October 2018
ONE FACT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
85% of our CASAs reported improvement in their foster child's success at school.
“My foster child has stopped skipping school , and says with determination that she WILL graduate high school as the first member of her family to achieve this goal .”

- CASA volunteer
News
Wine, Women and Shoes Raises Record $215,000
Our 2nd Annual Wine, Women and Shoes event presented by Star One Credit Union was a spectacular success! Thanks to about 300 attendees, we raised more than $215,000 for foster youth in Santa Clara County! That's $55,000 more than last year!

It was an evening of good food, fashion, dancing, and of course, wine. Held at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, the venue was packed with women ready to show off their best fall looks. At this event the bigger and brighter the shoe the better. From jungle inspired bamboo heels to classic Louboutin red bottoms, the shoes stole the show. Live music played in the background as guests bought clothes and accessories from our marketplace vendors to help raise money for Child Advocates.
CASA Kids Enjoy Rotary Sponsored Picnic
More than 35 foster children and their CASAs spent some outdoor fun together at Child Advocates’ Annual Rotary Picnic last weekend sponsored by the Campbell Rotary Club. Foster children ages 2 - 16 years old enjoyed a bouncy house, soccer, arts and crafts, a selfie booth, and BBQ. It was an afternoon where CASAs and their foster children could come together, socialize and enjoy the festivities. We'd like to send a big shout out and thank you to the Campbell Rotary Club for their contributions and making this event such a fun time for CASAs and their foster youth!
Upcoming Event
Theta Breakers Run for the Children, Oct. 28th
Lace-up your sneakers and get ready for the 33rd Annual Theta Breakers Run for the Children! Hundreds of people join in the 5K Run/Walk and 10K Run around the beautiful Stanford campus. All proceeds benefit Child Advocates!

When: Sunday, Oct. 28th, 2018
Where: Stanford University Pac-12 Plaza
Time: Race starts at 9:00 am

Can't attend the race? You can still help the Theta's reach their goal by making a donation here
Community
October is National Bully Prevention Month
This month we are focusing on creating awareness and prevention in all forms of bullying.   Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. We cannot allow bullying behavior to become normalized, and we must effectively advocate for children in foster care, who are often targeted.

As high as 25% of pre-teens and teens in the general population are estimated to experience bullying, and among marginalized populations, such as foster youth, that figure is much higher –up to 80%.
Judge Schwarz Honored by the SCCBA
Kudos to Judge Shawna Schwarz for recently being honored by the Santa Clara County Bar Association at their Annual Reception Honoring Santa Clara County Women Judges.

Judge Schwarz has been on the bench since December 2001 and has worked with Child Advocates for over 15 years providing training on the Juvenile Dependency Court process for all new CASA Volunteers. In her remarks at the reception, Judge Schwarz thanked the dependency justice partners including Child Advocates of Silicon Valley for providing CASAs who "give an extra voice" for foster children and "make a lasting difference in their lives."  

In her CASA trainings, Judge Schwarz shared a video on childhood trauma and its effect on the brain.
Take Action
Donate Your Vehicle
Is your car scarier than a haunted house? Donate it to child Advocates! If your old car or truck is scarier than your Halloween costume, avoid getting deep cavities in your wallet and donate it to Child Advocates.
It’s easy to give and you may qualify for a 2018 tax deduction. CARS, Inc. will handle the process from start to finish, and they even give you a tax receipt when they pick up your vehicle. You’ll be ensuring a rosy road ahead for foster children in Santa Clara County. 
Invite a Friend to Become a CASA
Do you know someone who would make a great CASA volunteer? Invite them to learn more about our CASA program!

Our next Info Session is Wednesday, October 10th, at our office in Milpitas. Additional days are available so check out our Info Session schedule here!

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Child Advocates - CASA of Silicon Valley