Gathering with friends and family during the holidays is a tradition most of us take for granted. But for so many of the children served by CASA, the holidays provide a painful reminder that they are different from their peers - separated from parents, siblings, pets and close friends as they reside in foster care and other safe placements to shield them from further abuse and/or neglect. 

     While you and I decide where we will spend our holidays, these children and youth wait for safe, permanent homes. The holidays can be a lonely time.

     Fortunately, this is often a time when many caring members of our community step forward to offer their help. It is this outpouring of concern and generosity that makes me particularly thankful during this holiday season. Just when our volunteers and staff are overwhelmed by the tragic reality of new abuse and neglect cases in Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays Counties, the phone rings or my email inbox reveals a caring individual or group ready to extend a helping hand.

     This meaningful support is what makes our community special. Your financial donations to CASA, your in-kind contributions, your volunteer hours, and your creative and meaningful offers to share your time and resources truly make a difference. 

     With your help, we are making a difference one child at a time. As you gather with your loved ones this holiday season, please know that your generosity is truly appreciated, and your gifts are providing hope for the children served by our dedicated CASA volunteers. Your contributions exemplify the heart of giving, and we are thankful.

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season,

  "I feel a very strong desire to serve others and make a difference in the world. I knew in my heart that helping children, the ones who often get overlooked, was where I could do the most good. CASA was a perfect fit."

  "I have learned that ALL children just want to be loved...they want to be heard...they need to KNOW there is at least one person in this world on their side who will be there for them, always.  For many of these kids, without CASA, they would not have anyone."

     Less than a week to go before our endowment campaign closes! We are very close to achieving our goal of raising $25,000 to meet the challenge put before us by the McKenna Foundation.

Make a donation designated to CASA's endowment fund by December 1st:

Donate online: here 

Or deliver to: CASA of Central Texas, 1619 E. Common St., Suite 301, New Braunfels, TX 78130

     Endowment donations received after Dec. 1 will be directed to the fund but will not be eligible for a matching contribution from the McKenna Foundation.

     Please call CASA Development Director Tricia Schneider, 830-626-2272, for more information/questions.

     CASA officially began the journey to a permanent office in San Marcos on November 13th at the Capital Campaign Kickoff Reception.

     CASA supporters attended the event and local elected officials spoke of the need and pledged their support.

     This holiday season, CASA of Central Texas is collaborating with local organizations and individuals to provide gifts for abused and neglected children. This annual project is a wonderful opportunity to extend the giving tradition to children in our community.  We hope that you will join us in our goal to provide a gift to all of the abused and neglected children that CASA serves.  

    To participate, visit the Toy and Gift Drive website Here. You will see a list of the children, their ages and wishlists. Follow the directions to select a child and then fulfill their request.

If you have any questions, please contact Eloise Hudson by email or at 830-626-2272. 

     The Monday following the Thanksgiving shopping spree weekend has in recent years become know as "Cyber Monday", a day when many people do their holiday shopping online.

    When you do your online shopping, you can support CASA at the same time by using websites that give back as you shop.

When you shop on Amazon, at no extra cost to you a portion of your eligible purchases can be donated to help CASA recruit and train volunteers! Just go to www.smile.amazon.com, log on to your Amazon account, type CASA of Central Texas in the search box, select us and start shopping! CASA will receive .5% of all eligible purchases when you buy from Amazon!

December 2nd is the third annual #GivingTuesday worldwide. It is a day to inspire personal philanthropy and encourage bigger, better and smarter charitable giving during the holiday season. If you spend on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, please consider kicking off the holiday giving season with an end-of-year charitable gift toCASA of Central Texas! Click here to donate. 

CASA Volunteer John Nutting with his CASA child at a previous U.S. Army All-American Bowl game.

Game Details:   

What:The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is an East versus West showdown that features the top 90 high school football players from across the country and the nation's top 125 high school marching musicians who perform during half-time.     

When: Saturday, January 3rd, 2015, noon   

Where: Alamodome, Downtown San Antonio