CASA of Luzerne County Year in Review

Dear Friends,

As we approach the end of another challenging year, I am filled with gratitude for all those who have given generously of themselves- as volunteers, as donors, as partners- to help children who have experienced abuse or neglect in our community. We are thankful for you and greatly appreciate your support of our mission.

The holiday season should be a time to make happy memories with family. But it can be a difficult time for the more than 500 children in Luzerne County who have experienced abuse or neglect.

That is a heavy burden for a child to carry alone. On any given day this holiday season, 58 volunteers in Luzerne County are showing up for 70 children, helping them find hope for a brighter future. In 2022, CASA of Luzerne County volunteers provided a voice to 101 children, 51 children with a CASA volunteer achieved permanency with over 50% of those returning safely to their home of origin, 16 new volunteer advocates were sworn in and matched with children needing advocacy and the CASA volunteers gave approximately 12,120 hours of advocacy to children in Luzerne County.

We at CASA of Luzerne County are determined to make sure that every child in our county who has experienced abuse or neglect has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home. But we can’t do this alone. Your generous support makes our work on behalf of these children and youth possible.

Please help us reach more children by making a gift today or becoming a volunteer advocate. Every gift, no matter the size, will have an impact. Together we can help a child thrive.

Sincerely.

Mary Kay Pivovarnik

Executive Director

CASA of Luzerne County


Giving Tuesday- CASA is Counting on You

One of our biggest fundraising days of the year is right around the corner- and you can help us kick off a season of generosity for CASA of Luzerne County!

On Giving Tuesday, November 29, we are partnering with AllOne Charities to match your donation. AllOne Charities will match the first $1000.00 we raise on Giving Tuesday. Also every $250 CASA of Luzerne County raises on Giving Tuesday we will be entered into a drawing to be matched by a generous local foundation.

Every dollar raised goes towards recruiting, training and supporting volunteer advocates who give a voice to the children in the dependency court system in Luzerne County. There are over 500 children spending the holidays in the foster care system from our community- help us give them hope and joy today and for their future.

An advocate was assigned to a 6 year old boy when he entered the court system, within 30 days he was moved to his second foster home and his advocate came to the door with his favorite snack after only meeting him once. Within another 30 days he was moved to a third foster home. The advocate came to the door again with a friendly smile for him. He looked at her in amazement, commenting, “ How do you keep finding me when I don’t even know where I am?” This advocate is that one person, that support, that voice and that guiding light that he needs in a confusing world. Help CASA of Luzerne County to continue to bring these lights to the children who most need them.

It’s not too soon to give. The link is NOW open for Giving Tuesday. Thank you for your support and helping CASA of Luzerne County and the volunteer advocates continue their mission.