April 2019: News, Events, and Opportunities for CASA Volunteers 
 

Letter from CASA Executive Director Angela Rose  
 
Dear CASA Volunteers:
 
Happy Spring! I hope you all are enjoying the warmer weather and extra daylight that this time of year affords us.  
 
Here at CASA, spring also brings about one of our biggest fundraising pushes of the year - Light of Hope. I'm pleased to inform you that this year's Light of Hope went off without a hitch, despite the empty threat of another bomb cyclone!   
 
During the breakfast and lunch programs at Light of Hope, I announced the conclusion of our "Every Child Served" Community Campaign. When we launched the campaign at the end of 2017, our three-part goal was to complete the Weber Street building acquisition, provide funding for immediate program growth, and ensure long-term sustainability by April 1, 2019. Well, we have met all of these goals! Thank you to those of you who, in addition to being volunteers, are community campaign contributors.

With the Community Campaign and Light of Hope in the rear view mirror, we now turn our focus to recruiting more volunteers so that we can meet this year's goal of serving 785 children before June 30. Our next advocate training begins April 23, and our next SEPT training begins June 3. As always, if you have any acquaintances who would make great volunteers - please send them to the Volunteer Page of our website!

Thank you all for everything you continue to do for Colorado's kids!

Sincerely,
Angela
Upcoming Trainings & Events for Volunteers  
 
Listed below are some upcoming events you might be interested in. Full details are available by clicking the links below or by visiting the CASA event calendar.  

April 25: CEID Training  
May 6: Thinking Errors 
 
Milton Foster Children's Fund
HAPPENINGS
  • Graduation Party
  • Tutoring Opportunities
  • Foster Girl Makeover & Photo Day
  • Guitar Lessons
  • Senior Pictures for 2019-2020 year
Click here to learn more about teen events.  
Ashlynn touches the hearts of Light of Hope attendees 

Last week, advocate Susie Havel shared the story of Ashlynn with large crowds at the 19th annual Light of Hope breakfast and lunch events. When Ashlynn, who is now 18, emancipated from the system the magistrate told her she should be proud of herself for accomplishing what most adults cannot do. Ashlynn received a standing ovation from the Light of Hope crowd. If you were unable to join us for the story last week, you can check out Ashlynn's video below!  
 
 
Summer camps are filling up! Apply for MFCF funding!  
Camps fill up quickly so if your CASA child would like to attend summer camp, please identify a camp and apply to MFCF for funding as soon as possible. To qualify for funding, you must have an open D&N case through El Paso or Teller County, not live with biological mom and/or dad, and not have received MFCF funds in the past year. Camp Shady Brook is already full but other camps have spots left. Find camps here.
43rd Annual Foster Children's Festival at North Pole 
   
Back again this summer for the 43rd year is the Annual Foster Children's Festival at the North Pole! This year, it is Saturday, June 1, from 10 AM - 5 PM. Registration is required and the form is available here. Check-in closes at 1 PM and all attendees must be present by that time.
Coming Soon: New CASA Ambassador Program!

CASA is excited to announce that we are in the early stages of developing a new Ambassador Program with the goal of increasing organizational awareness in the Pikes Peak Region.

A team of CASA Ambassadors, comprised of passionate volunteers and staff members, will be armed with the tools and knowledge needed to represent CASA at speaking engagements and table top events in their own neighborhoods and communities.

We are taking referrals for the CASA Ambassador Team now. If you would like to be a part of the team, or if you would like to nominate another CASA volunteer to be a part of the team, please contact Uriko Stout at [email protected].