resources they need to overcome
achievement gaps, such as math and reading workshops, job readiness programs, afterschool
coursework, tutoring, and more.
By hosting this luncheon, the Leader Council members not only celebrate the hard-won
academic achievements of the graduates of Mercy Home, but they ensure that all of our
children will have the educational resources they need to break the cycle of abuse and enjoy
a lifetime of success.
Chair: Marcy Twardak
Co-Chair: Emily Cole
Nancy Bentley, PhD
Sue Bettman*
Deirdre Bormes
Eileen Bower
Beth Bracco
Micae Brown
Juliann Cecchi
Jean Ratty Chidley
Patty Meagher Clare
Tracey Coyne
Lisa DeCristofaro
Mary Dempsey*
Mary Dominiak
Susanne Dumbleton, PhD
Elizabeth (Liz) Evans
Julie Fitzgerald
Susan Flood
Emily Garrison
Patricia Gianone
Valerie Giardini
Bridget Gibbons
Karen Golden
Susan Golden
Anne T.C. Harney
Nancy Iannotta
Caroline Becker Joss
Claire Koeneman
Katie Kornel
Elizabeth (Lisa) Krepps
Sook Lee
Anne Leyden
Kerry Long
Jennifer Lyons
Claire Manaois
Natalie Martini
Kathleen M. McCabe
Ann Mendelsohn
Alexandra Mihalas
Eileen Mitchell*
Kendra V. Moten
Mary Mulhern
Mary Kay Mulvaney, PhD
Kathleen McDonough
Mundo
Kerry O’Hare
Katina Panagopoulos
Rachael Phillippe
Diana Pisone
Lora Powers
Maureen Gainer Reilly
Virginia Rugai
Mary Lee Schneider
Katherine (Katie) Smith
Salme Harju Steinberg, PhD
Ivana Taylor
Kathy Taylor
Nancy Temple*
Susan Templeton
Susan Tomilo
Katie Twardak
Monica Tynan
Patricia Vassallo, MD
Laura Wicklander West
Denise Wienand
Nancy Loewenberg Young
*Past Chair

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Educational Supporters
PRESENTING SUPPORTER
AT&T
Nitel
PREMIER SUPPORTERS
Robert R. McCormick
Foundation
Rush University
Medical Center
MEDIA SUPPORTERS
WBBM Newsradio 780AM and 105.9FM
WGN-9
Susan Broy
Codilis & Associates
Emily and Brian Cole
Corboy & Demetrio
Blue Wolf Capital
ComEd
Golden Leadership
GrubHub
SUMMA CUM LAUDE SUPPORTERS
Marti Corcoran/
Coldwell Banker Realty
First Midwest Bank
Lisa Krepps & Phil Zadeik
MAGNA CUM LAUDE SUPPORTERS
KPMG
Rachael Phillippe
Platte River Equity
Thomas A. Russo
Michael J. Leon
Philip H. Corboy Foundation
TransUnion
Mary Lee Schneider
Vista Equity Partners
7 Wire Ventures
Sue Bettman
BMO Harris
Jean Chidley
Tim Cimaglio
Tracey Coyne
Liz Evans
Great Lakes Advisors
Almost Gold
CBS 2 Chicago
CUM LAUDE SUPPORTERS
T. C. Harney
Natalie Martini
NEPC
Northern Trust
Robert Half
Rush Oak Park Medical
Center
Paycom
SPECIAL THANKS
Derek Dalton
Eli’s Cheesecake
Rick Kramer
Scott Pearson
Nancy Temple
Underwriters Laboratories
Vedder Price
Wells Fargo
William Blair
XPonance
Tom Schnecke
Dr. Barbara Ziv

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Today’s Speakers
JIM WILLIAMS
CBS 2 Chicago Anchor-Reporter
Mercy Home Board of Regents Member
Jim Williams is an anchor-reporter for CBS 2 Chicago. As an original member
of Mercy Home’s Board of Regents, Williams has shared his talents, his passion
and his professional expertise to advance the Home’s mission since 1990. He has nearly 40
years of journalism experience. In 2018, Williams was inducted into the National Academy of
Television Arts & Sciences Silver Circle.
FATHER SCOTT DONAHUE
President & CEO of
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls
Rev. L. Scott Donahue is the President/CEO of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls and
leads its strategic vision to care for trauma-affected youth and bring healing to
families. He has been involved with Mercy Home for 30 years. Father Donahue holds master’s
degrees in theology, applied spirituality, and social work. He has authored a book entitled
“Years of Mercy.” He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from St. Xavier University. In
addition to his leadership of Mercy Home and his parish ministry, Father Scott serves as the
principal celebrant of the televised “Sunday Mass at Mercy Home” on WGN-TV Channel 9.
MICAH MATERRE
WGN-TV News Anchor
Micah Materre is an Emmy-award winning journalist and anchor of the WGN-
TV Evening News at Five and Six and the WGN-TV News at Nine and Ten.

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Keynote Speaker
DR. ANGELIQUE RICHARD, PHD, RN, CENP
Chief Nursing Officer, Rush University Medical Center and
Rush University System for Health
Senior Vice President of Hospital Operations,
Rush University Medical Center
Angelique Richard is the Senior Vice President for Hospital Operations and Chief Nurse
Officer for Rush University Medical Center; Chief Nursing Executive for the Rush System;
and the Associate Dean for Practice Rush University College of Nursing. She provides
administrative oversight and accountability for professional nursing practice, operations, and
performance improvement.
Dr. Richard has extensive experience in the field of nursing, leadership, and hospital
operations. Before joining Rush University Medical Center in 2016, she served as the Vice
President, Clinical Operations and Chief Nurse Executive at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
in 2014, ranked #7 nationally for cancer services by the US News & World Reports. Prior
to that, Dr. Richard worked as the Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care
Services at Presence Healthcare – Saint Francis Hospital, where she led her organization to
achieve Magnet Designation, the ANCC’s highest recognition for nursing excellence. She has
held several nursing and hospital leadership roles over her career.
Dr. Richard started her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest,
Illinois, and went on to finish her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Rush University. Additionally,
Dr. Richard received her Master of Science from Rush University. After completing her
master’s degree, she also received a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Illinois.
A published researcher, Dr. Richard co-authored a study, “Reducing central line catheter
infections in bone marrow transplant patients,” which was published in Nursing Clinics of
North America. She also participated as the only nurse representative on Vice President Joe
Biden’s Cancer Moonshot panel discussion at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
and represented Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at the Vice President’s National Moonshot
Cancer Summit in Washington, DC in 2016.

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Featured Graduate
MARY M.
Mary is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she made the Dean’s List
every year and played on the women’s rugby team. She is passionate about
agricultural education and animal welfare, and she loves working with kids.
Her dream is to one day own an educational farm where she teaches children
where their food comes from.

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The Mary Dempsey Scholarship
In 2002, Father James J. Close and Father Scott Donahue approached Mary Dempsey,
president of DePaul College Prep and longtime friend of Mercy Home, to ask for her help in
organizing a group of prominent women who would support educational programs at Mercy
Home. Mary, a staunch advocate for the power of education to transform young lives, graciously
accepted the invitation, and the Leader Council of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls was born.
During Mary’s tenure, the Leader Council quickly grew from its modest beginnings to
double in size and impact, raising much-needed funds for the education of the
disadvantaged young people that come to Mercy Home. As past Leader Council chairman
and current member of Mercy Home’s Board of Regents, Mary remains as committed
as ever to “Empowering Youth Through Education,” continuing to open
numerous doors for the children of Mercy Home.
In appreciation of her dedication and friendship, Mercy Home founded the Mary Dempsey
Scholarship in 2005. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to a deserving young person
who exhibits leadership, academic achievement, and perseverance.
2021 MARY DEMPSEY SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Nadine A.

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Bill Gainer Spirit of Service Award,
Presented by AT&T
Founded by AT&T in 2019, the Bill Gainer Spirit of Service Award honors the memory of a
dearly departed member of Mercy Home’s Board of Regents. In his life and in his 47-year
career at AT&T, Gainer exemplified hard work, dedication, and service to others.
Gainer was also a proud booster for his beloved Chicago, connecting people and
opportunities to make our city better. He was foundational in the establishment of a trade
and tourism mission between Cook County, Illinois and Cork County, Ireland, and he
connected that partnership with Mercy Home. As a result, our friends in Cork County, Ireland
have hosted more than 30 deserving young people from Mercy Home in their country
for this unique cultural exchange since 2010.
So to celebrate his service to our community and to Mercy Home, the Bill Gainer Spirit of
Service Award, Presented by AT&T, is given to one young person living at Mercy Home who
demonstrates a commitment to hard work and to enhancing their community.
2021 BILL GAINER SPIRIT OF SERVICE AWARD WINNER
Noah K.

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Graduate Stories
YAZMIN:
It’s About Where You’re Headed
Yazmin gained the confidence she needed to pursue
college and learn independent living skills, thanks to
Mercy Home’s network of care.
» FULL STORY
NADINE:
A Place to Succeed
Mercy Home’s network of support helped Nadine
realize her dream of going to college.
» FULL STORY
JAMIYAH:
Our Quiet Nest Helped Her Spread Her Wings
Mercy Home’s nurturing learning environment gave
Jamiyah a quiet, peaceful place to blossom as an
intellectual and graduate at the top of her class.
» FULL STORY
WAYNE:
Rolling With the Flow
Community Care Scholar triumphs, thanks
to education, discipline, and donor support.
» FULL STORY

Together we can work to help prevent violence in
our community. That’s why we’re working with local
organizations like Mercy Home for Boys and Girls to
create real change.
Become a Believer at ATTBelieves.com.
A TTBelie v es. c o m

is proud to support
the academic
achievements
of the Mercy Home
graduates.
Congratulations,
Graduates!

CONGRATULATIONS
MERCY HOME
GRADUATES
BEST OF LUCK, CLASS OF 2021!
Nitel is proud to support the
educational oppurtunities that
make your dreams possible.
At Nitel, we create integrated and tailored
managed network and security solutions
that simplify the complex for customers
accessing the cloud.

Congratulations
Graduates!
Rush is proud to support
the Mercy Home for
Boys & Girls and the
work they do to improve
educational opportunities
for young people in Chicago.

Congratulations,
Mercy Home
Graduates!
Susan & Larry
Broy

Whenever you find yourself
doubting how far you can go,
just remember how far you have
come. Remember everything you
have faced, all the battles you
have won, and all the fears you
have overcome.
—Unknown
Congratulations to
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls’
2021 Graduating Class!
Ernie and Pam Codilis

Never doubt
you were
born to do
great things!
We are
so proud
of you.
{
Emily, Brian, Ethan,
}
Adam and Ava Cole

Corboy & Demetrio CFO
Marcy Twardak,
Chair of Mercy Home’s Leader Council,
and the firm congratulate
Mercy Home’s
2021 Graduates
We are so proud of all you have accomplished
and know your future is limitless!

Congratulations to the
2021 Mercy Home
Graduates
Marti Corcoran
2020 International Diamond Society
2018 International President’s Circle
McMullen Office
(773) 802-5092
marti.corcoran@cbexchange.com
www.marticorcoran.com

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE
19 TH ANNUAL
GRADUATES’
LUNCHEON
Congratulations, graduates! May your future
be filled with happiness and achievement.
First Midwest Bank is honored to support the
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls in its mission of
providing a safe, nurturing environment
for young people.
FirstMidwest.com

Special thanks to
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Michael J. Leon
Your generous support has given countless
Mercy Home graduates the opportunity to
build bright futures and better tomorrows.

∏
Congratulations to the 2021 Graduates,
Fr. Scott Donahue and the staff of
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls.
We are proud to support you.
∏
The Philip H. Corboy Foundation
Mary A. Dempsey, President

Education is
a Pathway to
Opportunity
As a proud sponsor of the 2021 Mercy Home Graduates’
Luncheon, TransUnion celebrates the young people
committed to reaching their academic potential.
During these challenging times, we’re even more focused
on our company purpose of Information for Good ® . That
means using information to create opportunities that
enable people to achieve great things. Education has the
power to do the same. As a likeminded organization, we
applaud Mercy Home’s dedication to raise funds that
support continued learning for its youth.
To learn more about TransUnion, visit transunion.com.

Your Brilliant achievement today is remarkable
and only the beginning of future success.
I
•
WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9 proudly supports the leader council
of mercy home for boys and girls and this years graduates.
WBBM
NEWSRADIO
780AM · 105.9FM
wbbmnewsradio.com 11 "# ~ @wbbmnewsradio
_,
Audacy

SINCE 1887
MERCY
HOME
FOR BOYS &GIRLS
WGN-TV salutes
your mission of Mercy ...
and we congratulate all the graduates
and wish them great success.
CHICAGO'S VERY OWN
WGNr:J

Curbside Pickup or Local Delivery
ehungry.com/elischeesecake
773.205.3800
Ship anywhere in the USA!
Shop.elicheesecake.com
800.ELI.CAKE

© 2021 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member
Knowledge
runs deep.
Explore the benefits of lifelong learning.
KPMG joins Mercy Home in support of education and
lifelong learning. Their commitment to developing the
next generation of leaders has helped benefit students
and provided them with a path to a brighter future.
kpmg.com
firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. NDP198102-1A

WAY TO GO,
MERCY HOME
GRADUATES!

Blue Wolf Capital Partners
is proud to support the
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls
www.BlueWolfCapital.com
Congratulations to
Mercy Home’s
2021 Graduates!
6 6 6 6 6
Thomas A. Russo
Managing Member
Gardner Russo & Quinn LLC

Congratulations,
2021
Mercy
Home
Graduates!
VISTA IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls
19th Annual Graduates’ Luncheon
Vista is proud to support the Annual Graduates’ Luncheon and
its aim to build brighter futures for the youth at Mercy Home for
Boys & Girls by creating resources to help empower and improve
educational opportunities for their young people.
Vista is a leading global investment firm. The firm exclusively invests in enterprise software, data and technology-enabled
organizations across private equity, permanent capital, credit and public equity strategies, bringing an approach that
prioritizes creating enduring market value for the benefit of its global ecosystem of investors, companies, customers and
employees. Vista’s investments are anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technologyoriented
transactions and proven, flexible management techniques that drive sustainable growth. Vista believes the
transformative power of technology is the key to an even better future – a healthier planet, a smarter economy, a diverse
and inclusive community and a broader path to prosperity.
Further information is available at vistaequitypartners.com.

Best Wishes to
Mercy Home’s
2021 Graduates!
Dr. Barbara Ziv

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Congratulations from
Our Cum Laude Sponsors
SUE BETTMAN
Congratulations on this amazing accomplishment. Be proud of yourself!
“When we show up, act boldly, and practice the best ways to be wrong, we fail forward.
No matter where we end up, we’ve grown from where we began.”
—Stacey Abrams
BMO HARRIS
Congratulations to the 2021 Mercy Home Graduates!
We admire the hard work and perseverance that you’ve invested
in your education and wish you the best in the future!
TRACEY AND BRIAN COYNE
Greatness isn’t for the chosen few, it’s for the few who consistently choose.
Congratulations, Graduates of 2021!
Tracey and Brian Coyne
LIZ EVANS
Congratulations on your amazing achievement! You have proven to yourself
and the world you can do it. I wish you the very best for the
bright and happy future you deserve. Well done!
Liz Evans
GREAT LAKES ADVISORS
To the Mercy Home 2021 Graduates,
The employees of Great Lakes Advisors are very proud of your hard work
and achievements during elementary school, high school, college,
graduate school, and any other program you may have completed.
It has been an unconventional year, and we stand in grate admiration
of your hard work and commitment. Please know there are many
people cheering for you and supporting you in your ongoing journey.
We hope you enjoy the celebration and continue the hard work!

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T.C. HARNEY
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Congratulations!
T.C. Harney
KATTEN & TEMPLE
Katten & Temple, LLP is thrilled to congratulate the Class of 2021!
NATALIE MARTINI
Congratulations to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls’ 2021 Graduates!
Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors!
Natalie Martini
NORTHERN TRUST
Northern Trust is proud to be a part of your memorable afternoon.
We wish all the graduates blessed and fulfilling futures wherever God calls you.
You should all be very proud of your accomplishments!
NPEC
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs
to the people who prepare for it today.”
Congratulations, Graduates, on behalf of NEPC.
FRAN & LORETTA O’MALLEY
Look out world, here come the 2021 Mercy Home Graduates!
Congratulations to each of you!
We cannot wait to see what your future holds.
From Fran & Loretta O’Malley
and all your supporters at Worsek & Vihon

38
Congratulations from
Our Cum Laude Sponsors continued
OUTDOOR INTERIORS
Dear Graduates,
Congratulations on all your hard work, and wishing you great success
and happiness in your future endeavors!
Your Friends @ Outdoor Interiors
PAYCOM
Congratulations graduates—we are so proud of your accomplishments.
Anything worth doing in life isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.
You all have shown that to all your peers, and you’re such an inspiration.
We cannot wait to see you continue to grow and thrive!
SCOTT AND XAN PEARSON
Dear Class of 2021:
You have achieved much through your hard work,
personal strength, and perseverance, and we are all so impressed by your
accomplishments. Graduation is just the beginning of your success.
Congratulations!
ROBERT HALF
Robert Half congratulates all the 2021 graduates!
RUSH OAK PARK HOSPITAL
Congratulations, 2021 Graduates. Rush Oak Park Hospital is proud
to support Mercy Home for Boys & Girls and their unwavering
commitment to ensuring brighter futures for children.

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UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES
Congratulations to the 2021 graduates of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls.
Reaching this milestone in your lives is an impressive accomplishment, even more
so for you because you overcame obstacles and pushed through barriers to get here.
British designer Rae Smith said, “Adversity shakes the foundation of our character
to see if what we believe and value is worth standing for.” And here you all are,
standing together and celebrating your graduation. Be proud. Be joyous.
What you have succeeded in doing is momentous.
Your supporters and friends at UL
VEDDER PRICE
We congratulate this year’s graduates and proudly support Mercy Home
for Boys & Girls and its mission to provide solutions for at-risk children in Chicago.
WALSH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Congratulations to all of this year’s graduates! All of us at Walsh Construction
Company are very proud of what you have accomplished.
Eric Larsen
Walsh Construction Company
WILLIAM BLAIR
Congratulations to the 2021 graduates! All your hard work and dedication
has paid off, and we are so proud of you. We wish you all the best in your
future endeavors. The sky is the limit!
William Blair

MercyHome.org