Boxers duked it out for kids at the Mercy Home for Boys & Girls black-tie gala For 125 years, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls has been caring for Chicago kids in crisis — and for 21 years the organization’s supporters have been duking it out in the ring. On Oct. 20 guests such as Ald. Will Burns (4th Ward) rumbled at the Ringside for Mercy’s Sake black-tie gala at the Chicago Marriott Downtown (540 N. Michigan). The annual event adds some punch to the average black-tie fundraiser and stays in step with the nonprofit’s history — according to President and CEO the Rev. L. Scott Donahue, boxing is a favorite fitness activity at Mercy Home, which houses 140 kids and helps an additional 350 young people every day. “We’re always family for them,” says Donahue. The gala was a knockout, raising more than $1 million to support the Legacy of Learning campaign to help bring better education to kids in crisis. The Sun-Times was the media sponsor of this event. The Sun-Times Foundation and the Chicago Community Trust will match donations to Mercy Home, up to a total of $50,000, now through January 20, 2012. Donate now here. Story by…

Boxers duked it out for kids at the Mercy Home for Boys & Girls black-tie gala

For 125 years, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls has been caring for Chicago kids in crisis — and for 21 years the organization’s supporters have been duking it out in the ring. On Oct. 20 guests such as Ald. Will Burns (4th Ward) rumbled at the Ringside for Mercy’s Sake black-tie gala at the Chicago Marriott Downtown (540 N. Michigan). The annual event adds some punch to the average black-tie fundraiser and stays in step with the nonprofit’s history — according to President and CEO the Rev. L. Scott Donahue, boxing is a favorite fitness activity at Mercy Home, which houses 140 kids and helps an additional 350 young people every day. “We’re always family for them,” says Donahue. The gala was a knockout, raising more than $1 million to support the Legacy of Learning campaign to help bring better education to kids in crisis.

The Sun-Times was the media sponsor of this event. The Sun-Times Foundation and the Chicago Community Trust will match donations to Mercy Home, up to a total of $50,000, now through January 20, 2012. Donate now here.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Ramzi Dreessen