MercyOne House of Mercy Game Show Gala raises $454,000 to support House of Mercy
June 17, 2025The 2025 MercyOne House of Mercy Game Show Gala held June 12, raised more than $454,000 for House of Mercy. The event was presented by Casey’s and produced by MercyOne Des Moines Foundation. The 2025 co-chairs were Justin and Jenna Brown and James and Kelly Bucher.
Four teams battled it out during the Des Moines Says game show, a family feud styled game with questions based on life and culture in Des Moines. The gala had more than 500 attendees who had the opportunity to donate to advance their favorite team with the proceeds supporting House of Mercy, one of Iowa’s largest and most comprehensive providers of vital services for persons with substance use disorders.
Each team represented an area of focus at House of Mercy: mental health, parenting support, peer support and self-sufficiency. The Parenting Support Team bested the other three teams with more than $61,000 in donations made. Teams were comprised of community leader contestants, including:
| Mental Health Team | Peer Support Team |
|
La Toshia Burrell - Redefine & Reveal Massage Therapy and Bodywork Matt Connolly - Iowa Realty Sam James - Casey's Skylar Mayberry-Mayes, PhD - The Jacobson Center Cory McAnelly - Principal Christina Wilson - MercyOne Iowa Heart |
Rocio Hermosillo - Team Ellla Erin Kuhl - Executive and Community Leader Drew Larson - BrownWinick Cally Niess - INVISION Joe Porepp - Waldinger Dennis Szurkus, MD - MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center |
| Parenting Support Team | Self-Sufficiency Team |
|
Aldrich Cabildo - West Bank Kandace Edwards - Downing Construction Matt Guns - WB Realty Christine Mohlke - Todd & Sargent Inc. Jon Luke Talton - GreenState Jessica Zuzga-Reed, DO - MercyOne Children's Hospital |
Nicki Mills - Community Choice Chinedu Nwosa, MD - Iowa Ortho Hilary Ortmann - Bankers Trust Nathan Rupprecht - R&R Realty Group Jack Walsh - Walsh Door & Security Lizzie Walsh Scott - Walsh Door & Security |
“We are thrilled to announce that the 2025 MercyOne House of Mercy Game Show Gala not only met but surpassed our goal of $400,000 this year,” said Shannon Cofield, President of MercyOne Des Moines Foundation. “The incredible generosity our community showed will allow House of Mercy to help even more clients receive the vital treatment and care they need.”
Established in 2010, the Gala has raised more than $4.4 million for MercyOne House of Mercy. In fiscal year 2024, the organization served nearly 2,000 clients through recovery, halfway housing, permanent housing, adolescent group living, substance abuse and mental health treatment.
The Parenting Support Team pictured left to right: Christie Mohlke, Kandace Edwards, John Luke Talton, Aldrich Cabildo, Matt Guns, Jessica Zuzga-Reed, DO.
