Volunteer Advocate Noga Villalon tells the story about sharing a dream with a young woman --
and what it takes to make it come true.
"The thing that always amazes me," said CASA Advocate Noga Villalon, "is that it is the people who struggle the most to make ends meet who are the most generous. They open their homes and hearts to these foster children." Noga, who was born in Israel and now lives with her family in Winnetka, has been a CASA for four years. After working in investment banking in London for 20 years, she came back to raise her family in the U.S. Determined to do something "for the soul, not for the pocket," Noga is now on her third case.
Her case is especially bittersweet. Her CASA children are an 18 year old girl, twin 12-year-old boys and a two year old boy. Not unusual, they all have different fathers - the last is incarcerated. The mother, arrested multiple times for drugs, is in jail.
This is a story about Carly, now 18. Read more.
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August Book Club Meets to Share
Our August Book Club gathering inspired 16 CASAs to come learn more about fetal alcohol syndrome by sharing insights presented in the book Broken Cord by author Michael Dorris. Read More.
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Back to School with CASA
The recent Back to School Open House at CASA Lake County was a great success. Volunteers showed up in full force and gathered every last school supply that was available. Read More.
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Gov. Quinn Does the Right Thing!
CASA programs though out Illinois are applauding Governor Pat Quinn and sponsors. Read more.
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Last year, child abuse and neglect in Lake County was at an all-time high. Here are some gut-wrenching statistics followed by CASA Lake County's statistics of hope and change
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Our Mission...
CASA is central to fulfilling society's most fundamental obligation by making sure a qualified, compassionate adult will fight for and protect a child's right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to learn and grow in the security of loving family. Learn more.
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In 2012
28,787 children were abused
and neglected in Illinois
1,593 new cases of child abuse
occurred in Lake County
In Fiscal Year 2013
297 CASA Lake County
volunteer advocates fought on behalf of these children
563 abused and neglected
children were served and given a voice
111 were placed in safe and permanent homes
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