Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center honors three professionals at ‘Mugs for a Mission’ fundraiser

Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center honored three exceptional professionals — Lt. Kathleen “Katie” Kelly, Kala Fell, and Dr. Colleen Bennett — at their sold-out Mugs for a Mission fundraiser.

Held at Taphouse 23 in Bridgeport, the event gathered 250 attendees for an evening of community, celebration, and dedication to supporting children and families impacted by abuse in Montgomery County. Through a heartfelt recognition ceremony, Mission Kids celebrated these honorees for their dedication to child advocacy, uplifting their impactful contributions to the safety and healing of our communities.

Lieutenant Kathleen “Katie” Kelly, a Special Victims Detective with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, oversees the Special Victims Unit, focusing on child abuse, sex crimes, and human trafficking investigations. Lt. Kelly serves as a pivotal member of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Known for her collaborative spirit, she emphasizes teamwork as the best approach to secure justice for victims, sharing, “The best way to investigate these cases is as a team. We bring all our knowledge and experience together to work for justice.” Mission Kids honored her as a beacon of hope for countless children and families.

    Mission Kids’ Family Advocate, Adrienne Cavanaugh, is hard at work selling raffle tickets and more to help raise money to support Mission Kids. (Photo by Kaity Andrey for Mission Kids)
  

Kala Fell, a dedicated trauma therapist at Creative Health Services, has profoundly impacted the lives of her clients and their families through her expertise in evidence-based treatments for child abuse survivors. Her compassion and commitment to using effective therapeutic practices have made her a transformative presence in her clients’ lives. At the ceremony, Mission Kids highlighted a touching moment from Kala’s work, in which a former client expressed gratitude for the life-changing support she provided. Kala continues to draw inspiration from her resilient clients and the dedicated colleagues with whom she collaborates.

    Mission Kids honored professionals at a recent fundraiser in Bridgeport. Left to right are honorees Dr. Colleen E. Bennett, Lt. Kathleen Kelly, and Kala Fell, and Jane Kim presenting for Mission Kids. (Photo by Kaity Andrey for Mission Kids)
  

Dr. Colleen Bennett, a sub-board-certified child abuse pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), brings specialized knowledge to identifying and treating children who have experienced abuse. Her compassion and commitment to providing comprehensive, evidence based care offer children and families a comforting sense of security. Working with a multidisciplinary team, Dr. Bennett coordinates closely with advocates, law enforcement,,child protection workers, and prosecutors to bring about justice and healing for her patients. Inspired by her patients’ courage, Dr. Bennett’s work reflects her dedication to seeing, hearing, and supporting every child in her care.

This year’s Mugs for a Mission was brimming with excitement and generosity, featuring a lively silent auction, 50/50 raffle, a spirited wine toss, and an array of raffle baskets. Together with the backing of sponsors and turnout of supporters, these activities helped raise essential funds to carry forward Mission Kids’ commitment to creating a haven of healing and justice for children and families impacted by abuse.

For more information about the event or to learn more about Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, please contact Kaity Andrey (484) 687-2990 ext.1034 or kandrey@missionkidscac.org. Anyone with a concern about a child’s safety should call Pennsylvania’s ChildLine at 1-800-932- 0313 to make a report.