The Herald - Spring 2020

4
Archangel Corner
For the boys and girls of
Mercy Home, a promise
can be an extraordinary
thing. Before coming to
our door, many of our
young people never had
much they could rely on.
Too often, they had been neglected, abused, and abandoned
by the very people who should have loved them most.
So you can imagine the power a promise holds for these
children. When we welcome them into Mercy Home, we
promise them warmth, safety, and nourishment. With thanks
to good friends like you, we can support our young people’s
healing and offer them hope for brighter tomorrows.
The Archangel Society at Mercy Home takes this promise
even deeper, making an incredible commitment to our kids:
Archangels pledge to remember the children of Mercy Home
in their will, trust, or as a beneficiary of any other financial
account. This dedication is a powerful way to continue their
support, even after their time on Earth is done. We are so
grateful to each and every one of these Archangels—like
Mary, who generously shares her story with us today.
Like many of us, Mary was brought up to respect the value
of hard work. She studied diligently in school, went on to law
school, and then worked tirelessly to establish a career for
herself. Her efforts paid off as she became an accomplished
lawyer, first for the American Medical Association and later,
the American Bar Association. Now retired, she has been
sharing her support since hearing of Mercy Home from a
dear friend.
“When I learned what Mercy Home does, I thought to myself,
‘that’s an absolutely wonderful place to make my major
charity,” she remembered.
When asked what drew her to our Home, she does not
hesitate to answer. “Providing a safe and good place for
children should be any society’s first priority. Children are the
future and they are entitled to have the equipment they need
to lead a good life,” Mary said.
With each dollar she gives, Mary finds comfort knowing
her support helps provide a warm, loving environment for
children in need. We remain tremendously thankful for
Mary’s promise to our children, and for her commitment to
their bright futures. If you would like to learn more about the
Archangel Society, or to become a member, please reach out
to Mercy Home’s Philanthropy Team for more information.
Louise Borosak
Philanthropic Advisor
Beth Lye
Philanthropic Advisor
Tricia A. Rooney, J.D.
Philanthropic Advisor
Phillip Zielinski
Director of Philanthropy
Mercy Home’s Philanthropy Team
offers remarkable expertise in
helping you make a lasting impact.
They have over 50 years combined
experience in financial planning,
investing and philanthropic services.
Their areas of expertise include:
• Working with families to identify
and achieve financial and giving
goals.
• Taking a personal and holistic
approach, understanding that
your plan is uniquely yours.
• Reducing or eliminating potential
tax implications, including capital
gains, income and estate.
• Maximizing your impact on the
people and charities closest to
your heart.
While we are commonly known as
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, our
legal name is Mission of Our Lady
of Mercy, Inc. and our Tax ID Number
is 36-2171726.
Do not hesitate to contact us
at 1-800-378-8266 or
plannedgift@mercyhome.org
with specific questions, or
simply to start a conversation.
For more information visit us at
MercyHome.GiftLegacy.com
1140 W. Jackson Blvd
Chicago, IL 60607
1.800.378.8266
This publication is prepared exclusively for the information of our
friends and donors. Its purpose is to point out current tax developments
which may be helpful in your tax and financial planning. This material is
based on recent court decisions and current laws and regulations. You
should, of course, consult your own legal, tax or financial planner as to
the applicability of any item to your own situation.
In This Issue
Letter From Father Scott................. 1
Charitable Gift Annuities................ 2
AfterCare Story............................... 3
Archangel Corner........................... 4
Dear Friends
Life comes with so
much uncertainty...
Looking back over the
years, I can remember so
many moments when I was
forced face-to-face with the unknown. Whether I
awaited a school acceptance letter or the results
of a medical exam, not knowing the outcome
was often worrisome, frustrating, and downright
uncomfortable.
No matter how much we prepare and plan for the
future, there’s no telling what the days and years
ahead will bring. All we can do is lean into our faith
and trust in the Lord’s path for us, knowing that in
His wisdom He will provide. And yet, there are those
moments—as few and far between as they are—
when life hands us an extraordinary guarantee. The
comfort such reassurance brings is reason enough to
celebrate.
That is why with this issue of The Herald, our
Philanthropy team is delighted to offer you a special
guarantee—a giving method that ensures financial
support for both you and Mercy Home. Turn to the
center of this newsletter to learn about how you
SPRING 2020
can receive guaranteed fixed payments for the rest of
your life with a charitable gift annuity. But act fast: our
rates are only guaranteed until June 30 of this year!
In this edition, you will also read about two incredible
women. One, a former Mercy Home resident, who is
now thriving within our Aftercare program—thanks in
part to your generous support. The other, a dedicated
friend like you, who has made the life-giving decision
to include our young people in her will, guaranteeing
her remarkable gifts of support and friendship
continue on long after she leaves this world.
Uncertainty can be daunting. Oftentimes it leaves us
unmoored and scared—feelings the children of Mercy
Home were all too familiar with before coming to our
door. I’d like to thank you, a thousand times over, for
all you do to assure them of that which is certain in
their new lives: that they are worthy, supported, and
deeply loved.
Thank you and God bless you!
Blessings,
Fr. Scott Donahue

2
3
Charitable Gift Annuities
AGE: 82
GIFT AMOUNT:
$10,000
GIFT TYPE: STOCK
2020 TAX SAVINGS:
-$6,025
INCOME FOR LIFE:
$830 PER YEAR
A CASE STUDY OF BENEFITS
Tom, age 82, plans to donate to Mercy Home some long-held stock worth
approximately $10,000. He would like to receive some income in return for his gift of
stock, so he decides to give in exchange for a charitable gift annuity. Because of his
age, Tom is entitled to a payout rate of 8.3%, or $830 per year.
Tom will also receive a charitable tax deduction of $4,525 for this gift on his 2020
Federal tax return. And because he made this gift using stock, he also avoids
significant capital gains tax of $1,500 that he would owe if he would have simply
sold the stock.
In all, Tom made a $10,000 gift to the children of Mercy Home, saved $6,025 in taxes,
and will continue to receive $830 per year for the rest of his life.
As Father Scott mentioned on the front page of this
magazine, life is full of uncertainties. We never know what
tomorrow may bring, and this can be a scary thought. This
is why it is so reassuring when we find that elusive sure
thing: a guarantee of stability, no matter what the future
may bring.
We are happy to offer you a rare sure thing: a fixed payment
from Mercy Home through a Charitable Gift Annuity.
The concept is simple. A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)
allows you to make an investment in the young people who
live at Mercy Home, claim a charitable tax deduction, and
receive a cash return on your investment.
You read that right: Mercy Home will actually pay you to
make this type of gift. These regular payments are fixed and
depend on your age—up to 10.7% of your gift per year!
You can opt to begin receiving payments immediately, or
defer them to increase your rate of return. Best of all, these
payments are guaranteed for the rest of your life (so no
matter what happens with the economy, your health, or the
state of the world, you will always receive the same fixed
payment from Mercy Home).
Giving through a charitable gift annuity is a unique way to
support Mercy Home, and secure your own financial future.
Just as your support enables us to offer a better life for our
kids, we are pleased to offer financial security for you and
your loved ones. We’re able to do this because of our longstanding
commitment to fiscal responsibility (one of many
virtues we teach to our children).
Mercy Home offers some of the best rates in the country—
but act fast as these rates are only guaranteed through
June 30, 2020! See sample rates below, and contact us
for a free personalized gift illustration.
It’s As Easy As 1-2-3
1. You give a gift of $1,000 or more to Mercy Home
using cash, stock, or other assets.
2. You receive a charitable tax deduction in the year
you make the gift.
3. You receive fixed payments for life, guaranteed
to remain constant—no matter what.
Charitable Gift Annuity Rates
AGE
RATE*
60 5.2%
65 5.6%
70 6.1%
75 7.1%
80 7.9%
85 9.0%
90+ 10.7%
*These rates are only guaranteed until June 30, 2020—Act Fast!
It has been more than a
year since Dejaenae moved
on from our residential
care, and her life today
looks far different from
when she first stepped
foot inside Mercy Home.
Dejaenae arrived at our door as a reckless student who
made poor choices, skipped classes, and racked up
countless school suspensions. With her dad in and out of
jail, Dejaenae lived with her mom—but the two struggled to
get along, making home life tense. A smart kid, she hardly
had to work to meet her school’s low grade expectations,
which meant she had a lot of free time to do as she pleased.
It wasn’t until Dejaenae had been suspended every week
for two months that the administration told her she was
not allowed back for the remainder of the school year. That,
she said, was a wake-up call and she and her mom began
looking for solutions.
Soon after, Dejaenae’s mom brought her to Mercy Home,
where she would spend the next 10 months working to
carve out a future for herself. At first, she was a reluctant
resident, falling into familiar patterns—challenging authority
figures and finding herself in trouble. Then, one of Mercy
Home’s remarkable youth care workers was able to get
through to this hurting young woman.
“I knew I had made mistakes,” remembers Dejaenae. “But
Angela [a youth care worker] reminded me of all the things
AfterCare Story
I had done well and she helped me realize that I needed
to accept the help Mercy Home was offering me.”
From then on, Dejaenae was all in, diving into her
schoolwork and taking advantage of every therapeutic
resource your friendship helps provide. During her time
with us, she worked diligently—on her schoolwork and
her character.
“Mercy Home gave me so much,” she says. In our care, she
worked to take her schooling seriously; interact respectfully
with others, and ask for help when she needed it. Dejaenae
also was encouraged to strengthen her relationship with
both her parents, crediting Mercy Home for the loving
bonds she now shares with them.
But of all the gifts Mercy Home—and generous folks like
you—gave her, Dejaenae is most grateful for her education.
“Mercy Home gave me so much”
She still attends the school in which Mercy Home placed
her and she is thankful for a safe learning environment that
offers structure and a good challenge. She’s graduating high
school this year and has her heart set on a bright future—
law school and a career as a public defendant. Our Mercy
Home family is brimming with pride for Dejaenae, and we’re
confident that, with continued support, this young woman
can accomplish anything she dreams.