Straight ‘From the Heart’

By KEITH PHUCAS
Times Herald Staff

COURTHOUSE — Two Montgomery County child advocacy organizations received donations from a philanthropic women’s group Wednesday in Norristown.

In 2009, the “From the Heart” organization raised $76,570.24 for Mission Kids and Montgomery County Children’s Advocacy Project (MCAP), and the donors posed for pictures at the Detective Bureau with Mission Kids founder District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman; executive director Abbie Newman; MCAP co-founder Wendy Demchick Alloy and the child advocacy group’s executive director Mary Pugh.

“We’re thrilled to be doing this,” said Karen Schecter Dayno, a member of “From the Heart.”

Since the Montgomery County group’s founding in 1987, it has raised more than $1 million to for worthy social causes, and each year “From the Heart” dedicates its raising funds efforts to one specific charity. In the past, the organization has given to the Variety Club, Girl Scouts of America, Camp Can Do and many others.

Other “From the Heart” members at the event were Lori Miller, Shirlee Friedman, Marci Weitz and Liz Rultenberg.

MCAP, a nonprofit located on Cherry Street, grew out of a pro bono legal counseling initiative for abused children in the court system that Demchick Alloy and Ferman ran from the DA’s Office in the 1990s.

“A heartfelt thanks to From the Heart,” Newman said. “The money they gave us will go to such good use.”

Mission Kids, which was established in 2007, offers a child-friendly office that helps ease abused children through the criminal justice system. The group’s East Norriton advocacy center streamlines the process by informing participating professionals about a child’s case through a single interview.

Recently, Mission Kids received contributions from Clemens Family Markets, Comcast, Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, North Penn Rotary Club, the District Attorney’s Office and Lynn Apfelbaum Jewelry.

For more information on Mission Kids call 484-687-2990 or visit www.missionkidscac.org. Information about MCAP can be found at www.mcapkids.org or by calling 610-279-1219. “From the Heart” is online at www.fromtheheartpa.org.