2025 Recipient of the Michael T. Meltzer Humanitarian Award

Kate McLaughlin

Kate McLaughlin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s degree from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor’s in Biology from Villanova University. She maintains a private practice serving children, teens, and families. Prior to starting her practice, Kate provided in-home therapy for families referred through New Jersey’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P).

A lifelong volunteer, Kate has fundraised for Special Olympics and supported multiple animal rescue groups. She is passionate about helping disenfranchised, disabled, and otherwise vulnerable children—a commitment that led her to Maya’s Hope in 2020. Kate lives in Monmouth County, NJ, with her husband and their three children.

Michael McLaughlin

Michael McLaughlin is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley in the Legal & Compliance Division, based in New York. He serves as Head of Investment Advisory Compliance for Morgan Stanley Investment Management, which manages approximately $1.7 trillion across public and private markets. Michael is committed to service and has participated in numerous volunteer initiatives at the firm, including Morgan Stanley’s Strategy Challenge, the flagship pro bono program that helps nonprofits solve strategic issues.
A cum laude graduate of Villanova University, Michael was a member of the Men’s Swim Team and the English Honor Society, and he remains engaged with his alma mater through the President’s Club and the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council. Michael was introduced to Maya’s Hope by his wife, Kate, and has developed a deep appreciation for the organization’s mission to support children with special needs in Ukraine and the Philippines.