Record-Breaking $526,000 raised at 2023 MercyOne House of Mercy Game Show Gala

The 2023 MercyOne House of Mercy Game Show Gala on Thursday, June 22, had a record-breaking year, raising more than $526,000 in support of MercyOne House of Mercy. The 14th annual event was presented by Community Choice Credit Union and produced by MercyOne Des Moines Foundation at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Downtown Des Moines.

The 2022 event raised more than $390,000. This year’s event reflects an over 25 percent increase in contributed revenue from last year. View photos of this year’s event here.

Four teams went head-to-head in several rounds of an exciting game show-style game in front of over 550 attendees including 355 contributors and sponsors, all to benefit MercyOne House of Mercy, one of Iowa's largest and most comprehensive providers of vital services for persons with substance use disorders, especially parenting women with children. Attendees could donate to advance four teams representing the following House of Mercy impact program areas: mental health, self-sufficiency, substance use disorder, and parenting.

Team Claire (mental health awareness) won, with more than $50,000 pledged toward its team. Teams are comprised of community leader celebrity contestants:

Team Claire (Mental Health Awareness)

Traci Galligan (NCMIC)


Kyle Heatherington (Royal Flooring)


Jeff Klein (Choice Creative Solutions)


Brad Lowe (Spire Real Estate)


Polly Loneman (NCMIC)


Jacob Repp (Principal)

Team Jane (Self-Sufficiency Programming)

Aneesa Afroze, MD (MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center)


Jay Byers (Greater Des Moines Partnership)


Josh Dreyer (Willis Automotive)


Brad Duffy (Per Mar Security Services)


Sheri McMichael (Variety – the Children’s Charity)


Matt Romkey (Mercy College of Health Sciences)

Team Luke (Substance Use Disorder Treatment)

Rona Berinobis (Athene)


Aaron Jones (Belin McCormick)


Izaah Knox (Urban Dreams)


Frank Pagano (VizyPay)


Troy Strawhecker (Premier Companies)


Jessica Zuzga-Reed, DO (MercyOne Children’s Hospital)

Team Max (Parenting Building Blocks)

Kahlil Carter (Former Professional Athlete and Coach)


Brian Curtain (Community Choice Credit Union)


Dustin Derflinger, DO (MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center)


Adam Kaduce (R&R Real Estate Advisors)


John Klein (Associated Anesthesiologists)


Ashley Millang, DDS (Stone Ridge Dental)

Details for the 2024 MercyOne House of Mercy Game Show Gala will be announced early 2024.