Maeve McGill, Capstone Group's Operations Manager, places pinwheels during April's Child Abuse Prevention Month with Mission Kids. (Image courtesy of Capstone Group)
It is no wonder they are in the business of protection. But for the month of April, the Capstone Group, a risk-management, employee benefits, and insurance brokerage firm based in Lower Gwynedd Township, shifted its focus from protecting area businesses to assisting in protecting Montgomery County’s children.
April is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the local business wanted to do something to both give back and keep area children safe. To do so, they reached out to Mission Kids.
The Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center works throughout Montgomery County on a mission to protect the county's children.
“Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving healing, and justice for child abuse victims through a coordinated, child-friendly approach,” explained Kaity Andrey, the marketing, communications and events manager of Mission Kids. “We bring together a multidisciplinary team of law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, medical providers, and mental health professionals to ensure that children who have experienced abuse can access all the critical services they need in one safe, supportive environment.”
The nonprofit doesn’t just focus on reporting, but also how to assist those impacted by abuse.
“In addition to responding to abuse, Mission Kids is deeply committed to prevention,” said Andrey. “Our Prevention Education team teaches children, caregivers, and professionals how to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse. We currently provide school-based lessons in 14 of the 22 public school districts across Montgomery County, reaching children ages 4 to 18. Through these programs, we teach body safety, internet safety, and most importantly, empower children with the courage to speak up if they ever feel unsafe.”
Daniel McGill, CIC, CBC, is both a founding partner of Capstone, and serves today as its senior vice president. Additionally, McGill serves on the Mission Kids board of directors.
Daniel’s daughter, Maeve McGill, serves as Capstone’s operations manager. She said Mission Kids was an obvious choice when seeking to partner with an area organization intent on preventing child abuse. In addition to McGill’s service on the Mission Kids' board, Maeve also works with Mission Kids as its young professionals group lead.
“This is a new initiative for me, and we wanted to do something [at Capstone] for child abuse prevention month,” said Maeve.
Andrey said the collaboration was a great choice.
“Both [Daniel and Maeve] have been longtime champions of our mission,” explained Andrey. “Organizing a supply drive was a natural extension of their commitment — a way to give back while engaging their wider team at Capstone in meaningful support.”
The team at Capstone opted to start with a snack drive for Mission Kids. Utilizing an ongoing list of needs, the staff could select products like single-packaged snacks, drinks, or water bottles to donate. And to make it more interesting, Maeve split the teams into the business’ two unique divisions for a friendly competition.
“At Capstone Group, we are an independent insurance brokerage firm with two divisions: property & casualty and employee benefits,” she said. The P&C “battled” the EB department to see who could collect the most for the drive.
“We started it as a snack collection,” said Maeve. “Then we shared the Amazon Wish List, and saw we were getting tons of donations.”
The nonprofit maintains the Amazon Wish List to allow any member of the community to donate. Capstone felt this list was the perfect way to connect its staff to helpful donation purchases for Mission Kids.
“Community support is vital to Mission Kids’ success,” said Andrey. “Individuals and organizations assist by donating essential supplies, volunteering their time, supporting fundraising efforts, and helping raise awareness about child abuse prevention. Every action — whether it's purchasing an item from our Amazon Wish List, sponsoring an event, or simply sharing our mission — directly impacts the children and families we serve.”
Mission Kids maintains an ongoing Amazon Wish List online to offer individual community members or businesses the chance to easily donate to its cause. (Image courtesy of Amazon.com)The list carries a wide variety of the nonprofit’s needs, including comforting toys, sensory aids, educational materials, books, and treats frequently used at Mission Kids’ events.
With such a giving and caring staff, Capstone opted to branch out beyond food and drink. The team broadened its ask to its employees to bring in a greater variety of gear for the nonprofit.
“We were getting so many snacks and cases of water, we asked if there was anything else Mission Kids might need,” Maeve said. From there, the offers branched out beyond basic goodies.
Maeve said that her family had a close connection to the organization, not just serving on its volunteer boards.
“Dad [Daniel] got involved after a close family member utilized their services,” said Maeve. “Mission Kids is close to our heart. We are super passionate about what they do.”
Capstone staff supported the drive with the same compassion and caring as its leaders.
“Some made cash donations on the Mission Kids’ website,” said Maeve. “But we mostly participated by taking things from the wish list.”
Requested donations included snacks for children, cases of water for events, and gear needed for therapy rooms, just to name a few ongoing needs of the organization. Each staff member who wished to donate could do so, declaring which team their “points” would go to as determined by their department.
“So far, we have around 60 items,” Maeve said of the 40-person staff. The team, at the time, still had a few days remaining in April to really bring home the message and rally final gifts.
Mission Kids staff said they were thankful for donations form the Spring House-based Capstone. As Mission Kids prepares for its headquarter move to Plymouth Meeting, having just broken ground a few weeks ago on a new location, such supply drives can go a long way in supporting its goals.
“Mission Kids has been a good partner for us, it’s been wonderful,” said Maeve.
Andrey agreed.
“This is the first formal supply drive Capstone Group has organized for Mission Kids, and we are incredibly grateful for their leadership in launching it in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month,” she said, noting Capstone is not the only business to host such a thoughtful activity. “We are fortunate to have many generous partners who hold collection drives throughout the year to support Mission Kids — from corporate teams to community groups and schools. Each drive helps meet the needs of the children and families we serve.”
The local business, which typically focuses on protecting other area businesses, truly stepped up to the plate for this nonprofit and the county's children.
“Capstone’s drive stands out for its timing and impact, aligning with Child Abuse Prevention Month and helping to spotlight how the community can get involved,” said Andrey. “Every item donated through our Amazon Wish List plays a direct role in helping children and families heal. Supplies like comfort items for children, therapy materials, snacks for waiting families, and gift cards for basic necessities help create a warm, supportive environment at Mission Kids. These donations allow us to meet families' needs immediately and compassionately at some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”
Leslie Slingsby, CEO of Services and Operations with Mission Kids, echoed the thankful sentiments for the Capstone collaboration.
"We are so grateful for everything that the Capstone Group has done for Mission Kids," said Slingsby.
For more information on how you can give back to Mission Kids and its work with children, families, and professionals throughout Montgomery County, visit the Mission Kids website here.
“There are so many ways to support Mission Kids! People can purchase needed items from our Amazon Wish List, volunteer their time, or simply help spread the word about our work,” said Andrey. “We encourage anyone interested in getting involved to visit our website at www.missionkidscac.org or reach out to us directly — every contribution, big or small, helps protect and heal children in our community.”
Learn more about Mission Kids’ work, goals, and how it got its start with one brave child in this video.
To learn more about the Capstone Group, which offers risk management, employee benefits, and commercial insurance products, visit the website here.
