March 2026 Newsletter

Letter from Executive Director

Dear McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center Family,

As we move into March and welcome the promise of warmer weather, our team at the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center is preparing for one of the most important times of the year for our mission. April marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month, when communities across the country focus on the safety, wellbeing, and protection of children.

Did you know that McMahon Ryan is accredited by the National Children’s Alliance for our prevention programming? In addition to providing coordinated services for children and families in Onondaga County impacted by abuse, our team spends significant time educating the community, raising awareness, and helping people better understand the realities of child abuse.

Education is a critical part of prevention. By helping individuals recognize warning signs, understand risk factors, and learn how to respond appropriately, we strengthen our community’s ability to protect children and support families. These efforts are essential to breaking cycles of abuse and ensuring future generations grow up in safer, healthier environments. Through this work, we also break down stigma, reduce barriers to seeking help, and ensure families know that there are people who care and resources available.

As we prepare for April, we are planning awareness events, educational initiatives, and fundraising efforts that sustain this work. We look forward to sharing opportunities for you to engage with us, helping ensure that every child in our community has a voice and receives the support they deserve.

Thank you for standing with us in this mission.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Erin Bates

WHY APRIL MATTERS:

THE IMPORTANCE OF AWARENESS AND STANDING TOGETHER

As we look ahead to National Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, raising awareness about the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center’s mission is one of the most meaningful ways our community can support children and families. Awareness not only helps prevent abuse, but also ensures that more people know where to turn for help when they need it most.

McMahon Ryan is Onondaga County’s first and only Child Advocacy Center, providing a coordinated, child‑focused response to abuse. Our team offers forensic interviews, medical care, therapy, advocacy, and crisis support—all under one roof—ensuring that every child receives compassionate, trauma‑informed care. Increasing community awareness helps more families access these vital services quickly and confidently.

Prevention is also core to our mission. Through extensive education and outreach—school‑based programs, trainings for adults, and community engagement—McMahon Ryan equips tens of thousands of children and community members with the knowledge to recognize warning signs, set boundaries, and speak up when something isn’t right. These programs strengthen the entire community’s ability to protect children.

April’s awareness efforts, including our Go Blue 4 Kids campaign, help initiate crucial conversations about child safety across Onondaga County. Wearing blue, displaying pinwheels, and sharing our message publicly not only honor survivors, but also encourage open dialogue and reduce stigma. These visible signs of support remind families that they are not alone and that help is always available.

Two major events anchor our April awareness efforts:

The Annual Pinwheel Ball – Held on April 17, 2026, the Pinwheel Ball is our largest fundraiser of the year. This elegant evening brings together community leaders, supporters, and advocates to celebrate the heroes who fight against child abuse while raising critical funds that support our mission.

Step Up 4 Kids 5K & Kids Fun Run – Taking place on April 26, 2026, Step Up 4 Kids is a family‑friendly event marking the end of the month‑long Go Blue 4 Kids campaign. Participants come together to walk, run, and raise awareness for the children and families we serve. The event features a 5K, a kids run, a live DJ, and community celebration.

When you participate in these events, plant a pinwheel, wear blue, or share our mission with someone new, you become part of a larger movement to ensure every child in Onondaga County grows up safe, protected, and heard. Awareness leads to action—and together, our community can make a profound impact this April.

GO BLUE 4 KIDS THIS APRIL!

PURCHASE ITEMS ONLINE

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and we’re calling on our entire community to stand with us by joining the Go Blue 4 Kids campaign. Together, we can blanket Onondaga County in blue—raising awareness, sparking conversations, and showing every child that their safety and well‑being matter.

Show Your Support with Go Blue Items

From Pinwheel Lapel Pins to Go Blue 4 Kids wristbands and Pinwheel Flower Pots, wearing blue throughout April shows you are part of the movement. Encourage coworkers, friends, students, and family members to join in and wear blue proudly.

Plant the County with Blue Pinwheels

Pinwheels — the national symbol of child abuse prevention — represent hope, happiness, and the bright futures all children deserve. You can help us turn our neighborhoods blue by purchasing pinwheels for just $1 each, planting your own display, or ordering 500+ pinwheels for a full installation by our staff and volunteers. Lawn signs are also available for $15 to help spread the message everywhere you plant.

“Blow Away Child Abuse”

Want to make an even bigger impact? For a $100 donation, you can “Blow Someone Away” with a surprise installation of 50 pinwheels and a “You’ve Been Blown Away” sign placed in a loved one’s yard, workplace, or community space. It’s a powerful — and fun — way to spread awareness throughout April.

Every pinwheel purchased, every yard planted, every wristband worn helps strengthen the message that child abuse has no place in our community. Join us in filling Onondaga County with blue this April — because when our county turns blue, our commitment to protecting children shines even brighter. Together, we can make a difference — one pinwheel at a time! 💙

Purchase a Blow Away

Paper Order Form

UPCOMING EVENTS

Help kick off National Child Abuse Prevention Month this April by supporting McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center at a Celebrity Bartending Night on April 2nd from 5–8 PM at Lannie’s.

Join us for a fun evening as our board president, Brendan Ryan, and local journalist Charlie Miller step behind the bar as guest bartenders! We’ll be selling Dine Out 4 Kids raffle tickets and opening our Pinwheel Ball silent auction for early bidding.

All tips and proceeds from the evening will support the children and families served by McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center and help prevent child abuse in Onondaga County.

Come out for a great night and make a difference in our community!

Buy Tickets Here

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Don’t miss The Pinwheel Ball, our largest fundraiser of the year, taking place Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Oncenter. We are thrilled to announce Jim McElhannon as this year’s Honorary Chair.

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the heroes in our community who fight against child abuse. Enjoy live music by Atlas, cocktails, dinner, and both silent and live auctions, all while supporting the mission of the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center.

Partner with us.

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available to help make the Pinwheel Ball a success. Your business will receive valuable exposure while helping fund critical services for children affected by abuse. Click here to view sponsorship opportunities.

Step Into Spring by Stepping Up for Kids! 🏃‍♀️🌷

Spring is on the horizon, and there’s no better way to welcome a new season than by doing something meaningful for kids in our community. Join us for the 10th Annual Step Up 4 Kids 5K & Kids Fun Run — a decade‑strong tradition of raising awareness and supporting children and families during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

We’ll be gathering on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Middle Ages Brewing Company for a morning filled with purpose, movement, and community. The event features the 5K, a special Kids Fun Run, and a lively after‑party with live music and food trucks hosted by Middle Ages.

Register Early & Save!

Take advantage of current pricing and secure your spot early:

Current Registration Rate: $38.61. Valid through April 10

💡 Heads up — prices increase on April 11! Lock in your rate now and head into spring with a win.

Celebrating 10 Years!

This milestone year marks a full decade of our community coming together to support children in Onondaga County. Whether you’ve joined us in years past or this will be your very first run, we’d love to celebrate this special anniversary with you.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

A special thank-you to our generous sponsors who help make this event possible:

OneGroup – Presenting Sponsor
Maguire Foundation – Kids Fun Run Sponsor

Want to Get Involved as a Sponsor?

There’s still time to join our sponsor team! Sponsorships start at just $250 and offer terrific visibility while helping create safer, brighter futures for local kids. Click here to view our sponsorship opportunities.

DINE OUT 4 KIDS RAFFLE –

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Our beloved Eat Local Raffle has a new name—Dine Out 4 Kids—and an even bigger impact. Every ticket gives you a chance to win gift cards to some of CNY’s favorite restaurants while directly supporting the life-changing work of the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center.

Tickets are just $25 each or 5 for $100, giving you even more chances to win while making a meaningful difference in the lives of local children and families.

For just $25, you can treat yourself—or someone you love—to incredible local dining, all while helping provide hope, healing, and support to children and families in our community.

Why Your Ticket Matters

When you purchase a raffle ticket, you help us:

Provide critical services to children and families affected by abuse: forensic interviews, medical exams, advocacy services, therapy, community outreach
Offer compassionate support to victims of human trafficking
Deliver prevention education to more than 25,000 local children each year
Ensure safety, comfort, and care during some of the most difficult moments of a child’s life

Your Ticket Goes Further Than You Think

Even if your ticket isn’t drawn, your generosity has a lasting impact. It helps a child walk through our doors feeling safe, supports families in crisis, and empowers our team to continue protecting and advocating for the most vulnerable members of our community.

Purchase Dine Out 4 Kids Raffle Tickets Here

VOLUNTEER WITH US:

HELP US PLANT PINWHEEL FOR APRIL’S CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH!

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center’s annual Go Blue Campaign is one of the most visible ways we raise awareness for the children and families we serve. Throughout the month, supporters across Onondaga County purchase blue pinwheels—a national symbol of child abuse prevention—to show their commitment to protecting children.

These pinwheels are planted in two ways:

Pinwheel Gardens – 500+ pinwheels displayed at local businesses and organizations
Blow Aways – 50 pinwheels with a sign, often used to surprise a loved one, honor a business, or create a meaningful display

To make this possible, we need volunteers to help us plant them! The work is simple: use a screwdriver to make a small hole, place the pinwheel, and move on to the next. No special skills required—just a willingness to help and a heart for kids.

Whether you’re an individual, a family, a student group, or a workplace team, volunteering to plant pinwheels is a powerful way to be part of something bigger this April.

If you’re interested in helping us blanket Onondaga County in blue, please contact Nina Peters at 315-701-2985 or npeters@mcmahonryan.org to sign up.

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM (MDT) SPOTLIGHT:

DECTECTIVE THOMAN BRENNAN

This month, we are proud to highlight Detective Thomas Brennan of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) as part of our MDT Spotlight.

Detective Brennan has been with the Sheriff’s Office for just under seven years and joined the Special Victims Unit here at McMahon Ryan CAC about eight months ago. In his role with SVU, he works closely with members of the multidisciplinary team to investigate sensitive cases and support victims throughout the process.

Detective Brennan shared that what he values most about working in SVU is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of victims during some of their most difficult moments. The work requires patience, strong investigative skills, and close attention to detail – challenges that he finds both motivating and rewarding.

“Being able to advocate for victims and help bring offenders to justice gives me a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment in my role,” he said. We are grateful for Detective Brennan’s dedication and for the commitment he brings to the collaborative work of our MDT in serving children and families in our community.

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH:

MONICA HOPKINS

Our Employee of the Month for March is Monica Hopkins, Director of Counseling at McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center. Monica joined our team in October 2022 and leads our therapy department, overseeing a dedicated staff of four clinicians who provide critical support to the children and families we serve.

Monica was nominated by her own team, who felt she should be recognized for her hard work, leadership, and the supportive environment she creates within the department. As a supervisor, Monica is known for guiding and encouraging her staff while helping them continue to grow in their roles.

When asked what drives her in this work, Monica shared:

“As the director of such an important program within the MDT, I find the ability to support and train my team of passionate and skilled clinicians incredibly rewarding. Being able to help them grow so they can do amazing work with their clients—providing a safe place to process and heal—is what truly drives me. Supporting families and clients is incredibly important, but by supporting the growth of my team, we can reach even more children and help them on their healing journeys.”

We are grateful for Monica’s leadership, dedication, and the compassionate care she and her team provide to the children and families who walk through our doors. Congratulations, Monica, and thank you for all that you do!

CFRT SPOTLIGHT:

NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION WEEK MARCH 15 – 21

Every year during the third full week of March, communities across the country observe National Poison Prevention Week, a nationwide initiative established by Congress in 1961 to raise awareness about preventing accidental poisonings. This important week reminds us that poisoning can affect people of any age, and prevention begins with knowledge, simple safety steps, and sharing resources with others.

Why This Week Matters

National Poison Prevention Week empowers families, schools, workplaces, and community groups to take an active role in reducing preventable poison exposure. Its goal is to strengthen awareness of everyday risks—medications, household chemicals, personal care products, and more—while ensuring everyone knows where to turn in an emergency.

Get Involved: Simple Ways to Promote Safety

HRSA’s Poison Help program offers many free tools to help you spread the word and make poisoning prevention part of your daily routine and community outreach. Here’s how you can participate this March:

Contact your local poison center at 1‑800‑222‑1222 to learn about local events and opportunities to support community outreach.
Share poison prevention graphics and facts on social media and with friends, neighbors, local businesses, and schools.
Post poisoning safety information on your organization’s website or distribute printed facts at community hubs.

Collaborate with workplace teams to highlight poison safety at the office and encourage coworkers to learn the signs and risks. For those hosting events, HRSA provides customizable media advisories, press releases, PSA distribution guides, and proclamation templates to help amplify the message in your community.

Be Prepared: The Poison Help Line

If a poisoning occurs—or even if you just have questions—expert help is available 24/7 at 1‑800‑222‑1222. This free, confidential hotline instantly connects you to your local poison center, where trained professionals provide fast, reliable guidance.

Let’s work together this March to prevent poisonings and keep our community safe. A simple conversation or shared resource can make all the difference.

Source: National Poison Prevention Week – HRSA Poison Help

WEAR BLUE DAY: APRIL, 1 2026

Wear Blue Day will take place on April 1, 2026!

CACs, MDT partners, and supporters across New York State are encouraged to wear blue on April 1, 2026, to show their support for children and Child Advocacy Centers across our state. It’s a simple but meaningful way to stand together and bring visibility to this important cause.

We also invite you to help spread the message: