Mary McLoughlin
Mary McLoughlin, is the owner of McLoughlin Communications and Public Relations. For more the sixteen years Mary has been an independent public relations consultant and is an expert in generating publicity for her clients. Her P.R. experience, skills, and connections were the ingredients that led her to get involved with the Children’s Assessment Center.
Mary was first asked to participate in generating publicity for the Center in 2002. Since then Mary has been deeply moved by the mission of the Center and was honored to start serving as a member on the board of directors. As a member of the board Mary is partially responsible for raising funds for the Center and planning special events. Although there has been a change of directors over the years, Mary is more confident than ever about the organization’s ability to stay focused on securing funds for the mission and cause. Her goal is to create sustainable funding for the organization “as long as people need the Center.”
It is important for Mary to be a part of something that is able to assist children and families whose children have been sexually abused. For Mary, coming back to help year after year isn’t an issue. She feels there is nothing more horrific than a child going through the trauma and tragedy of sexual abuse and says, “Anything I can do to provide free help for the children is worth it.”
Being part of the Center reminds Mary to appreciate the wonderful family she came from and how she never had to go through the trauma and tragedy she sees so many children experience. Mary urges people around her to find their own reasons to get involved. Personally, she wishes the abuse didn’t exist. But since it does, Mary wants nothing more than for people to become aware of its existence and help out the best they can.
For the Center’s tenth anniversary, Mary was involved in putting together an art auction held at St. Cecelia’s. At the event artists auctioned off works that were about children and the proceeds were split between the artist and the Center. All the artists and art at the event simply blew Mary away. One of her proudest moments at the Center was witnessing the turnout and overall success of the event.
Mary McLoughlin takes pride in working at the Center. She has a firm belief that children who have been sexually abused should be offered the free service of counseling and support. Statistics show how often trusted or loved members of the family have sexually abused children. Mary is disgusted by the statistics but also realizes these statistics are only a fraction of what really goes on. With this in mind, Mary desperately pleads for people to be aware of the free services offered by the Center and to understand the importance of its message.
— Grand Valley State University Writing Student
