For the sixth year in a row, the nonprofit organization Voices for Georgia's Children (Voices) is proud to recognize the state's top child advocates at its Big Voice for Children Awards dinner, which this year will take place on Friday, November 9th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta.

Among Voices' honorees is Georgia CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and its network. This award comes as Georgia CASA celebrates 25 years of service in Georgia. The Big Voice for Children Awards honor individuals and organizations that have improved children's lives as vocal advocates for change. This event also serves to
elevate the importance of policy and advocacy in improving the lives of children, recognizes community members who have been effective advocates for children, and engages local communities and the media in recognizing the honorees and the important work of advocacy. Georgia CASA and its network of affiliate CASA programs have provided exceptional support to Georgia's children through work to develop and support these court-sanctioned, community-based affiliate programs that provide trained and supervised volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in juvenile court deprivation proceedings.

Georgia CASA is among a distinguished group of past and present Big Voice honorees with outstanding accomplishments in child advocacy. This November 9th, Georgia CASA will share the stage with the following other winners: Bill Bolling (Founder and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank) and several community-nominated honorees, including Elaine Draeger (President and CEO, Sheltering Arms), Tim Johnson (Executive Director, Family Connection/Communities in Schools of Athens) and Patricia Nobbie (Deputy Director, Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities).

For those who wish to celebrate Georgia CASA's achievements, consider purchasing individual tickets to the Big Voice awards dinner, becoming a corporate event sponsor, or making a contribution to Georgia CASA. Donors who give $250+ will be recognized in the 2012 Big Voice event program. For more information, please contact Voices at 404-521-0311 or info@georgiavoices.org.

Carroll County CASA recently received $5,000 from Charter Bank in Carrollton due to local customers voting for the CASA program.

CASA Glynn, serving Glynn County in Coastal Georgia, was chosen by Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry's to be the recipient of proceeds raised during his recent appearance on Sea Island. He hosted an ice cream party for Glynn County's foster children, with over 50 foster children and families in attendance.

Several affiliate CASA programs, including Coweta County CASA and Children's Voice CASA in Douglas County, will be participating in Ford Motor Company's "Drive 4 Ur Community" event this fall. Local Ford dealerships will make donations to the CASA programs when vehicles are test driven during a specified time period. 

Enotah CASA, serving Lumpkin, Towns, Union and White counties, hosted a rest stop during the Six Gap Century/Three Gap Fifty Bicycle Ride on September 30th for 3,500 cyclists from around the world. The cyclists were riding 100 miles through the North Georgia mountains.

Each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks each state on overall  child well-being. For 2012, Georgia has been ranked #37 based on 16  indicators of child well-being. Georgia was not in the bottom ten list of the rankings, which has typically been the case. Advancements were noted in children's health and education, while setbacks continue in the economic well-being of children. For more information about Georgia's ranking and links to the KIDS COUNT publication, click here.