 |
|
|
November 2013
| CASA Up Close
Monthly
|
 |
Welcome to another edition of CASA Up Close Monthly. Below you will find information about our supporters, upcoming events, training opportunities and more. Please feel free to contact CASA for more information about anything you read. And, as always, thank you for your continued support. |
|
 |
CASA of Central Texas |
|  |
Mission
CASA of Central Texas advocates for abused and neglected
children in the court system by recruiting, training and
supporting community volunteers.
Vision
Every child has the right to a safe, nurturing, permanent home.
|
| Letter from the Executive Director
|
|
|
Maximizing Your Gift
As we approach the end of 2013, individual and corporate support is important now more than ever. Individual donations are a generous way to help CASA provide direct services to the abused and neglected children living in State care. However, many people do not realize their employers have a charitable giving or corporate matching program.
Corporate matching gifts are a great way for you to boost your individual contribution and increase the impact of your gift. By taking advantage of a company's matching gift program, you may be able to double or even triple the amount of a contribution. Many companies will also match gifts from retired employees, part time employees and spouses.
I encourage you to contact your finance or human resources department to request a matching gift form and information on your company's social responsibility initiatives. Your gift to CASA, matched with a corporate donation, will provide a voice for the abused and neglected children throughout our community.
Sincerely,
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
|
| Special Thanks
|
|
CASA Thanks Veterans for Service
As November 11th marked Veterans Day, CASA of Central Texas would like to say thank you to veterans of the United States Armed Forces, especially those who continue to serve as CASA volunteers for the children in our community.
|
| Upcoming Information Sessions
|
CASA can also
bring these information
sessions to you,
just give us a call!
| |
You are Invited to a CASA Voices Tour
Learn about CASA and the work our advocates are doing in the community. Join us on the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays of each month for a one-hour "virtual" tour of our mission. Open to everyone, bring your friends, family and colleagues and we will provide lunch! New Braunfels CASA office Wednesday, December 4th - Noon Wednesday, January 8th - Noon San Marcos CASA office Wednesday, December 11th - Noon
Wednesday, January 15th - Noon
Schertz - GVEC Community Room Thursday, January 9th - Noon Seguin - GVEC Community Room Friday, January 10th - Noon
Lunch provided by Fox's Pizza Den in New Braunfels
and Chick-fil-A in San Marcos.
Please RSVP to Ali Wilkinson by e-mail or at 830-626-2272.
|
| Holiday Toy Drive
|
| |
Participate in CASA's Holiday Toy Drive
This holiday season, CASA of Central Texas is collaborating with local organizations to provide holiday gifts for abused and neglected children.
Gift Wrapping Session:
All of the gifts we received need to be sorted and wrapped. Community members and organizations are welcome to join us and help prepare the gifts for the children.
Wednesday, December 4th
4 p.m. - 7p.m.
New Braunfels CASA Office
1619 E. Common St., Ste. 301
New Braunfels, TX 78130
If you are interested in helping wrap gifts, please contact DeAnna Curcio by e-mail or at (830) 626-2272.
Can you donate $30 Target and Wal-Mart
gift cards for CASA kids?
We need your help this holiday season to ensure that all of our children receive the special gifts they've wished for! We also want to make sure children have all of their needs met as it grows a little bit colder this winter.
If you would like to help, please consider donating $30 (or more) gift cards to Wal-Mart and Target. These are the most popular gift card requests from our kids, and will help when kids need a warm coat or extra food this winter.
|
|
|
|
| Community Event
|
| |
Santa Pictures to Benefit CASA
CASA of Central Texas will have a
Pictures with Santa station during the Great Gingerbread Event at McKenna Children's Museum in New Braunfels.
Bring the kids out for a photo with Santa, gingerbread house decorating, face painting, and a chance to win prizes in a raffle!
Saturday, December 14th 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, December 21st
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
|
| Volunteer Voices
|
|
 | | Tracy McGinty, CASA Volunteer from Hays County. |
|
Firefighter Fights for Kids
Tracy McGinty became an advocate in El Paso nine years ago before moving to Central Texas.
"I met a few CASA's while I was working for the El Paso Fire Department. They convinced me that it would be a good way to give back in retirement."
Over the course of six cases, Tracy has been an advocate for a total of 14 children. He says that the best part of being a CASA volunteer is fighting for a child and prevailing.
"It's especially gratifying when the child is old enough to know what you have done and they say 'thank you'."
Casework supervisor Layla Coleman said that Tracy's insightfulness, dedication, doggedness, and compassion are just a few of the attributes that make him excel as a CASA.
"I'm always learning from Tracy, and I look forward to many more years of serving children in need with such a wonderful advocate."
|
| Volunteer Appreciation Party
|
| |
Celebrating Another Successful Year
|
| Upcoming Volunteer Trainings
|
| |
Make a Difference in the life of a child,
become a CASA Volunteer
Help us get the word out about these trainings!
If you know someone who would make a great
CASA volunteer, please share these training dates.
 | |
Jeannette Sheridan, CASA of Central Texas Advocate since 2003
|
New Braunfels CASA office January 15th to February 12th Wednesdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
San Marcos CASA office
January 18th to February 8th
Saturdays8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
To learn more about training sessions, contact Training Coordinator Debbie Haynes at 512-392-3578 or by e-mail.
For more information on becoming a volunteer, click here. |
| Volunteers in Action
|
| |
CASA Revives Legislative Committee
CASA staff and volunteers headed to Austin for a legislative advocacy workshop hosted by Texas CASA. The Legislative Advocacy Team (LAT) for CASA of Central Texas will be co-chaired by volunteers John Barthel and Sandra Koonce.  | | Pictured l-r: Co-Chair Sandra Koonce, Executive Director Norma Blackwell, Co-Chair John Barthel, Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs, Bob Williams. |
The LAT works to promote CASA and raise awareness of related issues on the legislative level by attending CASA Day at the Capitol and meeting with local officials out of session. 
Executive Director Norma Blackwell (right) with Texas CASA staff and State Representative and Appropriations Committee Chair John Otto.
|
| Event Recap
|
|
|
CASA Celebrates in Seguin
CASA's Superstar Showcase was held on November 7th at
the Big Red Barn in Seguin.
The event honored State Representative John Kuempel for
his ongoing support in the fight against child abuse.
 | |
Pictured l-r: Texas CASA CEO Vicki Spriggs, State Rep. John Kuempel, Board President JoAnne Germer, Executive Director Norma Blackwell, Michelle Kuempel.
|
   More photos from the Superstar Showcase are available on our Facebook page, click here. Special Thanks to our event sponsor:
Guadalupe Regional Medical Center
Auction Donors:
|
Becky Lake
|
Grant John
|
Starcke Park Golf Club
|
Susie Russell
| |
Carolyn Liner
|
Gruene, Texas
|
McAdoo's Seafood
|
The Gruene Door
| |
CASA Board
|
James & Kay Walker
|
Mid Texas Symphony
|
Toby Hooper
| |
Chris Owen
|
JoAnne Germer
|
Norma Blackwell
|
| |
Coopers BBQ
|
Joe & Debbie Engbrock
|
Pape's Pecans
|
Walmart
| |
D&D Farm and Ranch
|
Judy Cope
|
Sandra Koonce
|
Wells Fargo
| |
Dr. Wade Wilson
|
Karen Sleighter
|
Schlitterbahn
| |
Golf Club of Seguin
|
Kathy Dial
|
Sister Suzie's
|
|
| Comal Cops for Kids
|
|
|
Kick off Thanksgiving Day with a Gruene Tradition:
2013 Gruene 5K Run/Walk and 1/4 Mile Kids Turkey Chase
Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2013
Sign-up & registration from 6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. in front of the Gristmill. Races begin in front of Gruene Hall
5K Run/Walk begins at 8:30am
1/4 Mile Kids Turkey Chase begins at 10:00am
The Comal Cops for Kids Foundation is a non-profit organization designed to raise funds for the benefit of other charitable organizations that support law enforcement efforts to better serve the children of Comal County, Texas. For more information, visit their website. |
| Social Media
|
| |
Follow CASA of Central Texas online to get information
and updates throughout the month!
We have been on social media for a few years, but this year we are increasing our online efforts and we need your help.
Click the icons to follow us and help spread the word about CASA!
 
 
|
| Community Support
|
| |
Promote CASA at Your Business
Thank you to the following organizations and businesses for displaying CASA brochures in their buildings:
Broadway Bank
Canyon Lake Animal Clinic
Victor's Personal Training Center
CASA of Central Texas is looking for more volunteers and you can help. If you can display our CASA banner or brochures in your place of business to help recruit more volunteers, please contact Volunteer and Development Assistant Jerret Swierc at (830) 626-2272 or by email. |
| Upcoming Events |
|
|
|
|
Stay Connected!
|
| | |
 Find us on Facebook! Visit our Website
|
|
|
|
|
