The Irish American Labor Council (IALC) honored the Rev. Scott Donahue, president and CEO for Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, for his contributions to the community at this year’s annual James Connolly Dinner, held at Countryside Banquets & Conference Center.
As part of the honor, the group had Donahue’s name permanently engraved in the granite base of the James Connolly Monument in Union Park in the West Loop/Near West Side area.
Made up primarily of men and women working in the building trades, IALC began as a movement to erect a monument to Irish labor leader James Connolly, whom the British executed by firing squad for his role in the Irish Easter Rebellion against Great Britain in May 1916. The group raised funds for the statue in Union Park commemorating Connolly’s life’s work on behalf of working people. IALC achieved its goal in 2008 and continues to dedicate its efforts to aiding nonprofit organizations such as Mercy Home.
The annual dinner advances IALC’s work supporting area nonprofits. At the event, IALC leaders presented a donation to Fr. Donahue for Mercy Home. For many years, Donahue has given the invocation to the dinner, but this year organizers turned the spotlight on him for his years of leadership and advocacy at Mercy Home.
“What an honor,” Fr. Donahue said at the dinner. “What a privileged life I’ve had as a priest, sharing life’s moments, hopes, and dreams with people like you.”
Reflecting on the meaning of work in our lives, he praised the hundreds of union members in the audience and IALC for their impact on our country. “You build structures,” he said. “You build community. You build relationships. And you…enhance lives, in a world that so desperately needs it.”
Fr. Donahue thanked IALC for its longtime support of Mercy Home, his friends and family for attending the event, and his Mercy Home coworkers for making possible “a mission that’s so essential, especially to the young people entrusted to our care.”
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls provides childcare and a residential home for abused, homeless, and neglected children, and youngsters struggling with family issues.
For IALC, call (630) 655-8935. For Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, located at 1140 W. Jackson Blvd., log on to www.mercyhome.org or call (312) 738-7560.