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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- Training Dates
- CASA Classic Golf Tournament
- Information Sessions
- CASA Superhero Run
- Continuing Education
- Events Benefitting CASA
- CARS for CASA
- Community Support
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Letter from the Executive Director
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A day in the making for five years has finally arrived! Contractors and trade crews mobilized on August 7th to begin construction of CASA’s new 6,000sf Training & Support Center in San Marcos. The land has been cleared and bulldozers, backhoes, grubbers and loaders are now on-site!
I am so excited to see our vision becoming reality! Through these doors in the coming years will walk hundreds of volunteer advocates who have raised their hands to help our community’s most vulnerable children. In a world full of pop heroes, sports heroes and fantasy heroes, it’s easy to overlook the real heroes – ordinary people doing extraordinary things. CASA is filled with such heroes. From the children who overcome unimaginable challenges and rise above their circumstances, to the CASA volunteers who show unwavering commitment to these children, and sometimes even single-handedly hold families together.
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Because we aim to advocate for every child who needs us, our way forward is clear – dramatically increase the number of volunteers we recruit, train and support. Our new facility will help expand CASA services in our 4-county area of Hays, Caldwell, Comal and Guadalupe Counties - and greatly narrow the gap between children in need and children served.
As a CASA donor, you empower CASA volunteers to be a strong voice for children. By helping those who are most vulnerable – children who have been abused, neglected and abandoned – you create a legacy for a better community today and a better future tomorrow. We invite you to build upon your personal legacy, or to start a legacy, with a gift to CASA that will be commemorated when you purchase a brick paver that will line the entranceway of the new Training & Support Center.
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You can be a part of this extraordinary milestone as construction advances on CASA’s first permanent home in Hays County, Texas. Don’t miss out on this unique, limited-time opportunity!
Please take a moment to check out our
Pave The Way For Impact
program. It is your way to be a part of this time in CASA's journey and show everyone you support our important mission.
Thank you for your continued support! I look forward to welcoming you to the grand opening in Spring 2020!
Thank you,
Norma Castilla-Blackwell
CASA of Central Texas
Executive Director
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CASA of Central Texas is pleased to be working with these outstanding project partners:
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Final Training Dates of 2019
September 11 - October 9
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
September 12 - October 10
1 - 5 p.m.
September 14 - September 28
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
October 16 - November 13
1 - 5 p.m.
October 17 - November 14
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
November 2 - November 16
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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Application deadline prior to each cycle is two weeks before start of training.
Submit your volunteer application
here
.
For more information on training courses, contact Layla Coleman at 512-392-3578, 830-626-2272, or by
email.
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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CASA Classic
October 28, 2019
San Marcos
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Don’t scramble at the last minute!
With the tournament only two months away, more than half of the team spots for the 2019 Corridor Title – CASA Classic Golf Tournament are filled. Secure your spot as a team, sponsor, or individual today!
The 2019 tournament will feature an assortment of exciting firsts. You can make history with CASA on Monday, October 28, by joining us at the tournament’s new venue, the Kissing Tree Golf Club, and partaking in this year’s headlining
helicopter golf ball drop
with a Grand Prize offered by
Harper Hill Ranch
.
The lucky winner of the helicopter golf ball drop will enjoy a 2-night stay at the
Harper Hill Ranch
. Located on a peaceful ranch, 88-acres outside of New Braunfels, this historical home sleeps 22 people and has plenty of amenities for everyone to enjoy. In addition, the winner will be gifted 2 rounds of golf (4 players each) at the Kissing Tree Golf Club in San Marcos!
Also, like never before, this year’s golfers can look forward to not one, but
three hole-in-one prizes
! Maybe you’ll be the lucky winner who takes home a Jeep Wrangler Sport, or a 2019 Polaris Sportsman 850, or even $10,000 in prize money shared 50-50 with CASA! Register today and don't miss out! All of the proceeds will support CASA, so no matter the outcome, it's a win-win!
Sponsorships Available:
Ace $5,000 – 2 teams included
Front Nine $3,000 – 2 teams included
Back Nine $3,000 – 2 teams included
19
th
Hole $2,500 – 1 team included
Eagle $2,000 – 1 team included
Birdie $1,500 – 1 team included
Hole - $400
Team Registration (4) – $600
Individual Registration – $200
Only 10 team spots left!
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Thank You to our Sponsors!
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Hole Sponsors:
Capitol Wright
Davidek Law Firm, PLLC
Innovative Retirement, LLC
Jim Flynn Photography
Karl & Beth Hittle
Gene & Becky Lake
Physical Therapy of San Marcos
Sadler Concrete
Taste of New Braunfels
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"Voices" Information Sessions
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Upcoming Information Sessions
Lockhart
Tuesday, September 1st, 6:00 p.m.
Lockhart Public Library
Seguin
Monday, September 2nd, noon
Seguin Public Library
Wimberley
Wednesday, September 4th, 9:15 a.m.
Wimberley Café
New Braunfels
Wednesday, September 4th, noon
CASA office
Buda
Monday, September 9th, 6:30 p.m.
Seguin Public Library
San Marcos
Wednesday, September 18th, noon
Historic County Courthouse, 1st floor conference room
Bulverde
Monday, September 23rd, 6:30 p.m.
Mammen Family Public Library
Schertz
Monday, October 7th, 6:30 pm
Schertz United Methodist Church
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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.
Please RSVP by
email
or at
830-626-2272.
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September 15, 2019
Broadmoor Campus
Austin, TX
Ten years ago, at the inaugural
CASA Superhero Run
,
1,100 caped and masked superheroes zoomed through the 5K.
A tiny hero called “Super Chicken” was picked up by her parents and “flew” through the Kids 1K.
It was a great start to an event that has grown, now in its 10th year, to:
·
3,500 participants
· Support 3 CASA programs covering 6 Central Texas counties
·
R
aise a
quarter of a million dollars
for kids
·
help nearly 2,700 children in foster care
across Central Texas
Don’t be a hero just for one day. Set up your own fundraising team now
HERE!
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The CASA Superhero Run concept was founded by CASA friend Matt Curtin:
“What started as a dream and an idea that we can do better for children has blossomed into this thing I never could have envisioned.
The fact that CASA had the vision to take my quirky superhero idea, in a pretty quirky city, and turn it into such a powerful movement, I’ll just be forever thankful for it. Austin has been the launchpad for a movement that’s spread to CASA programs across the nation.
This run is about celebrating the joyfulness that is and should be childhood, and doing it in a super fun way that still has a critical message tied to it: That every child needs a hero, but kids who’ve been abused or neglected… they need superheroes.”
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Continuing Educations for Volunteers
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August 20
CASA volunteers had the opportunity to hear from Senior Planner: Andrea Villalobos, who is a part of the
SMTX 4 All Housing Initiative
task force
.
This task force has been working on initiating a
Strategic Housing Action Plan
to address the housing needs of the San Marcos community.
She touched on various community outreach opportunities they have organized, personal stories of community members, research and statistics, as well as the goals of the task force. The major findings in response to their research is the need to “expand opportunities for housing, preserve and enhance existing housing stock, leverage community and regional partners, and quantify and meet the housing need of current and future residents”.
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August 26
Jennifer Wicker, Counseling & Resources Program Director for the
Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center
, engaged advocates in a conversation about domestic violence and dating violence.
Domestic violence includes any household member and involves power and control, which could be in the form of physical, emotional, verbal, or financial abuse. 70% of abusers who abuse their partners also abuse the children in the home.
The reasons behind the abuser’s behavior could be numerous - but anger is a secondary emotion; behind it could be fear, hurt, or humiliation. Ms. Wicker also provided examples of safety planning for victims, as well as the counseling, legal advocacy, and outpatient services that HCWC offers. As for working with CASA, HCWC welcomes communication with advocates, but Ms. Wicker did state that they might file a motion to quash when we request therapy records in instances where divulging information could be dangerous to their client.
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All CASA of Central Texas volunteers are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education annually
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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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Downtown Social
is partnering with
Fat Tire Beers
for the month of
September
.
For every beer sold, Fat Tire will donate $1 to CASA of Central Texas.
386 W San Antonio St.
New Braunfels
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Cars for CASA
Have an old car taking up space in your driveway? Donate it to CASA of Central Texas! CASA partners with CARS on a vehicle donation program. We accept most cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RV's, motorcycles, off road vehicles, heavy equipment and other motorized vehicles.
Making a donation is EASY
! It's as easy as filling out an online donation form
here
or picking up a phone and speaking to a live operator at 855-500-7433 seven days a week.
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Why donate your vehicle to CASA?
* Avoid the hassles of selling a car * No need to pay hefty repair bills * Free up space in your garage * 100% tax deductible *
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Bluebonnet Lions Club San Marcos
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