Save the Date -- An Evening in CASAblanca

For the third year in a row, our community is coming together to support CASA of Luzerne County and its mission to provide a qualified, compassionate volunteer advocate for each and every abused and neglected child in Luzerne County. 

This year's event, An Evening in CASAblanca, promises to be even more exciting and spirit-filled than in years past.

We hope that you'll join us on Thursday, September 20 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at The Room at 900 in Forty-Fort to eat, drink, enjoy the gaming tables, and hear stories from people who know first-hand the positive effect CASA has in the lives of the families we work with. 

The CASAblanca gala provides our program with the funds we need to recruit, train and support the volunteer advocates who so generously give their time to ensure that children who have endured abuse and neglect have a consistent adult committed to speaking up for their best interests. 

We are so thankful to all our sponsors, especially our Hero sponsor, M&T Bank, for their support for the third year in a row. We could not do this without this wonderful community. Together we are all working to change the lives of children in Luzerne County who are so in need.

If you're interested in becoming a sponsor or an advertiser, or to buy your tickets, please click here. We can't wait to see you!

Welcome new advocates!

On Monday, June 11, we welcomed 14 new advocates to CASA of Luzerne County: Amy Anstett, Pam Coburn, Heather Critchosin, Anita Frank, Shannon Hurley, Tish McCarthy Last, Jen Leung, Amy Martin, Karen Mazzaccaro, Phyllis Mundy, Donna Nelson, Tracey Selingo, Juliane von Schmeling, and Carol Wills. 

This group of people participated in weeks of training, observed hearings, completed homework, and practiced filling out court reports as part of their impassioned commitment to "be the voice" for abused and neglected children in Luzerne County's foster care system. 

The number of children currently in that system is ever-growing. These are kids who have experienced trauma some of us could never imagine. Add to that the sadness from being removed from their homes, the fear of a new place and new people, the confusion of a system that even adults can have a hard time navigating ... it's overwhelming for them to say the least. 

But that's where a CASA comes in. Someone who has made the choice to be there because they want to be -- to help guide the case through the courts, to make recommendations about what is truly best for that child so they can find a safe, permanent, loving place to grow up. To be a constant amid the chaos. 

Our 14 new advocates bring our total number of CASAs up to 35. Those are 35 people who are generously giving their time and resources to make a difference in the life of a child and a family. Those are 35 people who are literally changing the world. 

If you know any of our 14 new advocates, please join us in welcoming them to the team. And if you know any of our 21 advocates who have been with the program, please let them know how thankful you are for the work they're electing to do. 

Our next training class is scheduled to begin in October. If you want to join the ranks of these exceptional volunteers, please reach out to us. We'd love to talk to you about the difference we know you can make. We have two info sessions in July, which means two opportunities to connect with you about your next step. Choose your date and click the link to register: July 9 or July 23.