HEART OF MERCY
Fall 2014
Family Fest 2014 —
a day of celebration
and support!
Abundant sunshine, great food, live
music, and laughter ruled the day on
September 7 when over 14,000 family
and friends gathered for Misericordia’s
34th annual Family Fest. The location
of the “main tent” changed the footprint but not the generous spirit of the
Fest as the grounds team led by John
Tortorello seamlessly managed the
changes on our campus.
The emerging construction of
Quinlan Terrace is a testament to the
thousands of volunteers, donors, families and friends who continue to bless
and believe in the mission of Misericordia. A successful Fest is so very
important in helping to raise over 15
million dollars needed each year to
cover essential and life-giving programs
not funded by the state.
Thank you to everyone who made
Family Fest 2014 such an extraordinary
day! See you next year!
Congratulations to all Family Fest Raffle Winners!
$50,000
SUE KVASNICKAMCNULTY
$15,000
BECKY KINZELBOB BIRKINEUR
$10,000
JEFF SCHORSCH &
BRYAN SECKELMANN
$ 5,000
SALLY WARD
$ 2,500
MIKE OMASTIAK
$ 1,500
SETH PALATNIK
$ 1,000
PEG & MICKEY BRENNAN
*MAGGIE GILL
$ 1,000 contd.
ED & CAROL
HENDRICKS
SYLVIA & ALLEN/
ORSENO SALON
Car Raffle Winners:
2015 KIA OPTIMA
*ANONYMOUS
$ 3,000
ANGELA CRUDELE
$ 2,000
CLARE CONNER
Our gratitude to Andy
Francis of Evergreen
KIA for donating a
2015 KIA Optima for
our car raffle.
*DONATED WINNINGS BACK TO MISERICORDIA - THANK YOU!
Special Thanks to: Our wonderful Pauline
Greco for her dedicated commitment 34 years
and counting, and to John Tortorello for his
tireless work directing set-up of Fest grounds!
Our September Festival was a huge success in every way. God blessed us with a
beautiful sunny day filled with thousands of family members and friends. Everyone
seemed happy to be with us and as usual, the food was outstanding. Since our four
under construction homes for the aging in our Quinlan Terrace occupy the space
formerly used by our largest entertainment tent, our physical planning committee
under the leadership of John Tortorello and the Resch brothers was especially challenged. And they came through with flying colors. How blessed we are!
Every event Misericordia held during 2014 has been financially successful as
well as a wonderful public relations event. Thousands of family members and
friends have been involved: all giving of themselves generously and graciously.
Although we stand in contradiction to the national trend which wants every
Misericordia is all about celebrating life and what
person no matter how developmentally disabled or physically challenged to live in
better way than a birthday party! Stephanie D.
isolated houses in the neighborhoods, we would expect that our success would
and long-time resident Terry M. celebrate their
make a very public and strong statement that one size does not fit all!
birthdays with Sister Rosemary.
Misericordia holds strongly there is never only one way to serve people with
disabilities. We believe in houses in the neighborhoods, but generally for persons who are higher functioning. Our ten houses in
the neighborhoods are lovely homes and work very well because the residents have our great Campus to complement their lives.
The persons with more involved developmental disabilities need and deserve residential services within a full continuum of
care. Misericordia is blessed to be able to offer residential services from a skilled nursing home to homes in the neighborhoods.
Within that continuum of care are twenty other residential services geared to the unique and different needs of each individual.
Yes, these homes are located on our beautiful campus which enables residents to enjoy our aquatic and fitness center, our
gym, and our social center just to name a few resources. They also attend many community events, especially sports events,
because friends often share their tickets with us. All have work opportunities on the Campus or in outside employment. They
live busy and full lives and they are happy people.
What do we have to do to prove this national trend is very faulty and could create many serious scandals for the future?
Families visit us from all over the country and even the world. They are dissatisfied with this trend and want a Misericordia
in their area.
When a national trend is so rigid that there is no room for diversity, one wonders where this approach comes from. We all
know the state institutions of the past were big and often “warehoused” the residents. Today, I am not in a position to judge the
quality of life provided by these institutions, for it has been years since I’ve visited them. But if they don’t provide quality lives
they should be held accountable for their use of government funding, for they generally receive at least two times the operating
rates that private homes like Misericordia receive. We are not an institution. We are a Community of Believers that treasures
each person in our care.
The only reason Misericordia is the beautiful home it is today – where 600 children and adults are enjoying good lives, each
according to their unique potential – is because we are successful raising the private dollar through fundraising. Each year we
must cover a deficit (the difference between what the government pays us and what it costs us to operate) of $15 million. Because
we are successful with fundraising we have a beautiful environment, hundreds of life-giving programs and almost a thousand
competent and compassionate staff. We also have a fine outreach program for children and adults who are living at home.
I do believe God is using Misericordia to witness to the world that there are still many good and generous people who want
to make our world a better place for all wounded people, but especially for those who can’t create a good world for themselves –
our children and adults. But I also know when our children and adults live in a loving environment appropriate to their needs,
they become the gift givers. What a joy they are to all of us.
Your continuous support and strong belief in our efforts give us the courage to continue growing and expanding to reach out
to more of the hundreds of people on our waiting list. If you weren’t there for us it would be an entirely different story.
Thank you for believing in us. God’s blessings on you and yours.
Gratefully,
Sister Rosemary Connelly, RSM
Candidates and VIPs turn out for Family Fest
Members of both political parties came to meet and greet the Misericordia Community during Family Fest! Pictured above, from left: Dick Durbin,
U.S. Senator and candidate for re-election; State Rep. and candidate for Illinois State Treasurer, Tom Cross; Pat Quinn, governor of Illinois and candidate for re-election; U.S. Senator Mark Kirk; and Bruce Rauner, candidate for governor. Not pictured but in attendance were Jim Oberweis, candidate
for U.S. Senate, and State Sen. Mike Frerichs, candidate for Illinois State Treasurer.
Culver’s partnership
with Mis still going
strong!
Family Fest Fun
above left: Lin Brehmer from
WXRT gets the auction started.
Misericordia’s partnership with
Culver’s restaurants continues to be an
exciting one! Culver’s was a big hit at
Family Fest, with thousands of delighted patrons enjoying scoops of their
fresh frozen custard!
On September 23, participating
Chicagoland Culver’s restaurants offered $2 short pumpkin shakes and
donated $1 back to our organization
for each item sold.
We look forward to continuing our
relationship with Culver’s, and would
like to extend a big thank you to them
and to all who visited their local restaurant for supporting Misericordia.
above right: the always
entertaining Lou Manfredini,
aka Mr. Fix-It.
middle left: The Jesse
White Tumblers fly near
the Quinlan construction
site on campus.
lower left: A group from
Fest sponsor ABN-AMRO
Clearing was on hand to
help at the fest. Thanks to
our hard-working sponsor
and all sponsors of Family
Fest 2014.
pictured above: Jim DiVerde, of Culver’s
Bolingbrook and Shakena Sampson, Culver’s
Tinley Park, with Governor Pat Quinn.
Many thanks to Jim DiVerde, Alberto del Hoyo
and Tony Struzynski of Culver’s for their continued dedication to Misericordia!
$25,000 + Grand Sponsor
AT&T
Covaria
Gary & Sue Garrabrant
The Hartemayer Family
Illinois State Wireless Association
In Honor of Sister Rosemary
Laborers’ District Council Charitable Foundation
The Niciforo Family
Fred B. Snite Foundation
Walgreens
The Walsh Group
Wetoska Packaging
$10,000 + Sponsor
Aon
Fred Barbara Investments
Bruno’s Lounge ($10,200)
ComEd/An Exelon Company
Philip H. Corboy Foundation ($15,000)
Rosemary DeMore
Philip A. Doran Family
John Marshall Family Foundation
The Marymont Family ($15,000)
Mat Leasing/Marina Cartage
McGrath Lexus
The Mortensen Family
North Shore Classic/Ram Racing ($12,700)
The Palmer Family
The Peterman Family ($20,000)
Dr. Kathryn Rezek
Mijo Vodopic/MacArthur Foundation
Waste Management ($12,000)
$5,000 + Sponsor
ABN-AMRO Clearing
Silverio Agujar, Teresita Agujar
Air Duct Cleaners
Alcatel Lucent
American Airlines
Ashley Furniture HomeStore ($6,000)
Augie’s on Wrightwood ($5,100)
The Boeing Company
Edmund & Bernadette Boyle
Amy & Paul Carbone
Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Chicago Bulls & Joe O’Neil
Chicago Show
Chicagoland Truck Rental
Clover – LG - Saturn
Cummins Allison
The Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust
The Family of Michael & Margaret Durkin
Thank You for your gift!
The Early Family
Flood Brothers Disposal/Recycling
The Geraghty Family
The John & Renee Glotzbach Family
Go Bananas
Gonnella Baking
GreenSigns
HBK Engineering
Thomas J. Higgins Co.
Huen Electric
Patrick Kearney
Bigane Paving
William Blair & Company
Marianne Buckley Family
Glenn & Elyse Cabin ($3,000)
Chicago Paper Tube & Can
Sydney Choslovsky M.D.
The Howard Gilbert Family
Robert F. Girgis D.D.S.
Glenview State Bank
Gary Goodyear Emergency Assistance
($3,000)
Gleneagles Country Club
HKM Architects & Planners
HP Products
Madden Funds
Mahoney, Goldrick & Crowe
The Martin Family
Dr. Timothy McDonough
McGrath City Honda
Misericordia SIBS
David Mittelman, M.D. ($3,000)
The Para Family
Lorrie R
Micheline & Reg Rabjohns ($3,000)
Donald Seefeldt
Ronald Silver M.D.
SSIP
Steve & Gail Schmidt
US Foods
The Walter Zegers Family ($3,000)
$1,000 + Sponsors
The Lasch/Crane Families & Outerwall
M & O Insulation
Mazzetta Company
Misericordia Family Association
MPM Food Equipment Group
The Peloquin Family
The Family of John H. & Margaret M. Pittroff
Simms Family Foundation
James Sullivan
Wilkin Insulation
XTTRIUM Laboratories, Inc.
$2,500 + Sponsors
Richard E. Aleksy
Anderson/Lanigan Families ($3,000)
Anheuser Busch/City Beverages ($3,000)
The Tom Arundel Family
Heidi Bauman Family
The Beaty Family
The Abbey Resort
JB Albertos
American Girl
Ancient Order of Hibernians
Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Market
Azteca Foods
Rich & Margaret Babjak
William Barrett/In Memory of
Carol & Tom Barrett
Charles Bidwell ($2,000)
Marvin Bloom –Attorney at Law
Dr. Michele Bogacki
Borchardt Family Foundation
Bob Bourke
The Catie Brashears Family
Bredemann Auto Group
Brookfield Zoo
C & C Power
C&K Trucking
Calabrese Family
William H. Campbell
Charles Carey
$1,000 + Sponsors contd.
Carl Buddig
Carpenter’s Local Union #58
Carpenter’s Local Union #80
Mike and Liz Cavanaugh & Family
Chicago Area LECET
Chicago Cubs
Chicago Lawn Sertoma
Chicago White Sox
Children’s Care & Development
Classic Party Rental
Tom & Dawn Clewett
Columbus Foods ($2,000)
Construction by Camco, Inc.
Corfu Foods/Chris Memmos
Richard Cortesi
Daniel P. Coughlin
Croation Catholic Mission/Blessed Alojzije Stepinac
Diamond Family Foundation/
In Honor of Nikki Weil
Sarah Dillon’s Family
Donovan Food Brokerage
First Bank & Trust
Edward J. Flynn
Marcus Flynn Golf Outing ($1,100)
Frega Associates
Friends of the Mandel Family ($2,000)
Fullerton Engineering Design
Bill Gallaher/State Farm Insurance
Dan & Mary Garrison
Dr. Dennis Gates
Barbara Gleason
Jeff & Teri Giovannetti
Goldman Sachs/Ron Cortina/Rob Sarazen ($1,500)
Joe & Joanne Grano
Wendy & Tim Grano
Chris & Dennis Haak
Janis & Steven Hersh
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
Home Run Inn ($1,500)
H P Products ($1,500)
Arthur Hurter
ILIASIU ($1,790)
Illinois Sports Facility Authority
J. B. Mehl
Jennings Chevrolet
Craig Johnson
Juniper
Keywell Foundation
John Kofler
Kronos
Lakeshore Beverage
Leyden Electric
Lipkin & Higgins
Lizzie McNeill’s Irish Pub
Loftus Family Foundation
Loomis Federal Savings & Loan
Lunkes Family
Joe Maher ($2,000)
MASTEC
Danny McCarthy 9-5-69 to 9-5-2001
McMahon Foods
Joseph V. Messer M.D. ($1,500)
Craig Miller’s Family
Miniat, Inc.
Mobile Iron
Moher Public House ($1,200)
In Memory of John & Peg Moriarty
Mullen Law Offices
In Honor of Andrew Myers
Nash Brothers Construction
Charlotte Nash
National Wireless Ventures LLC
Larry & Carrie Nicholson
Patrick Nimrod/Merrill Lynch
Maxine & Jack Noonan
Brian & Carol Ofenloch
Oliva, Inc.
Osco, Inc.
Palmer House
Tom & Ann Parsons
Louis Peterhans
Pharmacy Alternatives
Mark Porter
Premier Produce Co.
Print Post ($2,000)
Priority Printing
Projex LLC/ Althoff Family
Barbara Quilty
Ramirez Family
Donald Render
Riggio’s Pizza
In Honor of Megan Rooney ($2,000)
Runge Paper
Samatha’s Premium
Schultz Inc.
Kim Scodro Interiors
SheppardMullin
Shoreline Sightseeing
Mary C. Smith
Kenneth Soudan
Standard Provisions
State Senator Heather Steans
In Honor of Wayne Taveggia
Tel Rep Midwest, Inc.
Vienna Beef
Viswanathan Family
In Honor of Andrea Weber
William Westerbeke
Whitney Foods, Inc.
World Wide Fittings
W. R. Maintenance
George Zervas ($1,500)
Zia’s Catering ($2,000)
Golf and friendship at the
Heart Links Open
Pictured from left: Rick and Janice Price, Hugh Connolly, David Moore, Sister Rosemary, Carrie
Connolly, Linda and Greg Fahrenbach, Jeff Mory, Hannah Mory, and Cari Mory. Not pictured: Sue
Moore.
First Look coming soon!
Please join us for the Misericordia
Women’s Auxiliary’s First Look for
Charity event on February 13, 2015.
Friday the 13th just might be your lucky
day! The black tie gala at McCormick
Place previews the Chicago Auto Show
before it opens to the public. Enjoy
champagne, wine, soft drinks, delicious
hors d’oeuvres and desserts, all while
strolling the show. Each attendee will
have a chance to
WIN a 2015 Ford
Explorer or a 2015
Ford Fusion!
For more information please visit
our website at
www.misericordia.
org.
left: Shea M. and Catie
B. admire the First Look
cars with Lois Gates and
Sister Rosemary.
Fall Festival Golf Outing
Avid golfers and friends of Misericordia
spent a late September day at beautiful
Evanston Golf Club in Skokie for the
5th Annual Fall Festival Golf Outing.
Guests enjoyed lunch and dinner
along with a live and silent auction and
raffle! Organized by the Corcoran Family Foundation, the outing raised more
than $100,000 for the children and
adults of Misericordia!
Special thanks to Gerry and
Maureen Corcoran, RJ O’Brien &
Associates, Lulu Wirtz and all of the
participants for making this such a successful and memorable day!
Good friends Gerry Corcoran and John Healy
enjoy the day at the Fall Festival Golf Outing.
The 13th Annual Heart Links Golf
outing was a huge success this year,
raising over $250,000! The beautiful
courses of Shoreacres in Lake Bluff and
Onwentsia in Lake Forest hosted a day
of golf, friendship and fundraising.
Guests enjoyed dinner and cocktails at
Shoreacres, overlooking Lake Michigan.
Remarks by Sister Rosemary were
followed by live and silent auctions.
Thank you to our Grand Sponsor
R.J. O’Brien and committee pairs; the
Connollys, the Moores, the Morys, the
Fahrenbachs, and the Prices for making
this event happen!
The practice of asking for
donations to a favorite
charity to commemorate the
death of a loved one is very thoughtful.
In the past few months, such requests
have resulted in donations that benefit
Misericordia. We thank those benefactors
and their families, and respectfully ask
that you remember them in your thoughts
and prayers.
Judith L. Anderson; Mary A. Becker; Edward
J. Bobit; Daniel J. Campbell; Ray L. Ciger;
Stephen Considine; Maureen H. Cooney;
Edward Corcoran; Mary R. Cullicott; Thomas
Cusack; Loretta D. DaLuga; Peggy M. Doherty;
Theresa V. Eisen; Erma Jean Figliola; Connie
E. Gagliardo; Wanda Girard; Lois I. Gonser;
Patricia A. Grogan; Mary C. Healy; Creighton
Robert Helms; LaVerne Kalfas; Walter W.
Little; Eileen Loye; Stella M. Lynge; Lucille M.
McArthur; Catherine B. McDermott; Stephenie
M. Miszkowski; Barrett J. Moran, Jr.; Vincent
P. Nally; Robert Neal; Robert Nield; Claire
Ann O’Connor; Marietta O’Hara; Michael
S.Peterson; Dolores L. Pike; Dorothy J. Pohl;
Alice Prendergast; Mary E. Regan; Mary
H.Ripley; Paul Schulze; Patrick J. Shanahan;
Robert J. Soldat; Stephen A. Story; John M.
Straley; Robert L. Taraba; Georgene K.
Wohlhaupter; James F. Woodward
Make the switch to an electronic version of this newsletter and save postage AND the environment! Please
email your request to newsletter@misericordia.com.
Include your name, address, and zip code or the 5 or 6
digit ID number located to the right of your address on
this newsletter.
Start Your Holiday Shopping at Misericordia
Amaryllis Kits Our
gardeners and artists team up to
create Amaryllis Kits! Kits include one
Amaryllis bulb, soil pellets, a handpainted pot and care instructions. Will
gladly package and ship from our home to yours!
The Perfect Present
Fretting over what to buy for those hard-toplease friends and family members? Make a
donation to Misericordia and a beautiful card,
created by residents of Misericordia, will be
sent to the recipients to let them know you
made a gift in their honor. Visit us online at
misericordia.org or call Tessa at 773-273-2768.
Heartstrings
giftshop Find a gift
for someone special! Our
Christmas Shop opens in
early November.
Holiday Cards from
paintings by resident artists:
Order from our website, call
773-273-4711 or email
sgenemarie@misericordia.com.
Coffee from
the heart!
Misericordia coffee and tea
can be purchased online
or at the Greenhouse Inn
restaurant.
Hearts&Flour
Bakery
Goodies are a great gift
option! For more info,
please call 773-2734759, email bakery@
misericordia.com or visit our website!
Friday, November 14, 2014
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago
Black Tie Optional
Chair: Beth Merlo
Co-chair: Eileen Madda Sethna
Women’s board president Holly Jennings and
Heart of Mercy Ball chair Beth Merlo are
looking forward to seeing you at the ball!
Bequests and Annuities
To those friends who wish to help assure the continuation and growth of Misericordia by mentioning Misericordia in your will, the following general form is suggested: “I give, devise, bequeath to Misericordia Home,
an Illinois not-for-profit organization located at 6300
N. Ridge, Chicago Illinois, the sum of $ _______ (or
percentage, or specifically described property).” Contact
Kevin Connelly at 773-273-4167 / kevin@misericordia.
com or visit the planned giving page at misericordia.org.
Additionally, gift annuities will give you an opportunity to
receive an annual fixed income for the rest of your life,
as well as possible tax deduction in the year the gift is
made. Gift annuities require a gift of $5,000 or more and
the donor must be at least 60 years of age.
For Ticket information
visit our website at
www.misericordia.org
Women’s Shopping Events!
Cocktail Party-November 17, 6-9pm
contact Nancy Turry at
giftshop@misericordia.com
or 773-814-4189
Bridge Party-Nov. 19
Shopping 1:30-3pm Bridge 3-6pm
contact Susan Doyle
sdoyle251@gmail.com
December 7 and 14
10am and 1pm
Jean Marie Ryan Center
10:30am and 1:30pm
Lois Gates Courtyard
$55 for adults
$15 for children 6-12yrs.
The Hogan Room is available for a private
party of 25-50 Dec. 7 at 10am and 1pm.
Please call our Christmas brunch
hotline at 773-273-4738 or email
christmasbrunches@misericordia.com
for reservations.
Heartracers conquer
the Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago
Marathon was Sunday, October 12
and once again Misericordia’s team
was leading the pack!
Over 75 runners including
parents, siblings and staff members signed on to join this year’s
Heartracer team.
Each runner made a commitment
to raise $1000/$1500 each on Misericordia’s behalf. An amazing $75,000
had been raised at press time! Thank
you for supporting Misericordia! You
are champions in every way!
above: Members of the Heartracers Squad
pictured with event coordinator Therese Loftus
(second from right) at a pre-event gathering in
August.
For more information or to make a donation to the Marathon team visit our
website at www.misericordia.com.
Thanks to the great committee that organized Miseri-
cordia Women’s Golf Outing September 29 at Oak Park
Country Club. above, left to right: Marianne Schiavone,
Mary Garrison, Therese Loftus, Marty Dwyer, Joanne Reynolds,
Becky Smith, Mary Lou Noll, and Char Madden. Not pictured:
Scott Early,
Kim Figliulo,
Pat Murlas,
and Carol
Whiting.
above: Thank you to Peter Guarraia and our friends at Bain Capital. Over 30
volunteers visited the campus on August 8 and painted the fence around
Misericordia’s campus.
Thank you to the following sponsors of the
Misericordia Family Association Dinner Dance
Legacy $30,000 Sponsor:
Carol & Jim Palmer
right: Get
Legacy $20,000 Sponsor:
on Board!
If you want
to make a
difference,
use leadership skills,
and fulfill your community service requirements all while
having FUN please contact jennyf@misericoridia.com. and
join Misericordia’s Junior Board!
right: Paul
Vallas pictured
with Sister
Rosemary after
his tour. Thank
you for visiting!
The Calabrese Restaurant
Family: Zia’s in Lakeview,
Zia’s & Café Touche in
Edison Park
Heartfelt Hero $15,000 Sponsor:
Janis and Steven Hersh
Save the Date
Heart of Mercy Ball – November 14
call 773.273.4177 or visit
www.heartofmercyball.org
Women’s Cocktail Party
Nov. 17 6-9 p.m.
contact Nancy Turry at
giftshop@misericordia.com
or 773-814-4189
left:
Misericordia
residents enjoy
a visit from the
Glenview 4H
Club.
Women’s Bridge Party-Nov. 19
Shopping 1:30-3pm Bridge 3-6pm
contact Susan Doyle
sdoyle251@gmail.com
Holiday Brunches
Dec. 7 & 14
773-273-4738 or email
christmasbrunches@misericordia.com
First Look for Charity
Feb. 13, 2015
www.misericordia.org
Heartfelt Hero $10,000 Sponsors:
Cheri & Jim Rafferty, Joyce &
William Veldman, WINTRUST
Community Banks
After Black
Friday and
Cyber
Monday....
It’s Giving
Tuesday!
FOR FIRST TIME DONORS!
Start the Holiday Season with a gift for
Misericordia Home. SAVE THE DATE and
Donate Online Tuesday, December 2.
PLEASE NOTE: Every dollar from donors who
have not previously contributed to Misericordia
received ONLINE on Tuesday, December
2 only, will be matched by The Coleman
Foundation, up to $15,000 in total! This is
a very special opportunity and we hope you will
help us spread the word to family and friends
who have never donated to Misericordia before.
THANK YOU, AND
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
Misericordia is a residential facility serving children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities from diverse ethnic, religious, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. A not-for-profit 501(C)3
organization, Misericordia is operated by the Sisters of Mercy under the auspices of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Misericordia is located at 6300 N. Ridge, Chicago, IL 60660, 773-973-6300. You
can find Misericordia on the internet at misericordia.org or misericordia.com. The Misericordia Newsletter is published quarterly. Please send any comments about the newsletter to kathyw@misericordia.com or to 6300 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago, IL 60660. If you would like to add, remove or change your contact information on the newsletter mailing list, please contact Tessa Garcia at 773-273-2768 or
tessag@misericordia.com.
MISERICORDIA | 6300 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660 | 773-973-6300 | misericordia.org