January 2017
Greetings!

Happy New Year! Do you know how many foster children’s lives you helped transform last fiscal year? 810! That’s more than two a day! Children like Yvette, Savannah, and Isabella and teens like Jena and Odi. None of them would have had a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) if it weren’t for you.

Our year-end campaign wraps up next week and participation has been amazing. So many people have spoken-up for foster children in Santa Clara County. Thank you to our wonderful donors and CASA volunteers. You provide stability and hope to foster children!


If you made a donation, you can double your gift if you or your spouse has an Employee Matching Gift Program. Click here to see if your company will match your gift.

With gratitude,

Karen Scussel
Executive Director
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
News
A New Year's Note From a Former CASA
If we ever doubt that Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) make a difference in the lives of the youth they serve, we would like to share an email that was sent by one of our previous CASA, Laurie Ann Santos Weber.

Laurie was a South County CASA from 2004 to 2010. During this time, she was a CASA to Alex, a relationship that has lasted a lifetime.

So read on, enjoy, and may the year ahead be as bright for you as it seems to be for Alex.
You Came Through!
Back in early December, we posted on Facebook asking for your help gathering new, unwrapped holiday toys for children in foster care. Dozens of companies, schools, and kind-hearted people donated hundreds of gifts. Check-out pictures from our office: photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos & photos.

We also posted asking you to vote for us to receive a $5,000 grant from Lexus Stevens Creek. Thanks to your help, we got it! We are so grateful for you. Thank you.
Upcoming Event
Spring Event: Disco, Dine and Make a Difference!
Join us for a fun night of groovy hits, dancing and raising funds for foster children in Silicon Valley!

Saturday, March 10, 2018
Club Auto Sport
6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

  • Individual Tickets: $250
  • Table of Ten: $2,500


All proceeds benefit foster children in Santa Clara County.
Community
CASA Shares a Love of Pho
Michael was only 2 when he was removed from his mother’s care. He then bounced between his mom and dad before moving into foster care when he was 3. The chaos in his young life had hurt his ability to speak and he didn’t know how to form words without slurring.

Thankfully, his CASA Kevin had the patience and training from Child Advocates to help Michael find his words. 
Our Next CASA Training Starts January 16th!
On January 16th, we'll begin our new CASA training class! Seven times a year we train future CASAs at our office in Milpitas or the community center in Gilroy to start them on their journey as Court Appointed Special Advocates. Along the way, they will hear from social workers, attorneys, nurses, teachers and our CASA Specialists. At the end of their training, CASAs are sworn-in by a judge and enjoy a potluck with friends and family.
Take Action
Invite a Friend to Become a CASA Volunteer!
Do you know someone who would make a great CASA volunteer? Invite them to learn more. Our next Info Session is tonight, then we have one more in January and two in February.

Share this on: Facebook/ LinkedIn/ Twitter.
Child Advocates - CASA of Silicon Valley