The Herald - Summer 2021

4
Archangel Corner
Dedication is a theme that runs through
much of Tim and Karen Bondy’s life
together. Describing themselves as
“life-long soulmates,” the couple is on the verge of celebrating their
47th wedding anniversary. They’ve raised two children, committed
themselves to fulfilling careers in finance and education, and have
lent their loyal support to Mercy Home for nearly three decades.
Now relishing their retirement—and the time with their grandkids
it affords—Tim and Karen took a moment to reflect on their
relationship with Mercy Home, and how their Donor Advised Fund
empowers them to easily support the causes they love.
‘We Value the Compassionate Care’
“The full range of services at Mercy Home is pretty stunning to
think about. When you reflect on what some of those kids might
otherwise have faced, it truly is a gift from God,” Tim shared. Karen
was quick to add, “We continue to support Mercy Home because
we value the compassionate care for these very vulnerable children
who have very few resources.”
‘A Gift the Tax Code Gives’
“[Our financial planner] advised us to create a Donor Advised Fund
(DAF), but I didn’t do anything about it for a few years because
I didn’t think we had enough to make a difference,” said Tim.
“Eventually, we started out with a small amount in a DAF, spreading
it out very carefully. Since then, we’ve consistently used the fund for
a variety of Mercy Home support, and it’s been a real treat to see
how that fund has helped us and Mercy Home over the years.”
“Broadly speaking, a DAF is a gift the tax code gives,” he continued.
“We’ve been blessed by being able to fund our DAF primarily with
securities that otherwise might have been taxed by the government.
That’s one of the great things about the fund—it allows you to
bypass the tax man and makes available more funds to support the
charitable causes you believe in.”
‘Just Like Family’
“We think parenting adult children has certainly been as challenging
as parenting toddlers or teenagers, in its own unique way. And
to think our children have had us to come back to has shown us
that they still need us in ways they don’t even understand,” Karen
explained. “That’s why what Mercy Home does is so important,
because they provide a resource—a lifelong connection—that is
continuing just like family. And that’s what Mercy Home is.”
Our family is forever grateful to Archangels like Tim and
Karen who, not only give generously of their support and
prayers, but have also included Mercy Home in their
estate plans.
Louise Borosak
Philanthropic Advisor
Beth Lye
Philanthropic Advisor
Phillip Zielinski
Director of Philanthropy
Mercy Home’s Philanthropy
team can help you to change a
child’s life while continuing to
care for the needs of yourself
and your family. 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 your tax burden
through charitable giving.
• 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.
Simplify Your Giving with a Donor Advised Fund.........................2
“Your Love Changed My Life”..........................................................3
Archangel Corner...............................................................................4
Dear Friends
In the thick of these summer days, it’s hard not to see this season for what it
is—an invitation to reflect on the miracles surrounding us. With each bursting
bloom, each cloudless stretch of sky, each chorus of morning bird song, it’s
as if we’re beckoned to slow down and revel in what God has created. The
divine is all around us, in nature and in one another, but how often do
we pause to see it?
It’s often in these summer months that I remind myself to seek out the Lord’s
beauty in every place I go. And it isn’t hard to imagine that it’s bountiful
here at Mercy Home, in part because of good people like you. By God’s
grace, friends like you have opened your hearts to our young people, blessing them with a path
toward a brighter future. The fact that you’re here, supporting these children, is evidence of the
Lord at work.
In this issue of The Herald, our Philanthropy team reflects more on His miracles. You will read
about two generous-hearted Archangels who have supported Mercy Home for nearly three decades,
touching the lives of countless children. You will also hear from Tory, a remarkable young man who
found the strength and healing he needed at Mercy Home and is now pursuing his dreams. But first,
I hope you will turn the page to learn about a simple, effective way to continue your support
of Mercy Home, and every charitable cause you hold dear.
During these summer days, I pray you will join me in seeking out His presence in everything
you do. I know this practice has strengthened my faith and made me ever more grateful for
extraordinary friends like you.
Blessings,
Fr. Scott Donahue
SUMMER 2021

2 3
Simplify Your Giving with
a Donor Advised Fund
We often hear from our donors that they support many
charitable causes in addition to the kids at Mercy Home.
We think this is terrific, as there are so many worthy ways to
make our world a better place!
But we also hear about the burden that comes with splitting
your philanthropic dollars among many different charities:
the check-writing, the tax letters, the stacks of mail. If this
sounds familiar, you may be interested in simplifying your
giving with a Donor Advised Fund.
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a simple, flexible tool which
allows you to manage and maximize your giving to support
the causes that matter to you most. A DAF gives you the
ability to make a single significant gift to support multiple
charities, and lets you simplify your giving.
What is a DAF?
You might think of a DAF as a kind of charitable checking
account: you fund it with cash, stocks, or other assets, and
receive an immediate tax deduction when you do so. After
funding the account, you can choose an investment strategy
for your charitable dollars (similar to a retirement fund), so
this account can grow over time. You then decide where
to direct this giving, and how best to support the work of
your favorite charities, like Mercy Home.
Giving through a DAF allows you to fund the account and
make charitable gifts on your own time-line. For instance,
you can “bunch” several years’ worth of giving into a
DAF and take a charitable deduction in one year while
supporting your favorite charities over time. It’s also a
great way consolidate complex assets—such as business
interests, closely held stock, or real estate—into a single
philanthropic account.
But a donor advised fund isn’t just reserved for the
very wealthy. In fact, it’s a great tool for anyone who
is committed to charitable giving.
DAFs offer many of the same benefits of a family
foundation, but are cheaper to establish, and much more
flexible to administer. And like a foundation, a DAF can be a
great way to engage your family and heirs in philanthropy.
Giving your children and grandchildren the ability to
research their own causes and become involved in building
something great can show them the importance of giving
back. It’s an excellent way to teach loved ones about your
values and learn more about their values as well.
At Mercy Home, we believe that philanthropy should
be approached with the same level of attention as any
investment plan. The challenge is to give intentionally and
effectively, so that your gifts make the greatest difference to
the people and organizations who need them most. A DAF
can help you do all of this, while maximizing your impact
and simplifying your giving.
1
2
3
As Easy as
1, 2, 3
A Donor Advised Fund is a simple, flexible,
and tax-efficient way to support Mercy Home
and all your favorite charities. It acts like a
charitable savings account, and is as simple as
“Give, Grow, Grant!”
GIVE. Open your DAF account with a gift of cash,
stock, real estate, or any other marketable asset.
You will receive an immediate tax deduction,
which will reduce your tax bill in the year of
the gift.
GROW. Invest your charitable gift (tax-free)
to increase your impact when you’re ready to
distribute to charities.
GRANT. Invest in the life of a child at Mercy
Home. Or fund a scholarship at your alma mater.
Or contribute to your local animal shelter. When
you’re ready to make a donation, simply ask your
DAF administrator to direct a grant to Mercy
Home or any other charity of your choosing.
Changed
“YOUR LOVE
My Life”
In the years since he left our residential care, Tory has also
reconnected with his father, repairing a relationship that he
is grateful to have today. Here, he opens up about the
lessons he learned at Mercy Home and the opportunities
he was given, thanks to the support of friends like you.
Tory was in 8th grade when he arrived at our door. After
living in homeless shelters, the stability and structure he
found at Mercy Home came as welcomed relief. Now, at
29, he’s grown into a hardworking young man, employed
as a computer numerical control machinist—a job that finds
him building parts for steel mills—and helming his own
trucking business.
Coming to Mercy Home
“I lived in a broken home, bouncing around with my mother.
There wasn’t any sense of stability, and Mercy Home
provided that for me. [Mercy Home] allowed me to go to
a better school and break away from the environment that
I was brought up in. It allowed me to grow and blossom
into something else, which I’m grateful for. I [still] talk to a
few staff members. A lot of them are mentors that I like
to bounce ideas off of. I like to let them know I’m still
doing okay.”
Discovering His Path
“I had a pretty full schedule when I was at Mercy Home
because I was always at basketball practice or football
practice. [After graduating high school], I went to Ball State
University and played a little football, then transferred to
Eastern Illinois. Football was just a stepping stone. Getting
out of college and starting my adulthood, I picked up a
trade. I’m a CNC machinist. I’ve been doing that ever since
and it’s led me all over. I started in Wisconsin, moved back
to Chicago, and now I’m in Dallas. People will bring a
mechanism to me, big heavy industrial equipment, and
I build parts for steel mills.”
Lessons to Last a Lifetime
“Mercy Home has helped me understand that there are
consequences for your actions and as an adult you are held
accountable. I try to always remember that. The structure of
Mercy Home has [helped me as an] adult… I had to think
back to my Mercy Home days, [how we had] study time,
chore time, gym time, going to bed at a decent time, waking
up at a decent time. It actually helps. [Now] I understand
why and think about it to this day because of Mercy Home.”
Tory’s success is testament to the life-changing power of friends like
you. Through your loyal support, this remarkable young man found the
healing, hope, and strength he needed to build a better future for himself.
God bless you for all you do!