Hi *{{Informal Name}}*,

As we look back, it is always hard to find the words to best express our gratitude for the truly humbling ways that Heart of Missouri CASA was supported by the community through the year. However, we are hopeful that the number of children served in 2022 can do for us, what words cannot. We advocated for more children than ever before and that would not be possible without our selfless volunteers and the communities that support them.

We hope you will share in celebration with us as we highlight some of our greatest accomplishments last year and ask for your help, because every child in foster care deserves to have an advocate from CASA.

Cheers to 2023,

Lacey Pratt

Community Engagement Manager

Heart of Missouri CASA

Quick look at 2022.....

Every year for the past 6 years, Heart of Missouri CASA volunteers have advocated for more children. In 2022, we reached a big milestone--serving over 400 children in one year!

While it is our deepest desire that we are not needed, we are determined to continue growing so that all of the 700+ children in our community's foster care system every year have an advocate of there own. Join us and help us reach more children in 2023 than ever before.

Our goal for this year, is to serve no less than 450 children in Boone and Callaway counties. To support those interested in volunteering, please join one of our upcoming Info-sessions to learn more.

Are You Ready for a New Opportunity in 2023?

Are you thinking about doing something new and meaningful in 2023? Have you considered becoming a CASA volunteer, but still have questions? We have all of our Info Sessions scheduled for the year! These are brief 30 minute virtual calls where you can get your questions answered before deciding if this opportunity is for you. Click on the button below to register and a zoom link will be sent to you by email. We hope to see you there!

REGISTER HERE

Meet our new Board Members!

SETH WOODS

Seth Woods has been a Boone County resident since 2003. Seth's career has been in public education for all of that time, working as a teacher and in other roles for Centralia R-6 Schools for 13 years and then with Columbia Public Schools since 2016. Seth is currently the principal at Beulah Ralph Elementary School and lives in Columbia with his wife and children. He wanted to join the CASA board because he has seen first-hand the importance of the work done by the organization and its volunteers, both via his career and via the work his wife did when she was a CASA volunteer.

MARGRACE BUCKLER

Margrace retired in 2021 as the Director of Human Resources for the City of Columbia, after almost 23 years of service. Prior to joining the City of Columbia in 1998, she served as Director of Personnel Systems for the Missouri Department of Economic Development. She worked in Missouri state government for almost 13 years. She has also worked in banking and higher education.

Margrace has lived in Columbia since 1974, a two-time Mizzou graduate. Her husband Kevin, a Columbia native, retired in February after 42 years at Coil Construction. They have one dog, Marley, who runs the household. Margrace’s main job now is walking that dog, many miles per week. She also serves on the Daniel Boone Regional Library Board of Trustees and is a volunteer farmer at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture.

She has ties to CASA through Kappa Alpha Theta and their national commitment to the organization. Margrace looks forward to working on the board to further HOMCASA’s mission in our community.

MELINDA GRACE-BEASLEY

Melinda grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and is the youngest of three children. She attended the University of Kansas where, in 1985, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Melinda then went on to graduate from KU in 1988 with degrees in Human Development and Family Life, and Crime and Delinquency. Additionally, Melinda graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1991.

After law school Melinda worked in private practice in Kansas City until 1994, she moved to Columbia and began working for the Missouri Department of Transportation. During my tenure with MoDOT. Currently Melinda supervises the legal team responsible for all aspects of Human Resources, including litigation.

Melinda has four adult sons who reside in Dallas, Denver, St. Louis and Kansas City. She has one perfect grandson in Dallas and a perfect granddaughter who will make her grand arrival in St. Louis, near the beginning of May.

Melinda states, “Although my favorite role is being a MeMe to my grands, I also enjoy walking, traveling, cooking and watching sports, especially watching the University of Kansas championship basketball team. I love children and am looking forward to becoming active with the CASA Board and doing everything possible to assist with achieving the goals of the organization.”

A Record CoMoGives Campaign!

We were absolutely blown away by your support all throughout the month of December. Our 2022 CoMoGives goal was to raise $20,000 so we can provide 800 hours of advocacy to children in 2023. On the last two days of the campaign we reached and exceeded that goal! We ended the campaign at $21,673 raised! WOW. Thank you for giving 867 hours of advocacy and care to children in Boone and Callaway Counties!

Join Our Next Volunteer Training

Are you ready to take the next step and become a CASA? Our next available class is set to begin on April 5th. For more information, call us at (573) 442-4670, email us at hello@homcasa.org, or register for one of our no-obligation information sessions.

Spring Class

4/5/2023: In-person Kick-off 5:30-6:30 pm

4/12/2023: In-person Session 1: 5:30-8:30 pm
4/19/2023: In-person Session 2: 5:30-8:30 pm
4/26/2023: In-person Session 3: 5:30-8:30 pm
5/3/2023: In-person Session 4: 5:30-8:30 pm
5/10/2023: In-person Session 5: 5:30-8:30 pm

Training is made up of 15 hours in-person and 15 hours online.

If you are ready to apply now, you can do so on our website!