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February 2014
| CASA Up Close
Monthly
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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. |
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CASA of Central Texas |
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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.
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| Letter from the Executive Director
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Dollar-for-Dollar Match
I am very excited to share some news with you! CASA of Central Texas has an opportunity through one of our long-time donors to raise an extra $100,000 between now and June 30th. With your help, I know we can do this!
The Baptist Health Foundation has challenged CASA and our donors in Comal and Guadalupe Counties with a dollar-for-dollar matching gift for funds raised up to $50,000. This means that for every dollar that you donate, the Foundation will match it - thus, making the impact of your contribution DOUBLE!! If you donate $100, the total gift that CASA will receive is $200. If you donate $500, then CASA will receive $1,000. No gift is too small.
Your gifts will go directly into our operations to recruit, train and support more CASA volunteers who will advocate for MORE abused and neglected children. And, as you will read below, there were 347 Central Texas children in State foster care in 2013 who did not have the voice of a trained CASA volunteer speaking up for the children's best interests. We have made great strides, even giant strides...but there are more abused and neglected children who need us...and we want to be there for them.
We are not limited to the level of gift you may choose to give. If you feel that the time is right for you to make a very meaningful gift to CASA at a higher level, I would love to personally talk to you. Please contact me at your convenience at (830) 626-2272.
Your tax-deductible contributions may be mailed to our office as follows:
CASA of Central Texas, Inc.
Attn: Match Challenge
1619 E. Common St. Suite 301
New Braunfels, TX 78130
If you wish to make a donation using your credit card, please call Ali Wilkinson at (830)-626-2272
Thank you for all you do to make a positive difference in the lives of children.
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
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| Volunteer Voices
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Volunteer Royalty
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Melinda with her "Little One" CASA license plate.
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Melinda Rapp became a CASA volunteer is 2010 because she loves children and wanted to do something to help protect them. Her first case involved a 5-year-old girl who would tell everyone in court "This is Ms. Melinda, she is helping me get a new home, and she is a princess."
"I cried" Melinda said.
Melinda encourages others to consider becoming a CASA volunteer.
"It will be the most rewarding venture that somebody who loves children can take."
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| Upcoming Volunteer Trainings
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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.
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Jeannette Sheridan, CASA of Central Texas Advocate since 2003
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New Braunfels CASA office March 19th to April 16th Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. San Marcos CASA office
March 20th to April 17th
Thursdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
To learn more about training sessions, contact Training Coordinator Debbie Haynes at 512-392-3578 or by email.
For more information on becoming a volunteer, click here. |
| Welcome New Volunteers
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Ready to Take on a Case Sworn in on February 11th Kashera Muhammad (CASA of Central Texas intern) and Ron Yates of Hays County.
Sworn in on February 19th Elizabeth Polk of Comal County, Karen Moore of Hays County, Sharon Ingerson of Comal County, Laurel Winslow of Comal County, Patti Ebrom of Comal County, Judge McClenahan, Gloria Cheatham of Guadalupe County, Kristi Perkins of Comal County, Sandy Durke of Comal County, Barbara Kovalski of Comal County and Michael Kovalski of Comal County.
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| Upcoming Information Sessions
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| Lynette Barker, CASA of Central Texas Advocate since 2009
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CASA can also
bring these information sessions to you, just give us a call! Please RSVP to Ali Wilkinson by email or at 830-626-2272.
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You are Invited to a CASA Voices Tour
Learn about CASA and the work our advocates are doing in the community. Join us on one of these upcoming dates - at a location near you - 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, March 5th - Noon San Marcos-CASA office
Wednesday, March 12th - Noon
Lockhart-First Lockhart Bank
111 S. Main St. Thursday, March 13th, Noon
Schertz-GVEC Community Room
908 Curtiss Ave. Thursday, April 10th, Noon Seguin-GVEC Community Room 927 N. Hwy 46 Thursday, April 17th, noon
Lunch provided by Fox's Pizza Den in New Braunfels
and Chick-fil-A in San Marcos.
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| 2013 By the Numbers
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Click here to see all of the data from 2013 by county. |
A Year of Accomplishments
In our 2013 program year, CASA of Central Texas reached a significant milestone by surpassing the half-way mark in the percentage of children we served from our combined counties. Altogether, we provided a trained advocate for 55% of the children who were in State foster care. We are very pleased to see continued growth in every one of our four counties. That growth was especially high in Comal and Hays Counties where dedicated volunteers advocated for 72% of the children. We are making giant strides towards achieving the vision of having a CASA for every child - 100%!
Not only did we match these children with trained CASA volunteers for while they were in foster care, but our volunteers helped achieve safe and permanent homes for 127 children during 2013. These successful outcomes included 52 children who were reunified with parents, 23 adopted by relatives, 23 placed in permanent conservatorship with relatives, and 15 children adopted by new families. Also, CASA stood alongside 12 more youth as they reached independent adulthood on their 18th birthdays.
In 2013, CASA of Central Texas trained and supported 220 volunteers who were assigned to cases. If you would like to become an advocate for children, click HERE for our volunteer application.
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| Hit the Road with CASA
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Order your license plate HERE.
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CASA License Plates are Back
The redesigned Big Voices for Little Texans license plate is now available for purchase through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
A portion of the proceeds from the license plate goes directly to our local CASA program, and you put our logo on the road.
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| Amplify Your Donation
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New this year is the option to schedule a gift in advance.
Visit our page now and set up your donation ahead of time.
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You Have 24 Hours to Give
Mark your calendar to make a difference. Amplify Austin is a community-wide day of online philanthropy with the goal of surpassing last year's $2.8 million raised in 24 hours. CASA of Central Texas raised nearly $7,000 last year and we will again be a part of this exciting campaign.
Beginning at 6 p.m. on March 20th, 2014, anyone anywhere can log on to our profile page to select from a list of over 300 local nonprofits, (including CASA of Central Texas) and show the world just how charitable Central Texas can be.
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| CASA Continuing Education
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Upcoming Training for CASA Volunteers
Writing Effective Court Reports - Keys To a Successful Report
Presented by Layla Coleman
CASA Casework Supervisor
March 6
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
McKenna Events Center New Braunfels
Contact Debbie Haynes by email for more information or to RSVP
Volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education annually
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| Step Right Up
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Under the Big Top
CASA Carnival for a Cause
CASA of Central Texas invites you to a carnival-themed evening of fun and entertainment, including dinner, silent & live auctions, carnival acts and live music.
Honoring |
The Honorable Todd Blomerth
421st Judicial District
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The Honorable Jack Robison
207th Judicial District
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Friday, April 4th, 2014
6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Texas Old Town - Tejas Hall1205 Roland LaneKyle, TX Midway Sponsor: Guadalupe Regional Medical Center Sponsorships available for $2500, $1200 and $750 Contact CASA if you would like to sponsor this event Individual tickets are $75 and $125 a couple and may be purchased here.
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| Turn Gruene Blue
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CASA Blue Ribbon Fun Run
April 12th
9 a.m.
Gruene
Followed by a balloon release to recognize Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.
Watch for more information!
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| Community Support
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If you can display our CASA banner or brochures in your place of business to help recruit more volunteers, please contact Community Relations Coordinator Eloise Hudson at (830) 626-2272 or by email. | |
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
Dr. Eugene Clark Library
Lockhart Senior Apartments
Lockhart Chamber of Commerce
Mason Lodge
Lockhart Family Medicine
Texas State Optical
Lockhart Senior Citizen Center
CPL
Luling Chamber of Commerce
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| Social Media
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Follow CASA of Central Texas online to get information and updates throughout the month!
Click the icons to follow us and help spread the word about CASA!
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| Upcoming Events |
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March 5th- Voices Tour, noon New Braunfels CASA office
6th- Continuing Education, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. New Braunfels, McKenna Events Center
12th- Voices Tour, noon San Marcos CASA office13th- Voices Tour, noon First Lockhart Bank19th- Advocate Training Begins, 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. New Braunfels CASA office 20th- Advocate Training Begins, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. San Marcos CASA office 20th- Amplify Austin, 6 p.m.April
Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month
City and County Proclamation dates TBA
2nd- Voices Tour, noon New Braunfels CASA office
17th- Voices Tour, noon Seguin GVEC Community Room
May
7th- Voices Tour, noon New Braunfels CASA office 14th- Voices Tour, noon San Marcos CASA office16th- Chick-fil-A Cow Classic 2014, 7 a.m. Plum Creek, Kyle
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Stay Connected!
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