CASA Connection: June 2018 E-Newsletter

What's New at CASA?

Dear , 

We're excited to tell you that we are serving more children than we ever have. In the first 5 months of 2018 our volunteers advocated for 208 children, compared to 140 for the same time period in 2017 (48% increase!). But, unfortunately, there are more kids in need. Approximately 300 children in Boone and Callaway counties are without a CASA. Here's how YOU can help give those children a voice: 

  • Become a CASA! We're accepting applications for our next class beginning late July.
  • Talk with your family and friends about becoming a CASA and then send them our way. 
  • Connect us with your church/group to speak and share information about CASA.

Reply to this email with any questions or ideas!

 

Sharon Means Memorial 

Sharon Elizabeth Means, a beloved member of the Fulton community, passed away suddenly on April 10, 2018. She was the Assistant Professor of Education, Director of Student Teaching and Clinical Experience at William Woods for the past 15 years. She also taught 20 years at the elementary level for Fulton Public Schools. In honor of Shari and her love of children, her family chose for memorial donations to be given to Heart of Missouri CASA as a way to remember how important children's lives were to Shari.

We are honored to be selected by Shari's family, and have received over $3,000 in her memory. These donations will provide more than a year of advocacy to an entire sibling set going through foster care. Shari's legacy will live on in our tireless efforts to give children in foster care a voice.

 

Summer 2018 New Volunteer Training

Our next New Volunteer Training is coming up at the end of summer. Please share with your family, friends, and acquaintances! Apply today or contact us for more information. 

  • Online - begins July 28th
  • In-person - Saturday, August 11th - 9am - 3pm
  • In-person - Saturday, August 25th  - 9am - 3pm
  • In-person - Thursday, August 30th - 6 - 8pm

Looking for Sublessor

We are searching for a sublessor for our Columbia CASA office. While we love our current space, we have the opportunity to move to an office near the Boone courthouse that has an ideal-sized training room, which means we can host the new volunteer trainings in our own space! We are excited for this move, but are looking for a sublessor to finish out a portion of our current lease. If you know any small non-profits or businesses that are looking for space, please send them our way.

Visit our website for pictures and details. 

Kansas City Chiefs Fan?  

Here's a win-win to support Heart of Missouri CASA and the Chiefs! Purchase tickets ($33.50 each) to a designated game, and $10 from each ticket sold with our code will be donated back to us! 

CASA Link: http://www.chiefs.com/ticketfundraiser/  
Promocode: HOMCASA

Eligible games: 

 The 4th Annual Voices of Callaway Fundraiser took place on Monday, April 23rd, and was a hit! 

Thank you to every one who attended, sponsored, and supported the event. $13,000 was raised to support CASA's efforts in Callaway County! 

The 2018 Voice of Callaway was awarded to Elizabeth Barnhart, who raised $690. 

Visit our website to see a few pictures of the event!

New CASA Volunteers 

On May 15th and 16th, 10 new CASA volunteers were sworn-in by Judge Sue Crane and Judge Leslie Schneider. We're excited to welcome these new volunteers in to the fold and get them started on their advocacy journey. 


We're proud of our new crew! 

  • Sue Anderson
  • Beth Chancellor
  • Anita Hayes-Birt
  • Christine Kiefer
  • Tasha Nance
  • Elaina Olsen
  • Lisabeth Ovaitt
  • Amanda Smith
  • Jeane Tetro
  • Cornellia Williams

A special thank you to Pizza Tree for donating pizza and salad for our final in-person session!!

Friends of CASA

YOU can give more children in our local foster care system a VOICE in court! Become a Friend of CASA today and your monthly donation will enable us to recruit, train, and coach more advocates to speak up for the best interests of our community's most vulnerable children. Suggested amounts: 

  • $6.00 - Supports 15 minutes of child advocacy per month
  • $12.50 - Supports 30 minutes of child advocacy per month*
  • $25.00 - Supports 1 hour of advocacy per month*
  • $50.00 - Per month = $600/Year - Major Donor*
  • $100 - Per Month = $1,200/year - Major Donor*

Become a Friend of CASA Today!

*Donations of $100 more in a year qualify for the up to 50% Champions for Children Tax Credit! (Just $10/month!)

    

Proud Partners