The MCAP Team
Mary C. Pugh, Esq.
Executive Director
As MCAP’s Executive Director, Mary oversees our daily operations, promotes our work in the legal and child welfare realms locally and nationally, and expands our efforts in education and advocacy. She also represents children as an MCAP. Prior to her work with MCAP, Mary was a trial attorney concentrating in medical malpractice, defending healthcare providers and hospitals. As an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA), Ms. Pugh is a Zone 9 delegate, the co-chairperson to the PBA Legal Services to the Public Committee, served as the chairperson of the Child Advocate of the Children’s Rights Committee. A member since 1989, Mary is the current President of the Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) and serves as the chairperson of the Child Advocacy Committee, member of the Outreach Committee, and a past member of the Membership Committee. She is also a fellow of the MBA Bar Foundation. For her service with MCAP, has been recognized with several awards: the Pennsylvania Bar Association Everyday Leader Award in 2006; the American Bar Association General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division 2007 Difference Makers Award; the Special Recognition Award of the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 2009; the Milton O. Moss Award from the MBA in 2010; and a PLAN (PA Legal Aid Network) Excellence Award in 2018. Mary is a member of the Youth Aid Panel of Montgomery County, the Children’s Roundtable and the former Chairperson of the Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth Citizens Advisory Committee. Mary graduated summa cum laude from Rosemont College. She received the Genevieve Blatt Award and Esther Sylvester Law School scholarship to Villanova Law School where she served as a member of the Law Review from 1985-1986. Mary lives in Montgomery County and is married to William Pugh V, and has four daughters and two granddaughters.
Mary Anders
Deputy Executive Director
Mary Anders is the Deputy Executive Director of MCAP. For the past 7 years, Mary worked for Cabrini University in Radnor, Pennsylvania, as the Public Safety Investigator and Education Officer. She investigated any reported crimes on campus and handled all aspects of Title IX cases. She also provided mandatory training to students, faculty, and staff for Sexual Assault Awareness and Bystander Intervention. She is also a certified Rape Aggression Defense, RAD, Instructor. Prior to working at Cabrini University, Mary spent 26 years in the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, 22 of those as a County Detective where she primarily worked on crimes against children. She was cross sworn as a Federal Agent with Homeland Security Investigations, Child Exploitation Unit, Philadelphia Field Office, and was the lead investigator for the Montgomery County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Mary was certified by the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas as an Expert in Child Abuse Investigations. Mary lives in Montgomery County with her three children and enjoys working out at the gym, biking, and spending time at the beach on Long Beach Island, NJ.
Sharon Jones Hofer, Esq.
Senior Staff Attorney
Sharon began volunteering as an MCAP in 2008, and joined the staff as Senior Staff Attorney in early 2018. In her new role, Sharon represents child victims of abuse, neglect and trafficking, manages and provides support for our volunteer MCAPs, and supports the Executive Director in education and advocacy activities. Prior to MCAP, Sharon was Director of Operations for the Associated Builders & Contractors, New Jersey Chapter. Sharon began her career as a contract attorney and then spent time working in consumer advocacy, insurance coverage and defense, and land use /zoning. Sharon has been an active member of the Montgomery Bar Association since 2005. In 2017, she served as co-chair of the Juvenile Rules Committee. She currently serves as co-chair of the Children and the Law Committee. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of PA; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Ms. Hofer is a co-founder and the first president of the Montgomery County Paralegal Association. She serves on the Board of Directors, and holds the office of Secretary, for Advanced Living Management & Development, Inc., which provides affordable housing and services for elderly and disabled individuals while they are aging in place, as well as others in need of transitional housing. Sharon lives in Lansdale with her husband and their dog.
Eileen Schaeffer, Esq.
PFA Staff Attorney
Eileen began volunteering as an MCAP in 2009 and joined our staff last month. In her role, Eileen focuses on Protection From Abuse (PFA) matters and provides support for our volunteer MCAPs. Prior to MCAP, Eileen maintained a solo law practice, focusing on serving the legal needs of families and small businesses. Eileen has also been very active in the mediation community. She worked for the Montgomery Conflict Mediation Center providing mediation training for lawyers and social workers and directed the Youth Aid Panel, a diversionary program for first time juvenile offenders. As a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Eileen has been a member of the Children’s Rights and Legal Services for Exceptional Children Committees. She has also served on the Mediation Advisory Board of the Montgomery Bar Association. Eileen attended Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law and is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Eileen lives in Wyncote, with her husband, two sons and a small menagerie of pets.
Patricia Teaford
Program Coordinator
Pat became the Program Coordinator for MCAP in 2012, coordinating our volunteer efforts and interacting daily with our MCAPs to place them with children in need of our services. She also works closely with the entire MCAP team, tracking the children we serve, helping MCAPs get the help they need with cases, and assisting with fundraising and events. She lives in Conshohocken with her cat and enjoys time with her grandchildren.
Angie Polizzi
Staff Attorney
Angie began volunteering for MCAP in 2014 and joined the staff in September 2021. Her practice at MCAP focuses on dependency proceedings, protecting children’s rights in criminal cases, and Protection from Abuse (PFA) cases. Prior to MCAP, Angie practiced in insurance defense and later served as staff attorney for the ACLU of Arizona. She then moved to Pennsylvania where she practiced in professional liability defense, including medical malpractice defense. She attended Creighton University School of Law where she served as a member of the Law Review from 1994-1996, and on the Board of Editors from 1995-1996. She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Angie lives in Devon with her husband, three children, and their dog, cat, hamster, hermit crabs, and other small animals that her children bring home.