IN THIS NEWSLETTER: Spring Friend-Raiser | Congratulations to New Board Officers | Upcoming Trainings | A Child Is Waiting | Volunteer Spotlights | Upcoming Pre-Service Training | Volunteer Anniversaries | Donors Making a Difference

Spring Friend-Raiser

Swing into spring with our Spring Friend-Raiser! Join us on April 23 from 3:00 p.m. to

6:00 p.m. at Denizens Brewing for an afternoon of raffle, prizes, and games!


Tickets are available here!

Purchase Your Ticket

Congratulations to Our

Newly-Elected Board Officers

Robin Harris

Board President


Robin previously served as the board Vice President. She is Vice President of Strategic Communications at The Education Trust, a national organization committed to achieving education equity. 


We are delighted that Robin will continue to contribute her talents to helping VFCM achieve its mission and goals. 

John Celestand

Board Vice President


John joined the board in 2019 and previously served as membership chair. He is the Program Director of the Knight X LMA BloomLab for Local Media Association, where he supports the advancement and sustainability of black-owned local media organizations.

Thank You!

A very special thank-you to Board member Travis Stalcup, who has served as President of VFCM's Board of Directors for the past three years. Travis did an amazing job as President of the Board. He worked hard to learn the particular needs of Voices for Children Montgomery, listened carefully to all points of view, and encouraged collaboration, all of which dramatically increased Board members’ participation over his time as President. During his tenure, Travis also oversaw the recruitment and onboarding of 6 new Board members, significantly increased the diversity of representation on our Board, and oversaw the development of our 5-year strategic plan. Thankfully, Travis is not leaving us and will still be active as a member of the Board!  On behalf of the Board and staff, thank you for all of your hard work, Travis!!

Upcoming Trainings

  • March 20, 2023, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., “Rising Against Asian Hate: One Day in March” Documentary and Discussion 
  • April 15, 2023, Spring Volunteer Training Begins
More Information

A Child Is Waiting

Alyssa* is a 12-year-old girl who came into foster care in the spring of 2021, following an investigation of child sexual abuse. When interviewed, this brave young girl disclosed multiple incidents of abuse involving several adults. After an extensive investigation by Child Welfare Services, Alyssa was removed from her parents’ care for her safety. Due to the trauma of the abuse she endured, Alyssa was placed in a residential treatment center for evaluation and therapeutic services. Since that time, she has made tremendous progress, but she has a long road ahead. She could greatly benefit from having a CASA volunteer who could ensure that all of her needs are being met and to ensure she is getting all the services she needs.  

Volunteer Spotlights

Candace Carrington has been working with 4-year-old Mia* since 2022. Mia came to the attention of Child Welfare in July 2018, because her mother tested positive for drugs at her birth. Child Welfare’s investigation found that Mia was neglected to the point that it almost resulted in Mia’s death. Parental rights were terminated in 2019. Since March 2021, Mia has resided in a pre-adoptive home with the goal of her adoption being finalized in 2023. Since her assignment to the case, Candace has been a driving force in ensuring Mia’s best interests are being looked out for and in ensuring that her needs are being met, including all of her complex medical needs. Candace is also helping to ensure that the adoption process continues to move forward.  

Allison Kurti became the CASA for 18-year-old Amber* in July 2021. Amber was adopted at a young age and does not have strong relationships with her adoptive family. Amber has been placed out of her home in group homes and foster homes throughout the past two years, and during this time, Allison has maintained a consistent presence in her life. Allison helped advocate for Amber’s educational goals and Amber graduated from high school this past June. Amber is working to identify the next steps in her education and to identify career goals, and Allison will continue to advocate on Amber's behalf as she takes these next steps. 

*Names changed and photos are not of CASA children

Upcoming Pre-Service Training

for Prospective Volunteers

Spring 2023

Saturday

4/15/2023

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Monday

4/17/23

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Wednesday

4/19/2023

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Friday

4/21/2023

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Monday

4/24/2023

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 

Wednesday

4/26/2023

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Monday

5/01/2023

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Summer 2023

Saturday

6/24/2023

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Monday

6/26/2023

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Wednesday

6/28/2023

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Friday

6/30/2023

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Thursday

7/6/2023

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM 

Monday

7/10/2023

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Wednesday

7/12/2022

6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Volunteer Anniversaries

Thank you to each of the following CASA volunteers for your years of service and dedication to helping vulnerable children and youth. Happy Anniversary!

26 Years

Paul Sorlie


15 Years

Leslie Greenberg


12 Years

Natalie Randolph

Kathryn Winsberg


11 Years

Dean Cooper


9 Years

Barbara Fribush

Sasha Rene


7 Years

Andrea Cali

Alicia Marsh

King Stablein


5 Years

Marlene Beckman

Elizabeth Kaplan

Karen Pinkston

Tara Ryan


4 Years

Andrew Finley

Jayna Johns

Heather Kasper

Danielle Wilcox


3 Years

Mamie Bittner

Susan Burgess

Addison Fullmer

Cindy Guijosa

Melissa Hancock

Victoria Howell

Michele Isaacson

Usha Menon

Aileen Moodie

Gloria Peterson-Ayigah

Andrea Taylor

Catherine Young


2 Years

Nicole Bellows

Sandy Blasey

Jodi Chesman

Ashley Dickerson

Melody Elliott

Cynthia Harris

Nuzhat Islam

Jennifer Kline

Aida Munoz

Joe Petrone

Joanna Salzman

Lisa Tompkins-Brown


1 Year

Ashley Bassich

Lisa Blumenthal

Alaina Flannigan

Emuella Flood

Ilana Gorog

Andrea Jolly

Sanata Kote

Quinn McMurtrey

Terry Melo

Michael O'Donnell

Aisha Porter

Elizabeth Quinn

Stephanie Rubio

Donors Making a Difference

Donations received from November 2, 2022 through February 28, 2023

Thank you to everyone who made a donation! Because of you, we are able to continue to advocate for children in Montgomery County foster care.

Donors

  • Josh Adrian
  • Brisa Baron
  • Robert Bartley
  • Jane Batwinis
  • Nick Bayachek
  • Addie Briggs
  • Susie Buckley
  • Susan Burger
  • William Butz
  • Larry Celestand Jr.
  • Heather Collier
  • Carol & Jay DeVan
  • Barbara & Gary Faigen
  • Jennifer Fairfax
  • Andrew Finley
  • Trudy Fleisher

In honor of Barbara Faigen

  • Elizabeth Gemoets
  • Jay Goldman & Rebecca Salon

In Honor of Barbara Faigen

  • Dayna Goldsmith
  • Pamela Gwaltney
  • Thelma Harris
  • Colleen Fahey & Christopher Hertz
  • Gail Kaufmann
  • Harold Kerr
  • Richard Kerr
  • James Kirby
  • Jack Krakower
  • Maleka Lawrence
  • Frank Martin-Buck

In honor of Cynthia Callahan

  • Nanci Miller

In honor of Barbara Faigen

  • Teresa McKenna & David Pena
  • Liora Moriel
  • Jeannette O'Connor
  • Chito S. Okoye
  • Jarrett Perlow
  • Olga Pilshchikova
  • The Honorable Katherine Savage
  • Kimberly Schmidt
  • Cynthia Siegel
  • Margaret Sotos
  • Travis & Rachel Stalcup
  • Noreene Stehlik
  • Susan & Harry Stern
  • Courtney Stern
  • Kathryn Winsberg
  • Shirley & Gerson Yalowitz
  • Tadu Yimam
  • Phillip York




Special Thanks

  • Carl M. Freeman Foundation
  • Giant Food - Bags For My Cause
  • Marvin & Joanne McIntyre Family Foundation
  • Microsoft
  • PNC Matching Gifts Program
  • United Health Group

Become a Volunteer

Be the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer that every child in Montgomery County, Maryland’s foster care system needs. CASA volunteers bring a variety of experiences to their work as advocates on behalf of abused and neglected children.

Volunteer

Donate

Voices for Children Montgomery depends on donations from people like you to continue its work. Make a donation today to help us reach our goal of serving ALL children in foster care in Montgomery County by 2026. Thank you!

Donate
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Voices for Children Montgomery is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and receives partial funding from the Montgomery County Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Administrative Office of the Courts Dept. of Juvenile and Family Services.