Submitted by Marrion Leudemann
CASA Monroe

The fundraising committee of CASA Monroe is launching the "Festival of Trees 2010" with a kick-off luncheon at the Tellicafй on March 24 at 1 p.m.  The Festival of Trees is a community event held in November that features decorated Christmas trees and wreaths for sale, live entertainment, a breakfast with Santa, a special gala dinner and unique items for sale.  CASA Monroe wants it to be even better this year and would appreciate the input of community members that want to be involved in the event.  

Monroe County has so many artistically talented residents that would enjoy the involvement of decorating Christmas trees, decorating Christmas wreaths, or being involved in some other facet of the festivities. Want to join the team of festival artists? 

"The Festival of Trees, through the Eyes of a Child" this year is planning a "Santa Wonderland."  Want to help?  Please call the CASA office at 442-2750 to find out where and how you can join in the fun and excitement of this outstanding event.

CASA training
All of the monies earned from fundraising are used directly for CASA Monroe. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. The agency continues to be assigned cases from the Juvenile Court and so continues to need new volunteer child advocates.  The training for one advocate costs CASA $650 per year. We now have 22 trained advocates and need more. The rewards of helping a child that needs a voice and a friend are indescribable. Gail, one of the CASA Monroe advocates, stated that she has volunteered for many years for many organizations, but never before felt the incredible satisfaction of knowing and helping the children she has been working with since becoming a CASA child advocate.

CASA advocates attend training classes before being sworn in as friends of the court. When they are assigned a case, Jodi Swiderek, the CASA Monroe volunteer coordinator works very closely with the new advocate. A new training will start on Tuesday, March 30 and end on Tuesday April 27.  Call Marion or Jodi at 442-2750 to register.

Did you know that only 0.01 percent of the world population takes notice of child abuse?  Did you know that there was an agency to help abused animals before there was an agency to help children? In 1874 Mary Ellen, the first child labeled as neglected/abused, was placed with the American Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals and garnered public attention. It wasn't until 1974 that the Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Act was put into effect.  In Monroe County 117 children are in foster care.  CASA Monroe is advocating for over 50 percent of these children. The goal is to advocate for 100 percent by the end of the year 2012. We need 20 more CASA volunteer child advocates by the end of the year.  For more information please visit our Web site at casamonroe.org or National CASA.org. 

CASA Monroe continues to grow.  The efforts of this organization is supported financially by individual donations, grants, corporate donations, and by our premiere annual fundraiser, the "Festival of Trees, Through the Eyes of a Child" This fundraiser is an outstanding event.  It not only raises dollars to help CASA Monroe to continue advocating for the neediest of our citizens but is truly one of the outstanding annual events in Monroe County.