AT AGE 5, MARK WAS ON THE VERGE OF HOMELESSNESS
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Mark came to the attention of Child Protective Services workers early last year because his mother was using any cash she had to support her drug abuse. Seeing the family on the verge of homelessness, someone called CPS to report that Mark was severely neglected. CPS removed Mark from his home and placed him to live with a close family friend. Unfortunately, a CASA volunteer wasn't immediately available. Several months later, as progress languished, the judge recognized the need for CASA and appointed volunteer advocate, Cecilia to Mark's case.
During the course of a year, the court offered Mark's mother many opportunities for drug rehab, parenting classes and consistent visits with her son. Sadly, she failed to do what was required to have Mark returned to her home. During this time Mark's mother came to visit him only once for an hour. Mark was heartbroken not to see his mother, despite her struggles. He longed for a permanent and stable home with a family who would care for him. Cecilia recognized that adoption by a loving family was Mark's best chance of having the stability he needed.He was clearly connected to his caregivers so Cecilia advocated for Mark to be adopted by them so that he could have the healthy family he deserved.
During this time, Cecilia also helped Mark obtain the therapeutic and educational services he needed to catch up with other children his age. She worked to get Mark into speech therapy and tutoring so he would be ready for kindergarten. Though he still struggles with reading, he has flourished in school thanks to Cecilia's help and the attention he received from his caregivers.
Mark was adopted in February. Though he was shy, reserved and frightened when he came into care, he is now a thriving, funny little boy who occasionally gets in trouble at school for talking too much. At age 7, he loves cars and can tell you every kind of car he sees on the road. He is still close to his CASA volunteer Cecilia and is safe and happy with his loving family.
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DALLAS CASA CLASSIC NETS $1.34 MILLION FOR ABUSED CHILDREN
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A check for $1.34 million was presented to Beverly Levy, Dallas CASA Executive Director and President, at Monday's tournament. Pictured here are Kerry Scott, Pioneer Natural Resources; Mark Berg, Pioneer Natural Resources and Dallas CASA Board Chair; Frank Risch, Dallas CASA Board; Levy; Scott Sheffield, CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources; and Jay Still, Pioneer Natural Resources.
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Pioneer Natural Resources, Goldman Sachs and AT&T joined forces to host the Dallas CASA Classic, one of the highest grossing charity golf tournaments in Dallas. For the 16th year, golfers gathered at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas to help support abused children. Four rounds of golf took place on two courses in an all-day event with more than 500 golfers participating.
Pioneer Natural Resources, Goldman Sachs and AT&T invited their vendors and business partners to take part. On behalf of the more than 2,000 Dallas children living in foster care, Donald, a former foster youth served by Dallas CASA, and Beverly Levy, Executive Director and President, accepted a $1.34 million check, the proceeds of the tournament.
Overwhelmed, Levy said: "We cannot change the darkness in these children's' pasts, but we can all be a part of the light of their future."
Dallas CASA is honored to recognize these friends for their generous support of abused children at the Dallas CASA Classic:
Platinum Sponsors: AT&T; CBRE; Flotek Industries, Inc.; Goldman Sachs; Greystar Real Estate Partners and Pioneer Natural Resources.
Gold Sponsors: Arent Fox LLP; Baker Hughes Incorporated; Bank of America Merrill Lynch; CARBO Ceramics; Core Laboratories LP; DCP Midstream Partners LP; Energy Transfer; Enterprise Products Operating, LLC; FB Industries Inc.; Globe Energy Services, LLC; Greenberg Traurig LLP; Haynes and Boone, LLP; Hunton & Williams LLP; Jones Lang LaSalle; Kel-Tech, Inc.; Key Energy Services; KPMG LLP; LEAM Drilling Systems, Inc.; McClatchy Bros., Inc.; Mycom North America, Inc.; Nabors Drilling USA, LP; National Oilwell Varco, Inc.; Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC; Petro Amigos Supply, Inc.; PFP Technology, LLC; Plains Marketing, L.P.; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; Seitel Data, Ltd.; Smith Industries Inc.; Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; Sutton Family Foundation; Targa Resources Corp.; Tenaris and Vinson & Elkins LLP.
Silver Sponsors: Alvarez & Marsal; Apartment Realty Advisors (ARA); Austin Commercial; Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Inc.; Balon Corporation; Basic Energy Services; Black & Veatch Corporation; Bracewell & Giuliani LLP; Cadre Proppants; Dawson Geophysical, Inc.; Deloitte LLP; Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC; Ericsson, Inc.; Ernst & Young; Goodman Networks, Inc.; Halliburton Energy Services; Harrell Feldt; Helmerich & Payne, Inc.; Infor Global Solutions, Inc.; JP Morgan Chase; Lufkin Industries, Inc.; MBC Consultants, Inc.; McCollam Law Firm, PC; McElroy, Sullivan, Ryan & Miller, L.L.P.; Multi-Chem; Nixon Peabody LLP; Norris Production Solutions; NOV Wilson; Quorum Business Solutions, Inc.; RealPage, Inc.; Rush Peterbilt, Ryan; Seismic Exchange, Inc.; Thomas Petroleum, LLC; Weatherford U.S., L.P.; Wells Fargo Real Estate Capital Markets; WL Plastics and United States Infrastructure Corporation (USIC).
Additional support from: Gibbs & Bruns LLP; Pioneer Management Corporation; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, LLP; Altus Group & ARGUS Software; Alston & Bird LLP; Andrews Kurth LLP; Power Solutions, LLC; Lathan & Watkins LLP; Asset Valuation & Marketing, inc.; National Credit Systems, Inc.; Asmar, Schor & McKenna, PLLC; Specter & Willoughby, LLP; BMW of Dallas; Baker Botts L.L.P.; Charles A. Brown & Associates, P.L.L.C.; Geotrace; GTN Technical Staffing; HREC Investment Advisors; J Turner Research; Marsh GmbH; Marsh Inc.; Sprint Corporation; Storage Assessments; Vending Group, Inc. Special thanks to: The Four Seasons Resort and Club, RICOH, Jay Alexander, Paul Earnest, Paula Fitzpatrick, Stacy Hardin and Catherine Stewart. |
CONGRATULATIONS NEW CASA VOLUNTEERS
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New CASA volunteers are sworn in March 22.
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Congratulations to the following individuals who completed the Dallas CASA training class in March to become CASA volunteers. This committed group soon will be assigned to cases involving children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. More CASA volunteers are desperately needed to help abused children find permanent, loving homes where they can thrive. These volunteers will make a critical difference in children's lives.
| The March 2013 training class with the Hon. William Mazur. |
Lorien Anderson * Carol Barnes * Cathy Bedford * Karen Cohen * Jennifer Courville * Kim Distaso * Amber Farris * Daniel Foyt * Daphne Gahlhoff * Rachelle Goodwin * Lauren Grant * Priya Gupta * Yolanda Hernandez * Donna Johnson * Jacquie Klein * David Lewis * Priscilla Ludeman * Larry Marhenke * Lily Myers * Maria Rivas * Nancy Rubenstein
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ALTRUSA GIVES RECORD AMOUNT TO DALLAS CASA
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Altrusa "Dessert First" Honorary Chair and CASA volunteer Talynn Otsuki, Dallas CASA Executive Director and President Beverly Levy and Altrusa Vice-President of Fundraising Kim Schonwald.
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The women of Altrusa International Downtown Dallas Association stopped by the Dallas CASA office on April 2 to present a check for the amount raised at the organization's annual "Dessert First" event.
Altrusa Vice-President of Fundraising Kim Schonwald and Dessert First Honorary Chair Talynn Otsuki presented a check for $80,000 to Dallas CASA Executive Director and President Beverly Levy. The amount raised was the most Altrusa has ever raised from "Dessert First."
It costs around $2,300 to provide a CASA volunteer advocate for an abused and neglected child for one year. Altrusa's generosity allows for nearly 40 children to have CASA volunteers to help them find permanent, loving homes. Thank you to the women of Altrusa International Downtown Dallas for your amazing gift.
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HIGHLAND PARK STUDENTS RAISE FUNDS FOR DALLAS CASA
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Members of the Highland Park High School CASA Club went door-to-door March 30 to tell their friends and neighbors about Dallas CASA.
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The Highland Park High School CASA Clubgathered March 30 to raise awareness and funds to support Dallas CASA. The Highland Park group took to their neighborhood streets to share with their community how CASA volunteers help abused and neglected children have permanent, loving homes.
Founded in 2009 by students Michael Dalton, Chase Dalton and John Spring, the Highland Park CASA Club raises awareness and funds to support abused children in our community. To date, the students have raised more that $35,000 to help abused children have loving homes where they are protected. Each year, the students plan a variety of fundraisers and projects to support CASA kids. During the holidays, the students collected gifts to ensure that more than a hundred foster youth received holiday gifts. The club's biggest effort of the year is its springtime door-to-door fundraising and awareness campaign. This year their efforts raised more than $16,500 to support Dallas CASA. Members Rachel Wilk, Allison Schwartz, Lauren Beal, Katie Chiles and Lauren Gatlin were the top fundraisers and were awarded concert tickets and Mavericks tickets generously donated by Andrews Kurth, LLP and Haynes and Boone, LLP Thank you to the students of the Highland Park High School CASA Club, and congratulations on your efforts.
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DONOR RECOGNITION
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Thank you to the legal team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP for supporting abused children. The firm gave a $1,000 gift to Dallas CASA in honor of the Dallas office's 25th anniversary.
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VOLUNTEER TIP
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and May is Foster Care Awareness Month. Take this opportunity to tell others about the ways to help abused children through Dallas CASA. To learn how to help spread the word, please visit dallascasa.org.
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VOLUNTEER HOURS
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5,518 volunteer hours advocating for children in court so far in 2013!
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CASA INFO SESSIONS
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Spread the word about Dallas CASA to help abused and neglected children. Tell your friends, family and colleagues how they can become volunteer advocates.
Upcoming CASA volunteer information sessions:
* May 2, 6-7 p.m. * May 8, 6-7 p.m. * May 10, 12-1 p.m.
Click here for session schedule and registration.
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About Dallas CASA
When kids can't speak for themselves, CASA can.
Dallas CASA is a nonprofit organization of community volunteers who serve as voices in court for abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers are trained and supervised to advocate for the best interests of abused children in protective care and to make recommendations that help judges decide what is best for each child. A CASA volunteer is often the one constant during a frightening, uncertain time in a child's life.
Sadly, Dallas CASA can only serve two out of five children who need CASA volunteers. You can help. A child is waiting for your voice. To learn more about helping abused children, visit dallascasa.org.
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