Hi *{{Informal Name}}*,

As the school bells ring and kids head back to school this year, we want to thank everyone who makes it happen. Thank you to all of our school teachers, coaches, nurses, classroom aids, therapists, counselors, librarians, kitchen staff, subs, volunteers, maintenance, and administrative personnel who work day in and day out to give our kids a quality education in a safe environment.

Some children walking into school each day have many unmet needs that make it difficult to learn. Some children need nutrition, medial care, access to community resources, or safety at home. If you can, find a way to be part of the support system for a child, family, teacher, or a school you live close to. Another idea? Become a CASA volunteer and support a child in foster care this school year. What a difference you could make!

Please keep reading to learn more about:

Partnering for kids in our community
August Impact Moment
Passing of the torch- New CASA Board Leadership
Meet Caleb Brown
Fall Training Kicks Off Soon!

Take care,

Angela Carson

Development Director

Heart of Missouri CASA

Partnering for kids in our community!

On Saturday we assisted Dream Tree Academy in their annual back to school event for the community where 200 backpacks were distributed to children and youth! There were also free toiletry items, lunch, hair cut vouchers, Kona Ice, and games for kids during the event. It was such a blast to link arms with another organization doing good in our community. Thank you to Dream Tree Academy for leading the effort, everyone who donated school supplies, and thanks to Karis Church for hosting!

Impact Moment

CASA Sandy has been a constant support for the children on her case, especially the oldest brother, Jacob. He has had a difficult time over the last couple of years, and through his many moves, Sandy has been there to support Jacob. His foster placement recently disrupted due to safety concerns. Jacob had to stay through the day and overnight at the Children's Division office while his case manager looked for a new placement. Sandy showed up with pizza, hugs, and a calming presence during a very stressful situation. They were able to laugh and sing and play while they waited, and she was there when Jacob found out he would be returning to a residential facility. His only question for the case manager was, "Will I still be able to see and talk to my CASA when I move?" Sandy was there to look him in his eyes and give him the answer he needed to hear. In this difficult season, Jacob needs a caring adult who will be in his corner no matter what. Sandy is that person. We are so thankful for her care and commitment as a volunteer advocate. She is making a huge difference!

*Names changed to protect privacy

Passing of the Leadership Torch!

Heart of Missouri CASA is so lucky to have a committed board of directors who dedicate their time and energy to help us grow, stay on mission, and cast vision for the future. We are so thankful for our board leadership who faithfully served in their respective roles over the last year, and also want to introduce our leadership for the coming year!

Officers for the 2023-2024 year:

Board Chair- Chris Horn

Board Vice Chair- Margrace Buckler

Board Secretary- Ashley Halford

Board Treasurer- Elizabeth Blake

Chris Horn is a husband, father, and a friend that strives to positively impact others and serve the community well. He and his wife, Amanda, have three wonderful kids ages 8, 7 and 5. He us a University of Missouri – Columbia graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Chris has over 15 years of insurance industry experience where he’s held leadership positions in claims and reinsurance and currently places reinsurance programs on behalf of American Family Insurance. He has also served on other non-profit and community boards and committees. In his free time, Chris enjoys basketball, golf, reading, and DIY home projects.

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 serving as Vice Chair to further HOMCASA’s mission in our community.

New Board Member- Caleb Brown

We are pleased to introduce, Caleb Brown, to the Heart of Missouri CASA community! Caleb recently joined our board of directors and here is a little bit about him:

Caleb Brown has been a resident of Columbia since 2002 and is currently Vice President for The 20 MSP, a leading technology company. He is passionate about empowering businesses and individuals to harness the full potential of technology. Outside of work, Caleb serves as an elder at Campus Lutheran Church and loves spending time with his family.

"I’m excited to join the board of Heart of Missouri CASA because…the help this great organization does for the children of our community. Helping kids going through such a tough situation has amazing results for the future of our community. I hope to strengthen CASA by advocating, volunteering, and fundraising for Heart of Missouri CASA as a board member." -Caleb Brown

Join Our Next Volunteer Training

Are you ready to take the next step and become a CASA? Our fall class is set to begin on September 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.

Fall Class

9/5/2023: In-person Kick-off: 5:30-6:30 pm
9/12/2023: In-person Session 1: 5:30-8:30 pm
9/19/2023: In-person Session 2: 5:30-8:30 pm
9/26/2023: In-person Session 3: 5:30-8:30 pm
10/3/2023: In-person Session 4: 5:30-8:30 pm
10/10/2023: 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!

Register for an upcoming Info Session!

Have you considered becoming a CASA volunteer but still have questions? We have weekly info sessions where you can learn more! 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.

REGISTER HERE

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