The Herald - Fall 2021

4
Introducing
Our New Addition to Our
Philanthropy Team!
We are delighted to introduce you to our
newest Philanthropic Advisor, Adrienne Walsh.
Embodying what’s at the heart of Mercy
Home—a generous spirit and a desire to help
others—Adrienne brings a special perspective
to our team. Years ago, she worked as Father
Scott’s assistant, gaining valuable insight into his
work with Mercy Home’s young people and, of
course, good friends like you.
Following a cross-country move, when Adrienne returned to
Chicago with her husband and two young children, our Mercy
Home family was waiting with open arms. Below, she opens up
about her love of our mission and what she’s most looking forward
to in her new role.
Her Path to Mercy Home
“During the beginning of my professional career, I tutored [a little
boy named Calvin] at Mercy Home after work. It was that one
evening a week that brought more joy to my professional life than
any job I have ever had. Inspired by this feeling, I built my career
around helping children. Particularly, I have dedicated the last
eight years to helping raise the funds necessary to support hurting
children reach a brighter future.
On Working With Father Scott
“I was always in awe of how Father Scott truly has a connection
with our donors. Every day, he takes time to read his mail and
thoughtfully respond. He takes prayer requests especially seriously
and prays for all the benefactors of the Home. I often wonder how
he can juggle all his responsibilities, but I believe God is guiding his
path. Father Scott is an instrument of peace to all he encounters,
most especially our children.
Coming Home
“Coming back to Mercy Home felt like coming back to family.
Mercy Home cares deeply about its children and its coworkers.
Our staff continually goes above and beyond to provide for our
kids and give them all the resources they need to heal from their
painful pasts. Being around this generosity of spirit is truly inspiring
and keeps me motivated to do the best I can for the young people
entrusted to our care.”
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
In This Issue
Letter From Father Scott........................ 1
Gifts of stock can increase your
impact and save you money................... 2
“Your Love Changed My Life”............... 3
Introducing Our New Addition to
Our Philanthropy Team.......................... 4
Every autumn as the leaves change their colors, I am
reminded of the invitation this new season brings. In these
months, the Lord calls us to follow the example of His
natural world and—like the trees releasing their leaves—
let go of that which no longer serves us.
And what a year to practice letting go! With so many
across the globe rocked by anxieties, fear, resentment, and
division, the world seems ripe for exercising our release
valves. Instead of holding onto all the things that disconnect us from one another,
we can instead shift our focus to one of gratitude.
That’s something we can all do a little more of—counting our blessings for
what He has given us, from our daily comforts to the fellowship we share with
one another.
In this issue of The Herald, our Philanthropy team reflects on the many blessings
bestowed upon our Mercy Home family. From a bright young woman who used
the gifts she found in our residential care to chase her dreams for a better future,
to a former co-worker returning Home to support our boys and girls, these pages
are dedicated to stories of remarkable blessings.
Of course, among these godsends are good and generous friends like you.
Through your loyal support, our young people find hope, healing, and the
opportunity to reach for brighter tomorrows. Truly your friendship brings miracles
to our door. That’s why I’m eager for you to turn the page and read about a
method of giving that would benefit Mercy Home’s kids and help lower your
tax bill.
As we inch further into this new season, my prayer for all of us is simple: May we
learn to leave our struggles behind us and instead, look forward with gratitude
and awe.
Blessings,
FALL 2021
A New Chapter
“In this new role, I’m looking forward to connecting with all our
amazing donors! The people who fuel our mission have such big
hearts. I love talking with them and learning what inspires them to
give so generously to our kids. I also look forward to helping our
donors determine what they want to achieve with their giving. It will
be my pleasure to help others make the greatest impact on the lives
of our kids at Mercy Home, while also saving them time and money.”
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.
Fr. Scott Donahue

2 3
Gifts of stock can
increase your impact
and save you money
If you’ve been paying attention these past few years, you
know the stock market has continually broken records
and reached historic highs. At the same time, the market
has welcomed a new generation of investors, entirely new
industries, and even new asset classes to the mix (think of
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies). All of this is terrific news
if you have a brokerage account, because you have more
investment options than ever before—and you’ve probably
seen some excellent profits in the past 5, 10, or 20 years.
But your gains in the market may also have a downside: you
will face a hefty tax bill when it’s time to sell.
Luckily, we have more good news for you: by donating your
appreciated securities to a charity like Mercy Home (instead
of selling them outright), you can avoid capital gains tax
completely, and receive a charitable tax deduction as well.
This strategy is a winner because it allows you to save
taxes twice on a single gift. First, you avoid capital
gains tax on donated securities. Second, you can claim a
charitable deduction for the full fair-market value of the
gift when it’s time to file your taxes.
Plus, your gift will go even further toward the causes you
care about most. Because nonprofits like Mercy Home are
tax-exempt, we are able to use 100% of your donation to
build a brighter future for children in need. Take a look at
the chart below to see how this kind of gift can help you
and the young people served by Mercy Home.
Fair Market Value of Stock
Long-term Capital
Gains Tax paid
Amount Donated to
Mercy Home
Income Tax Savings
(0.32 x donation amount)
Donating appreciated securities
allows your gift to go further,
and lowers your tax bill
Below is an example to help you decide if donating
appreciated investments is a good option for you. Let’s
assume that you’re married and filing jointly, are in the 32%
tax bracket, and want to donate $10,000 worth of stock.
In this example, a donation of stock allows you to avoid
paying capital gains tax, while also receiving a larger
itemized deduction.
As you can see, making a charitable gift of stocks, bonds,
ETFs, or mutual funds (rather than cash) could increase the
value of your donation, grant you a larger tax deduction,
and ultimately save you money.
While many veteran investors know and understand the
value of a stock donation, many more are new to the
market (or are just getting ready to sell after holding for
many years). In fact, donating stock instead of cash is a
smart tax-planning strategy for just about any type of
investor. Whether you’re holding highly appreciated stock
from many years ago, shares from a recent IPO that has
skyrocketed in the past year or two, or stock options offered
from your company, donating securities to charity can be a
“win-win” for all involved.
To learn more about how this donation strategy
can help you, please contact us at 1-800-378-7200 or
plannedgift@mercyhome.org. Or visit our website
for more helpful information and tools at www.
mercyhome.org/plannedgiving.
Sell stock and donate net
proceeds to Mercy Home
$10,000
(100 shares x $100 per share)
Donate stock directly
to Mercy Home
$10,000
(100 shares x $100 per share)
$1,425 $0
$8,575 $10,000
$2,744 $3,200
Finding Her Way
“I moved here originally from Ghana to reunite with my family, but that did not
go as planned. I was in high school and my counselor suggested Mercy Home
because I needed a place to stay. I came to Mercy Home to find a safe place to
live, but I got much more than that. Mercy Home helped me get scholarships to
school, work experience, and internships. They helped me build my resume for
my new period I’m embarking on.
I actually started my college career in nursing. But then I spoke to [Mercy Home
staff member] Cheryl Murphy and she inspired me. From her, I figured out that
accounting would be the route for me and so far, I have no regrets at all.”
Where She is Today
“I graduated from Loyola last year with a degree in finance and
accounting. I work at Mercy Beaucoup [Mercy Home’s retail storefront]
part-time and in the accounting department at an architectural firm as
well. I also decided to take one class toward my real estate license to
see if that might be something I’m interested in.
I actually love working in finance and accounting. It has helped me
budget and save and be more disciplined with money. I also really enjoy
working at Mercy Beaucoup. The daily interactions with customers and
the chance to help Mercy Home are the things I most look forward to.
There are so many familiar faces; people come back over and over again,
so it’s kind of like a family we’ve got there.”
Where She’s Headed
“I am in a really good place, and I really love the architectural firm. In
five years, I’d like to be challenged more and be in a more competitive
environment. I want to see my career in finance really skyrocket, too.
Mercy Home built me up so much, and I feel more than ready for the
real world.”
Changed
“YOUR LOVE
My Life”
A former resident of Mercy Home, Jessica is not shy about how our Mercy Home family
helped shape her life. While she originally came to our door seeking a roof over her head,
she found so much more, thanks to the generosity of good people like you. Through your
support, this remarkable young woman set out on a path toward a successful and self-reliant
future. Below, she shares how she followed her dreams after leaving our residential care.
“ There’s so much good stuff
ahead for me.
I ’m not going anywhere but up.”
Assumes a cost basis of $500, and that all realized gains are subject to a 15% long-term capital gains tax rate.