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Annual CASA Appreciation Event
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The annual CASA Appreciation Night took place on January 20 at NW Natural Headquarters in downtown Portland. The night’s festivities included an announcement of the CASA-of-the-Year winners for each county. The award spotlights the extraordinary efforts of specific CASA volunteers who tenaciously fight to better outcomes for the youth that they serve. This year, the CASAs recognized are: Janice Then (Columbia County), Jeanne Jacobson (Multnomah County), Joe Makuch (Multnomah County), and Grant McGuire (Washington County).
Mr. McGuire, who received the award posthumously, has served eighteen children with his fierce advocacy and compassion. Mr. McGuire’s family (see image on right) attended the award ceremony and accepted on his behalf.
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4th Annual Bowl-a-thon
The CASA Ambassador Board run Bowl-a-thon raised over $56,000 during the all -day event on Feb. 27. The festivities began at Sunset Lanes. Bowlers dressed for the occasion, including leap year costumes and customized team shirts, excited to compete in support of CASA. Come afternoon, the CASA Bowl-a-thon moved to Southeast Portland at AMF Pro 300 where the fun continued! Both venues had a generous selection of raffle prizes to win. Notables included: Club-level tickets to a Portland Trailblazers game, an autographed guitar signed by country music greats and a certificate for Widmer Brothers beer for a year. Keep an eye out for next year's event details so you don't miss out on the fun!
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A Successful Holiday Season Toy Drive
CASA’s annual toy drive served over 450 foster children of all ages during the 2015 holiday season. Thanks to the support of various community supporters, such as Boly:Welch, Fox12, KGW, PetSmart, Portland Business Alliance, Wells Fargo and friends of CASA, the toy drive was made possible. Special thanks goes to Westside: A Jesus Church, supported by various CASA's, staff and family of CASA who sorted, wrapped and delivered these toys to foster families served by CASAs.
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Willamette Week Give!Guide
Willamette Week handpicked 143 of Portland’s most
influential
nonprofits for their Give!Guide campaign that took place during the concluding months of 2015. The campaign helped raise a total of $3,501,400 for local non-profits in the community, including $22,511 for CASA. With the help of Willamette Week’s Give!Guide campaign, CASA continues to train and support hundreds of volunteers who become passionate advocates for children in foster care. We are so grateful for our donors who generously support the work that we do!
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JOIN CASA ON APRIL 9TH FOR OUR 25TH ANNUAL AUCTION AND DINNER!
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Support a Foster Family's Night With the Winterhawks
On Sunday, March 13, 2016, Oregon foster youth attended a Winterhawks game thanks to the guests of CASA’s 2015 auction who sponsored this opportunity! Not only did the kids receive Winterhawks fan gear, they also got to step on the ice for a meet-and-greet with the players, and had a chance to take a shot on the goal! Thank you to Doug Piper and The Winterhawks for this generous donation to CASA and Oregon’s foster youth! Although this year's event has already occured, you can sponsor a foster child's night with the Winterhawks in 2017 with a gift of $100.
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Community Development In Washington County
Thanks to Washington County's Office of Community Development, CASA for Children has received a three-year grant for $75,000
to support personnel costs for positions that will oversee CASAs in the community.Each year, a minimum of 25 CASAs in Washington County will advocate for 60 or more children in the foster care system, and will be able to continue their work because of opportunities such as this.
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Thank you, Walters Family Foundationn
We are proud to receive the support of The Walters Family Foundation by accepting a $15,000 grant. The grant will be used to support special video production highlighting stories of individual CASAs. The video will premiere at our 25th Annual Auction and Dinner, featuring a touching story of three sisters in the foster care system.
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The Collins Foundation
We received a two-year grant for $50,000 from the Collins Foundation! The grant will support enhanced advocacy for children involved in juvenile dependency cases across our
tri-county area. The grant will also support our recently developed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative.
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Congrats to our December Graduating Class!
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Kelly Bair
Kathy Brooks
Russell Ernsberger
Teresa Galvan
David Hollander
Gabrielle Johnson
Ann Krenek
Skye Leybold
Michelle MacEvoy
Anne Ness
Nataly Rivera
Jannebeth Roell
Laurie Rogoway
Judy Roumpf
Kayli Shattuck
Mark Skolnick
Nancy Spitzer
Paul Spitzer
Krysta Vollbrecht
Elizabeth Vosper
Marleen Wallingford
Patty Wentz
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An essential component of successfully advocating as a CASA is being knowledgeable about community partners who increase the quality of life for youth and families. At CASA, we strive to bring you information about organizations sharing in our mission to increase the quality of life for youth. This month we are featuring CARES Northwest, child abuse response and evaluation services whose mission is to to stop child abuse and neglect through multidisciplinary prevention, medical evaluation, and ongoing treatment in partnership with our community.
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Kudos to CASA Kristen Phillips!
In the words of CASA Supervisor Mamadou Tore:
Special Kudos for my outstanding CASA Kristen Phillips ! Hers is one of the most challenges cases I have on my caseload. Her outstanding work on this case has been recognized by all the other parties on the case.She has gone way beyond the call of duty to make sure that the kiddo on her caseload is safe and thriving .
Throughout this long and difficult case, her professionalism, skills , commitment and dedication to her kiddo has been a stellar example of what it means to be a CASA for children.
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Camp to Belong is celebrating ten years of reuniting Oregon sibling in the Foster care system. The camp has been actively recruiting brothers and sisters placed in a separate foster, adoptive or kinship homes through Summer Camp Programs and year round events since 1995. Help support CTB and their work to unite siblings in the foster care system at their Bid for Sibs Auction on April 29, 2016 from 6pm-10pm at Mcmenamins Kennedy School.
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CASA Around Portland
CASA will be one of 4 local nonprofits featured at Facetime PDX, Portland Monthly Magazine's March 16th networking event at the new Park Avenue West condominiums at Director's Park in downtown Portland. 500 Portlanders, including prominent business leaders, will sip cocktails and nibble bites from local restaurants while learning about ways to give back in their communities. All are welcome to attend! RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/f-a-c-e-t-i-m-e-p-d-x-tickets-21037514773
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Tell a Friend About CASA!
Do you know a recent empty-nester or retiree who cares about kids and is seeking an opportunity to engage in meaningful work? Send them our way! The majority of our volunteers come to us because they've heard about CASA from a friend, family member, or co-worker. We offer monthly orientations in all 3 counties; you'll find details on our website at:
For more information or to register, contact Susan King at (503) 988-6528, or[email protected].
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Daytime Classes: April 12th – May 12th, 2016 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 AM – 1PM at Portland First Church of the Nazarene – 6100 SW Raab Road, Portland, OR 97221
Flex Classes: (15 hrs online & 15 hrs in an evening class) May 17th – June 28th, 2016 ON tUESDYAS, 5:30 – 8:45pm at St. Vincent’s Hospital – 9205 SW Barnes Rd, Portland, OR 97225 (East Pavilion Stanley Classrooms.)
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Upcoming Orientations:
CASA Training Center: 7031 NE Halsey St., Portland
April 5th | Noon - 1 pm
May 10th | Noon - 1 pm
June 14th
| Noon - 1 pm
Providence St. Vincent Hospital - East Pavilion, Stanley Rm. 23: 9205 Barnes Rd., Portland
March 16th
| 5:30 - 6:30 pm
April 6th
| 5:30 - 6:30 pm
May 11th
| 5:30 - 6:30 pm
June 15th
| 5:30 - 6:30 pm
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