DePaul University Athletics
Rich Tradition Continues for Blue Demons and Misericordia
4/23/2020 3:58:00 PM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Women's basketball promotes Candy Days for benevolent North Side Home
CHICAGO – Even amidst this coronavirus pandemic, coach Doug Bruno and his Blue Demons will once again come to the aid of a wonderful charitable institution.
In recent years, women's basketball players would meet at the Athletic Center around 5:30 a.m. and take the CTA to Union Station to shake cans and draw donations for Misericordia Candy Day during morning rush hour.
They would come up with creative ways of collecting contributions including one year when a pair of Blue Demons enacted a song-and-dance routine while shaking their collection cans like tambourines.
The players would return to campus around 9:30 a.m. and then head back to Union Station to work the evening rush hour from 3:30-5 p.m. It's a proud tradition that dates back more than 35 years.
Misericordia is hosting its annual Candy Days fundraisers online this week due to coronavirus.
In previous years, volunteers would take to the city streets collecting contributions in exchange for packets of Jelly Belly candy.
Misericordia Home is a Far North Side facility for people with physical and mental disabilities, providing them housing and job opportunities.
Home to 600 children and adults with physical and mental disabilities, Misericordia offers quality lives to this very deserving population. One hundred percent of proceeds raised will positively affect the residents who are persons of all religious, ethnic, racial and socio-economic backgrounds.
As of Wednesday, the online campaign has raised about $813,000 with a goal to raise $1 million. Donations are open now and the campaign runs through Saturday. Before COVID-19 drastically altered the landscape, Misericordia's Candy Days had been scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
This year, the women's basketball players will share the Candy Days initiative on their various social media platforms and will create a special video to share Friday on social media.
Sister Rosemary Connelly is the 88-year-old executive director of Misericordia who recently celebrated her 50th anniversary of helping children at the home. She has been a Sister of Mercy for 70 years.
"Sister Rosemary and the Sisters of Mercy have created a special place for so many children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities," Bruno said. "Misericordia's mission has become synonymous with the benevolent giving that is at the heart of so many Chicagoans.
"DePaul women's basketball has been blessed to be able to work Misericordia Candy Days for over 35 years. While we will miss our rambunctious interaction with our Union Station commuters, we know that your generous giving toward Misericordia will be just as helpful coming from afar.
"Thank you so much for helping to make Misericordia a special place."
In recent years, women's basketball players would meet at the Athletic Center around 5:30 a.m. and take the CTA to Union Station to shake cans and draw donations for Misericordia Candy Day during morning rush hour.
They would come up with creative ways of collecting contributions including one year when a pair of Blue Demons enacted a song-and-dance routine while shaking their collection cans like tambourines.
The players would return to campus around 9:30 a.m. and then head back to Union Station to work the evening rush hour from 3:30-5 p.m. It's a proud tradition that dates back more than 35 years.
Misericordia is hosting its annual Candy Days fundraisers online this week due to coronavirus.
In previous years, volunteers would take to the city streets collecting contributions in exchange for packets of Jelly Belly candy.
Misericordia Home is a Far North Side facility for people with physical and mental disabilities, providing them housing and job opportunities.
Home to 600 children and adults with physical and mental disabilities, Misericordia offers quality lives to this very deserving population. One hundred percent of proceeds raised will positively affect the residents who are persons of all religious, ethnic, racial and socio-economic backgrounds.
As of Wednesday, the online campaign has raised about $813,000 with a goal to raise $1 million. Donations are open now and the campaign runs through Saturday. Before COVID-19 drastically altered the landscape, Misericordia's Candy Days had been scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
This year, the women's basketball players will share the Candy Days initiative on their various social media platforms and will create a special video to share Friday on social media.
Sister Rosemary Connelly is the 88-year-old executive director of Misericordia who recently celebrated her 50th anniversary of helping children at the home. She has been a Sister of Mercy for 70 years.
"Sister Rosemary and the Sisters of Mercy have created a special place for so many children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities," Bruno said. "Misericordia's mission has become synonymous with the benevolent giving that is at the heart of so many Chicagoans.
"DePaul women's basketball has been blessed to be able to work Misericordia Candy Days for over 35 years. While we will miss our rambunctious interaction with our Union Station commuters, we know that your generous giving toward Misericordia will be just as helpful coming from afar.
"Thank you so much for helping to make Misericordia a special place."
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