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CASA of Central Texas advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system by recruiting, training and supporting community volunteers.
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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.
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Letter from the Executive Director
CASA of Central Texas is always looking for more advocates to help us reach our goal of serving 100% of children in care. If you do not have time to become an advocate but would like to show your support, there are many ways to get involved. Here are just a few simple ways you can support CASA of Central Texas.
- Shop though AmazonSmile - Just go to www.smile.amazon.com, log on to your Amazon account, type CASA of Central Texas in the search box, select us and start shopping! We will receive .5% of all eligible purchases when you buy from Amazon!
- Use GoodSearch and Goodshop - A search engine just like Google, but for every search you do, CASA of Central Texas receives 1 cent. Go to www.goodsearch.com, type in CASA of Central Texas as the beneficiary, and start searching! If you shop online, use the same process through Goodshop and CASA will receive a percentage of your spending.
- Stay connected online - Find us on Facebook and Instagram and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all of our events, or visit us online at www.casacentex.org.
- Get a CASA license plate - Help us raise funds and awareness by getting our logo on the roads of Central Texas. Order the plate here.
- Help us spread the word - Many people do not know CASA even exists. If you belong to a service or civic organization, invite CASA to be a guest speaker. Contact us here.
- Learn more about CASA - Bring a friend and attend a CASA Voices Tour, held Wednesdays at the CASA office. Learn more here.
- Participate in one of our fundraising events - Attend our upcoming CASA and Los Compadres and upcoming Online Giving Days. Or host your own CASA fundraiser through your business.
- Join the Wing Society - An auxiliary organization whose mission is to provide support services to help our advocates "soar." Learn more here.
- Become a Board Member - CASA relies on board members to set the direction of the program and help make local connections in the community. Contact us for more information.
- Help us build our Volunteer Training and Support Center on Hunter Road in San Marcos. Get all the information here.
Have another way to support our program and volunteers? We would love to hear from you.
And a big thank you to all of you who already support CASA in so many ways.
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
Executive Director
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Training courses are ready for you!
San Marcos
March 28 - April 25
Thursdays
New Braunfels
March 29 - April 26
4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Mondays
Kyle
April 9 - April 23*
9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Check out our calendar for dates and times for the rest of the year and for information on how to get enrolled.
For more information on training courses, contact Volunteer Coordinator Samantha Mundine Coleman at 512-392-3578, 830-626-2272 or by
email.
Training is required for all new Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers.
*Our weekday Volunteer Training Course is typically a 5-class series. The Kyle class will be a 3-class series, with a m
andatory 10-hour online class to be completed before training sessions begin.
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Welcome New CASA Volunteers
Sworn in February 13th:
Kerry Staats, Cicely Kay, Jessica Thomas, Roy Scudday, Judge McClenahan, Cheryl Guerrant, Dustin Burcham, Cheryl Bither, and Tony Guillen.
Sworn in February 14th:
Executive Director Norma Blackwell, Patricia Gilbert, Diane Wallis, Judge McClenahan, Glenda Detling, Kate Marx, CASA Board Member Seth Worley, CASA Board President JoAnn Germer.
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Amplify Austin and Big Give San Antonio
No matter where you live, you may choose to give to CASA through one or both of these fun and exciting online giving days. Giving has never been this easy!
Donor gifts through Amplify Austin and Big Give San Antonio will go toward CASA operations for child advocacy plus an in-kind match of $20,000 will be given by our capital project partner ECM International to help build our new Training & Support Center.
Amplify Austin is the 6th annual community-wide day of online in Central Texas. Together we raised $9.8 million for nearly 700 nonprofits in 24 hours on Amplify Austin Day in 2017.
Amplify Austin
The
Big Give San Antonio is back for its 5th year and this time is looking to raise $7 million in 24 hours for South Central Texas nonprofit organizations. Are you ready to join us?
Interesting in creating your own fundraising page? Contact us
here.
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CASA and Los Compadres, "Viva Olé!"
April 20th, 6:30 p.m.
Chandelier of Gruene in New Braunfels
You are invited to CASA and Los Compadres, "Viva Olé!", CASA's annual fundraising celebration. We truly appreciate your support and hope you join us for this evening to benefit the children in our communities.
CASA will honor long-time supporters the San Marcos Lions Club and Comal County Commissioner Donna Eccleston. Enjoy music from
Mariachi Espuelas de Plata from San Antonio!
Purchase individual tickets
here
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Thank you to our sponsors!
El Jefe - $10,000:
Hot Tamale - $2,500
Mariposa at Hunter Road Apartments
Hoppin' Jalepeno - $750
CMC Steel Texas
Texas Lehigh Cement Company
Get in early on the great sponsor benefits and recognition! Click
here for sponorship levels
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Building Up CASA 
CASA of Central Texas received a $500,000 donation from Miriam McCoy, the largest single gift ever received by the organization.
"I'm so pleased to be able to make this gift to help children in need. I am also so grateful to the CASA Board, leadership, administration, and volunteers that work so hard, "said Mrs. McCoy at the check presentation, which took place at the McCoy's Building Supply corporate office.
"The work you do is emotional and important. I thank you for all you do to help the children."
The donation was made to CASA's Capital Campaign to build a volunteer training and support center on Hunter Road in San Marcos. CASA of Central Texas has been in the area for 33 years, but this will be the first time to build and own a facility in Hays County. Miriam McCoy's generous donation will ensure the project moves along the planned timeline, with groundbreaking scheduled this July.
Read more about the donation and the Capital Campaign
here.
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CASA of Central Texas works to make sure the voices of children and youth in the child welfare system are heard not only in the courts but also at the Texas Capitol and in our local governments.
The Legislative Advocacy Team (LAT) engages in efforts to better enable CASA volunteers to serve our children through the promotion of public policies.
At this informal "brown bag" lunch session, CASA volunteers are invited to come learn how to carry your CASA voices to our legislators on issues affecting children and youth in the child welfare system.
Tuesday, March 20th
Noon - 1:30PM
CASA office
New Braunfels
Agenda topics will include:
Updates from the Texas CASA Public Policy Team, current happenings at CASA of Central Texas, April proclamations, Child Welfare Primer, August Retreat, outreach to local officials, and nomination of 2018/9 LAT chairperson and coordinators.
Facilitated by:
John Barthel, LAT Chairperson, CASA of Central Texas
Tricia Schneider, Development Director, LAT liaison, CASA of Central Texas
To ensure adequate seating, please RSVP
here.
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Birdies for CASA 
Over the past 20 years, Valero Texas Open has helped hundreds of local non-profit charities and schools raise money through Birdies for Charity®; a no-cost program
that gives 100% of the funds raised back to non-profit organizations.
Birdies for Charity is like a walk-a-thon, but instead of donating per mile, participants make a pledge for every birdie made at the Valero Texas Open. In 2017, 1,975 birdies were made, so a pledge of $0.01 yielded a donation of $19.75. You are also welcome to make a donation of any dollar amount.
Select CASA of Central Texas to receive your pledge for all birdies made from April 16-22. CASA will receive 100% of your donation PLUS be eligible for a 7% match back from Valero!
Pick up pledge forms at either CASA office, or use our convenient direct pledge link
here.
As a donor, you are also eligible for Valero Prizes!
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"Voices" Information Sessions
Want to learn more about the role of a CASA Volunteer?
Come to
our
one-hour information session and hear how our volunteers advocate for children who have been abused and neglected.
CASA staff and
volunteers will be on hand to share their stories and answer your questions.
Wednesday, March 7th, noon
Wednesday, March 21st, noon
Historic County Courthouse, 1st floor conference room
Please RSVP to Eloise Hudson by
email
or at 830-626-2272.
Would you like to host a CASA Voices session in your town? Please contact us.
Lunch provided by Domino's in New Braunfels and Chick-fil-A in San Marcos.
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Stay Connected
Spread the Word
Click the icon to view our profile
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Upcoming Events
March
1st
Amplify Austin
6 p.m.
Online
7th
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
Noon -1 p.m.
CASA office
21st
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
29th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
New Braunfels CASA office
April
Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month
4th
Voices Tour in New Braunfels
CASA office
9th
CASA Volunteer Training Begins
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Kyle, location TBA
Voices Tour in San Marcos
Noon - 1 p.m.
Historic Courthouse
room 101
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