Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center receives $62,500 matching grant from The Foxwynd Foundation, names new trustee board member

(The following is a press release from Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center)

Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center is honored to announce a $62,500 matching grant from The Foxwynd Foundation, funded through the Foxwynd Foundation DAF.

This generous grant strengthens Mission Kids’ $18 million capital campaign and will help fund construction of a state-of-the-art Child Advocacy Center and Regional Training Facility in Plymouth Meeting, scheduled to open in spring 2026.

At its heart, this investment is about children. Each year, more than 1,200 children in Montgomery County walk through Mission Kids’ doors after experiencing abuse, alongside more than 13,000 non-offending family members seeking safety, support, and healing.

Mission Kids' new 37,000-square-foot center will be designed just for them—a welcoming space where every service they need is under one roof, from forensic interviews and medical care to therapy and family advocacy. By reducing barriers and creating a child-centered environment, Mission Kids can help children begin to heal the moment they arrive.

The Foxwynd Foundation’s generosity will also help Mission Kids open the only dedicated Regional Training Center of its kind in the Northeast. Here, child protection professionals, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and medical providers will train side by side, strengthening collaboration and raising the standard of care for children across Pennsylvania and beyond.

With $15.9 million already raised toward Mission Kids' $18 million goal, the Foxwynd Foundation’s commitment serves as both a catalyst and an inspiration, encouraging other donors to join in building a brighter future for children.

“The new Mission Kids building represents a significant step forward in providing children with holistic support,” said Sherri Clark, trustee for Foxwynd Foundation. “By backing this project, Foxwynd Foundation helps ensure that kids receive the guidance and protection they need to heal and thrive."

Campaign Goals at a Glance:

• Ensure no child has to wait for safety, healing, or support following abuse.
• Provide co-located, trauma-informed services—including forensic interviews, therapy, medical exams, and advocacy—all in one safe space.
• Establish a Regional Training Center to equip more than 850 child protection professionals from at least seven states by 2026.
• Reduce trauma for children and families by removing barriers to access and creating a truly child-centered environment.

“Foxwynd’s generosity helps us do more than build walls and windows, it helps us build hope,” said Leslie Slingsby, CEO of Services and Operations at Mission Kids. “Because of this partnership, children who have endured the unimaginable will find a place where they are safe, supported, and believed. We are profoundly grateful to Foxwynd for walking alongside us in this mission.”

For more information about Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center’s new building project and capital campaign, visit https://www.missionkidscac.org/buildingbrighterfutures.

The Foxwynd Foundation is a private philanthropic organization committed to supporting communities in need by focusing on three key pillars: healthcare, housing, and environmental sustainability. Through strategic and collaborative efforts, the Foundation funds programs that create lasting positive change, helping to build healthier, more equitable, and resilient communities. For more information, visit https://foxwyndfoundation.org.

The Foxwynd Foundation DAF funded the Foxwynd Foundation’s generous donation to Mission Kids.

 Mission Kids welcomes Colene Clark Bittone to Board of Trustees

Colene Clark Bittone (Credit: Mission Kids)
Jeff Weiner

Colene Clark Bittone has been appointed to the Board of Trustees. Her leadership comes at a pivotal moment as Mission Kids continues to expand its reach and impact, strengthening community partnerships and preparing for the opening of its new Child Advocacy Center and Regional Training Facility in 2026.

Colene is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Culture at Clark Capital Management Group, an independent, employee- and family-owned asset management firm headquartered in Philadelphia. Since joining the company in 1989, she has helped shape its growth and success through leadership roles in account operations, client service, and administrative management. Today, she leads initiatives to foster a workplace culture rooted in collaboration, wellness, and community impact. Under her guidance, Clark Capital has been recognized multiple times as one of Philadelphia’s Best Places to Work.

A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Colene is passionate about creating environments where people feel supported, valued, and empowered. She brings that same dedication to her community service, making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Colene’s connection to Mission Kids is also deeply personal. Her stepmother, Kina Simeone Clark, served with care and distinction on the Board of Trustees before her passing, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion and commitment. Along with her father, Harry Clark, whose steadfast support has strengthened Mission Kids over many years, Colene continues her family’s tradition of dedication to children and families.

Reflecting on her decision to join the board, Colene shared, “Mission Kids held a very special place in Kina’s heart, and I am humbled to follow in her footsteps by serving on the board. This organization’s commitment to protecting children and giving them hope is deeply meaningful to me, and I am honored to help carry forward a mission that was so important to her.”

Mission Kids Chief Executive Officer of Services and Operations, Leslie Slingsby, shared her enthusiasm.

“We are thrilled to welcome Colene to our Board of Trustees,” Slingsby said. “Her deep commitment to community, paired with her extensive leadership experience, will help strengthen Mission Kids as we continue our mission of protecting and supporting children impacted by abuse."

With Colene’s appointment, Mission Kids looks forward to continuing its growth as both a child advocacy center and a leader in prevention, advocacy, and support for children and families across Montgomery County and beyond.

Anyone with a concern about a child’s safety should call Pennsylvania’s ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313 to make a report.

Mission Kids is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization which offers a comprehensive, centrally-located, multidisciplinary team response to allegations of child abuse in a dedicated, child-friendly setting to achieve justice for child victims and promote their physical and mental well-being. Mission Kids provides neutral, fact-finding forensic interviews which are coordinated to avoid duplicative interviewing and support Montgomery County’s multidisciplinary team approach to child abuse investigation and intervention. Advancing the field of child advocacy, Mission Kids is a leader in prevention education, professional training, research, public policy work, and mentorship as we seek to ensure that the world is a safer and better place for all children.