Tilly was born in the Netherlands and came to the United States at 18 months with her mother, father, and 5 siblings. They resided in New Jersey with her Aunt and Uncle until her father obtained a job as a baker. Tilly currently is a resident of Hunlock Creek. She earned a degree in Business Administration from Mount Ida Junior College in Newton, Massachusettes. After working as an Administrative Assistant for years, Tilly was able to step out of the work force to care for her three children: two sons and a daughter. She enjoyed her motherhood role and got involved with her children's activities. She even served as Chairman for the PTO at Wyoming Valley Montessori School, where her children attended. Tilly's sons are now grown; her daughter Megan passed away in November of 2016.

As the picture emulates, Tilly has a love for horses. She is certified in PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Association), as well as CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association). She owns a stable in Pikes Creek out of which she runs her non-profit organization called Shekinah Riding Center. Shekinah provides EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) therapy for children and adults. Along with these certifications, Tilly is also certified in STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) and is involved with 'The Parent Project, Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior.'

In 2002, Tilly's philanthropic spirit led her to care for three young boys from her church while their father recovered from heart surgery; although the boys were thriving, ultimately, the father couldn't resume caring for the boys and a the court had to intervene. Having had no ability to weigh in on what was best for the boys, Tilly was left with the desire to help other children who experience the same misfortune.

After attending a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) information session hosted at her church, Tilly knew that becoming an Advocate was a great fit. In 2015 Tilly was sworn-in and took the oath the become an Advocate. Since becoming an Advocate, Tilly has learned that most children thrive with consistent communication, a positive influence, and someone to remind them that they are believed in. Tilly has been touched and inspired by the passion of the other CASA's and is impressed with the Judge's commitment to the children of Luzerne County.

Tilly's advice to other Advocates is to consciously listen. Most of the children who need an Advocate have experienced a lot of negativity and don't feel worthy. They need someone to hear them out, believe in them, show them that they are worthy of care and compassion. In closing, Tilly offered, "I think it's important to find out what they want to do and help them achieve their own goals, not goals others have for them." In just two years, Tilly's nurturing personality and fun spirits have already helped children in Luzerne County. CASA of Luzerne county is thankful to have her as a voice for abused and neglected children within the Community.

We are proud to announce that Tilly will be hosting a Therapeutic Horsemanship event on October 13th. Please see the flyer below and note the reservations are required.

Dianne Hopersberger is truly a pioneer woman. In 1988, she became Mountaintop Area's first female police officer. She then became the first female Chief of Police in Pennsylvania in 1992. At the time, women becoming police officers was extremely uncommon. In fact, when Dianne became pregnant with her youngest daughter while employed as an officer, she had to fight her way back into her position after coming back from a short maternity leave. Job protection for women on maternity leave was not legally supported, but she never backed down, and it paid off. The area has truly benefited because of her devotion to protecting families and upholding the law.

As significant as those achievements are, there is more to Dianne's compelling story. She is a mother of 4, a stepmother to 1, and a grandmother of 2 . Dianne faced personal adversity when her oldest daughter, DeAnne passed away. She bravely turned her pain of loss and grief into inspiration to serve others: a value DeAnne promoted. Her story and the hurdles she overcame will resonate throughout generations. In fact, her oldest son Michael followed in her footsteps by graduating from the police academy. While on the job, Dianne always felt a strong pull on her heart when she was called upon for domestic issues. Those incidents left her wanting to be a part of the solution and help repair disrupted homes. It was no surprise that after retiring from the force, Dianne responded to a new call: she she became a CASA in 2014.

In her first case, she advocated for six children. She remembers sensing the love the family had for one another. They were struggling and things certainly needed to change, but she quickly became the piece of the puzzle that the family needed by offering support and positively reinforcing the parents efforts to provide for their children. She talked about how she drew upon some of her own experiences in order to empathize with the family, identify their strengths, and build upon them. Dianne recently accepted her third case and exemplifies the selfless dedicated role of a CASA volunteer.

Dianne explained that when you're passionate about the cause, you don't really think about the time or effort that you're putting in. It's when the Judge recognizes you in court, or you receive a compliment regarding the positive affects you're having on the children; it's those moments that remind you of how powerful empathy, love, and kindness can be. "All situations are unique and CASA's are the connectors, " Hopersberger explains. At the close of our interview Dianne expressed gratitude for being recognized but it is her own strength and selfless nature that is being celebrated. When discussing future Advocates, and any advice that could be passed on, Hopersberger emphasized the importance of remaining honest and maintaining one's integrity. Dianne hopes to leave a legacy, and it is safe to say, her unique and profound story will be shared.

Advocate Spotlight: Tietje "Tilly" Weaver

Advocate Spotlight: Dianne Hopersberger