FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:
David Pickard
708-434-5006
david@wilksgrp.com

CHICAGO, September 26, 2018 – Mercy Housing Lakefront today presented its 2018 Volunteer Service Award to Emil and Michelle McCauley, in recognition of their long-time commitment to volunteerism with the organization. The award was presented at Mercy Housing Lakefront’s Moving Forward Together event, which took place at The Drake Hotel in Chicago.

The McCauley’s volunteer service with Mercy Housing Lakefront began in 2013, when Emil joined seven other bicyclists to form the “Mercy Riders” for a 3,800-mile cross-country ride from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. With Michelle driving cross-country while providing food, supplies, and encouragement to the group, the team raised more than $60,000 to help provide quality affordable housing to those in need.

The McCauley’s continued their volunteer service with Mercy Housing Lakefront by launching a unique holiday event tradition that has brought joy to countless children. Each year, Emil and Michelle organize a gingerbread house-building event for children living at Mercy Housing Lakefront’s properties in the Roseland community, providing all of the materials necessary and working with children to establish priceless holiday memories.

In addition, the McCauley’s also enlist the help of their church, St. Anthony’s in Frankfort, each year to adopt Mercy Housing Lakefront’s Roseland family buildings as part of their annual giving tree. As a result, more than 80 children each year receive gifts from the parish.

“We continue to be inspired by the selfless nature of the McCauley family’s work,” said Mercy Housing Lakefront President Mark Angelini. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of every nonprofit organization, and the McCauley’s exemplify why that’s the case. Their contributions to Mercy Housing Lakefront are measured not in hours or dollars, but by the lives they’re changing as a result of their generosity.”

About Mercy Housing Lakefront

Mercy Housing Lakefront (MHL) is working to build a region where everyone has an affordable home to use as a springboard to achieve better health, economic security, and a brighter future for their kids. MHL owns and operates 52 properties in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, serving more than 8,000 people annually. MHL is a regional branch of Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI), a leading national affordable housing nonprofit headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Please find additional information at www.mercyhousinglakefront.org.