Advocate Spotlight: Thank you to ALL of our CASA Volunteers

The staff and board members of CASA of Luzerne County would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the dedicated CASA volunteers currently advocating for the children in the court dependency system in Luzerne County.

The role of an advocate in the lives of the children is integral in giving a voice to the child, seeing the case as a whole and advocating for the best interest of the child.

The advocates volunteer their time and their hearts to the children of Luzerne County and have made impacts in the lives of children and families that will never be forgotten.

It is truly a gift to be a part of system that is often misunderstood and gain a greater understanding of our community and the needs of our neighbors.

CASA of Luzerne County is grateful everyday to work with all of you and we are looking forward to a New Year of advocacy, safety, permanency and wellbeing for our children.

Thank you to our current list of volunteers and future volunteers!!! If you wish to learn more about CASA of Luzerne County and advocating for children please contact us to join an information session.

John Aciukewicz Susan Ackerman Amy Anstett

Kathleen Bednarek Diana Bixby Pamela Coburn

Elizabeth Cope Elaine Craig Heather Critchosin

Debra Cwalina Marza Cyphert Elizabeth Desiderio

Beth Distasio Deanna Drako Diane Dreier

Jeff Dreier Jessica Figueroa Alec Frank

Anita Frank Dawn Gaudino Ashley Gerber

Maureen Harkins Samantha Harris Suzanne Kapral

Rose Kelly Chandra Keyser Megan Kosek

Michelle Kozich Kathy Krivenko Maureen Lacey

Bill Leandri Deana Lefkowitz Allyson Leskowsky

Amy Martin Karen Mazzaccaro Mary Ann Michaels

Gayle Miles Brennan Morell Sarah Mule’

Phyllis Mundy Trina Ondrey William Pollard

Ariane Pupali Claudia Ravert Laura Sarnak

Sandy Serafin Daniel Spring Edward Steltz

Carlee Strish Stanley Swaintek Jr. Donna Vrhel

Gary Williams Sarah Williams Carol Wills

Logan Yeakel Andrea O’Neill Katie Parsons

Carol Fahnestock Jade Levi

Advocate Spotlight: John Aciukewicz

John’s name is one you’ll surely recognize. He served at CASA for many years — first as its board president and then as its executive director. But what many might not know is that John is also a CASA volunteer.

John took this case in the summer of 2020 to step in for an advocate who could no longer continue because of Covid. Since the date of his appointment, John has been working diligently to help this young child find permanency after many years — almost all of her years, in fact — of life in the foster system.

John, who refers to his CASA kid as Elsa since that’s her favorite character, have developed a strong bond over the course of his advocacy.

“Elsa and I simply had fun together on our visits,” John said. “Going to a playground, reading stories, icing cookies, taking walks, eating pretend food she made from her kitchen set for me, chasing bubbles from a bubble wand, getting ice cream from the McDonald's drive thru, dancing to ‘Hakuna Mattata.’”

Simply by being her friend, John has shown Elsa that he cares about her and what she needs.

“I feel very strongly that in order to fulfill the role as a CASA, the volunteer needs to put the time in — week in, week out, month in, month in, year in, year out,” John said. “First with your CASA kid, and then with all the ‘collateral sources’ that touch that child's life. Then you will be prepared and able to speak confidently about that child in court because you will know more about her than anyone else in that courtroom. It all starts with that commitment of time. That's why this volunteer experience is such a difficult one but clearly a much needed one for these children.”

We are grateful to John for his continued commitment to this case. If you’d like to make a difference in the life of a child in the way John has, we invite you to join us for an info session to learn more about advocacy and what it means to be a CASA.

John lives in Trucksville with his wife, Beth. They are the parents of three adult sons and have four grandchildren. John holds a BA in political science from Gettysburg College and a JD from the Dickinson School of Law.