Welcome to another edition of CASA Up Close Monthly. Please feel free to contact CASA for more information about anything you read. And, as always, thank you for your continued support! Use these quick links to get involved. |
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- Welcome New CASA Volunteers
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Information Sessions - by Zoom!
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Training Dates - by Zoom!
- CASA Yard Signs
- CASA Golf Classic
- Payroll Deductions for CASA
- Help Make the Holidays Special
- Hit the Road with CASA
- Shop for CASA
- Champions fore CASA
- Events Benefiting CASA
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Letter from the Executive Director |
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Gathering with friends and family during the holidays is a tradition most of us take for granted. But for so many of the children served by CASA, the holidays provide a painful reminder that they are different from their peers - separated from parents, siblings, beloved pets and close friends as they reside in foster care and other safe placements to shield them from further abuse and/or neglect.
While you and I decide where and with whom we would like to spend our holidays, these children and youth wait for safe and stable homes. The holidays can be a lonely time.
Fortunately, this is also a time that caring members of our community offer help. This outpouring of concern and generosity makes me so thankful. Just when our volunteers and staff are overwhelmed by the tragic reality of new abuse and neglect cases in Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays Counties, the phone rings or my email inbox reveals a caring person or group ready to extend a helping hand.
This meaningful support makes our community special. Your financial donations to CASA, your in-kind contributions, your volunteer hours, and your creative and meaningful offers to share your time and resources truly make a difference.
With your help, we are making a difference one child at a time. As you gather with your loved ones this holiday season, please know that your generosity is truly appreciated, and your gifts are providing hope for the children served by our dedicated CASA volunteers. Your contributions exemplify the heart of giving, and we are thankful.
Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season,
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Norma Castilla-Blackwell
Executive Director
CASA of Central Texas
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Welcome New CASA Volunteers |
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We welcomed 6 new CASA Volunteers in October! Thank you to these wonderful community members who completed an intensive 42-hour training and stepped up to be a voice for children in the court system.
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Top Row -The Honorable Judge Melissa McLenahan, Brandi Raschke, Training Coordinator, CASA of Central Texas Inc. and Becky Huff of Hays County.
Middle Row - Sameera Aradhyula of Hays County, Laura Garza Simmons of Comal County and Norma Blackwell, CASA of Central Texas Executive Director.
Bottom Row - Jordan Burnham of Hays County, Jordan Elliott of Hays County, and Cierra Criddle of Comal County.
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Information Sessions Online |
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Meeting times:
Mondays
10 a.m.
Wednesdays
5 p.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Noon
Saturdays
(1st and 3rd of each month)
10 a.m.
Use this link to join us at any of the times above!
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Want to learn more about the
role of a CASA Volunteer?
Join our 30-minute information session and hear how our volunteers advocate for children who have been abused and neglected.
Just pick a time that works for you and use the link to join us on Zoom!
If these times don't work for you, contact Eloise Hudson and she can do a 1-1 with you at your convenience!
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Become a CASA volunteer in 2021
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Trainings held online and via Zoom.
Application deadline prior to each cycle is two weeks before start of training.
One-hour pre-training interview to occur at least one week before start of each training cycle. Mandatory 10-hour online class to be completed during the training cycle.
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For more information on training courses, contact Brandi Raschke at 512-392-3578, 830-626-2272, or by email.
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Show Your Spirit with a CASA Yard Sign! |
You can now show your support for CASA right in your own front yard or place of business! CASA yard signs are now available! Help us spread the word!
If you know someone in your neighborhood or circle of friends who would like one, grab a handful!
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The 4th annual CASA Classic Golf Tournament presented by Corridor Title was a remarkably special 2-day event which raised $50,000 for CASA!
After months of evolving circumstances and planning to ensure safe play, we reunited with old friends and made new ones, too.
Teams enjoyed a challenging and beautiful hill-country course, fun games, great food, and everyone went home with a delicious pie!
One of our players even made an amazing Hole-In-One to win $10,000 to be split 50-50 with CASA! Congratulations!
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Watch this video to see highlights and winners from this year's tournament. |
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Payroll Deductions for CASA
State and federal employees may donate to CASA of Central Texas through payroll deductions under the State Employee Charitable Campaign and the Combined Federal Campaign.
Watch for campaign drives at your office, or talk to your Human Resources Representative for information.
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State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC)
CASA of Central Texas Code
#475017 (Capital Area)
#475030 (San Antonio Area)
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Combined Federal Campaign
(CFC)
CASA of Central Texas
#60661
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Make the Holidays Special
We are looking for a lead underwriter to make our Holiday Gift Drive 100% contact-free with new technology. Please contact us at info@casacentex.org to underwrite this annual project and share the holiday spirit with our children.
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Hit the Road with CASA
Did you know that CASA participates in the Specialty License Plate Program? You can order a custom license plate for your car with the phrase “Big Voices for Little Texans.”
Proceeds benefit your local CASA program and Texas CASA .
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Still doing most of your shopping online? AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support CASA of Central Texas every time you shop, at no cost to you.
When you shop at smile.amazon.com , you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization.
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Just go to www.smile.amazon.com, log on to your existing Amazon account, type CASA of Central Texas in the search box, select us and start shopping! CASA will receive .5% of all eligible purchases when you buy from Amazon!
To date, CASA of Central Texas has received more than $1,000, from your shopping!
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Make a 107% difference with CASA through Champions fore Charity. Champions fore Charity is an extremely exclusive program that gives 100% of the funds raised back to participating organizations, like CASA of Central Texas. Plus, even more exciting, they offer a 7% match back!
For more than 20 years, the Valero Texas Open has assisted numerous schools and organizations across Texas. Last year, they raised an outstanding $6.386M! They’re currently on track to meet their goal of $7M. With your participation, they’ll be able to meet their goal and we’ll be able to better serve abused and neglected children in our community! Win-win!
The Valero Texas Open takes place March 29 to April, 2021. CASA’s giving page is now open for donations!
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Best used on Google Chrome (not Firefox) |
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Events Benefiting CASA
CASA of Central Texas welcomes community initiatives to help promote awareness and funding for our program. By taking on this type of project, event organizers assume the responsibility of creating a successful event without a significant level of assistance from CASA. All special events and fundraising efforts conducted to benefit CASA are run by financially responsible and reputable organizations and individuals motivated by a genuine desire to help CASA. If you are interested in hosting a third-party fundraiser to benefit CASA, please review these guidelines.
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