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News from CASA

CASA is pleased to announce new executive committee members who will help guide CASA as we move into 2021.

CASA of Lancaster County has just added four new board members who will help guide the organization as we move into 2021.

A message from CASA of Lancaster County's Executive Director, Jessica Laspino. A recap of what CASA accomplished in 2020 thanks to our generous donors and incredible volunteers.

A message from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County's Executive Director Jessica Laspino. This article reinforces CASA's mission and focus, including focus on the best interest of children, a consistent and compassionate adult presence for children in foster care, qualified and trained CASAs, and the fundamental right of a safe, nurturing, and permanent home.

LANCASTER, PA (December 28, 2018) – Over the course of 2018, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers advocated for 325 children. “Thanks to the generous support of this community, we were able to light the way home for 92 of them,” states Executive Director, Jessica Laspino. Very simply, 92 children are now with their forever families because of donations to CASA of Lancaster.

LANCASTER, PA (October 22nd, 2019) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster county is pleased to announce the valuable addition of Elizabeth Brennan and Ben Stoltzfoos to the CASA Board of Directors.

LANCASTER, PA (October 15th, 2019) – Bullying is a common experience children can have happen at school, at home, or even online. According to pacer.org, more than one in five children report being bullied. During National Bullying Prevention Month, remember that children in foster care are already treated differently.

LANCASTER, PA (October 2, 2019) – CASA of Lancaster County hosts information sessions on how to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate for a child in the foster care system in Lancaster County. These sessions are free of charge and open to the public. RSVP is required. Contact CASA by calling (717) 208-3280 or email casa@casalancaster.org:

LANCASTER,PA (09/24/2019) – On Wednesday, September 18th, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County, welcomed a group of ten new CASA volunteers...

LANCASTER, PA (September 16th, 2019) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County held their annual Heroes Gala and Benefit Auction Saturday, September 7th at the Marriott Penn Square. This year’s theme, The Roaring Twenties, Casino Night, was well-received with over 500 guests raising over $170,000.

LANCASTER, PA (July 8, 2019) – For most kids, summertime means carefree days spent with family and friends…playing outside, trips to the beach, and many memories made. Those happy-go-lucky days, however, don’t always happen for kids in foster care.

LANCASTER, PA (June 25, 2019) – The The 8th Annual Molly Curtis Memorial Softball Tournament is returning to Clipper Magazine stadium on Sunday, July 21st at 1pm to benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County. The tournament is named in honor of Molly Curtis, daughter of Lancaster County Prison Corrections Officer Jason Curtis, who passed away at a young age due to epilepsy

LANCASTER, PA (June 04, 2019) – On Thursday, May 30, Leslie Gorbey, Senior Judge, swore in fifteen Lancaster County community members as CASA volunteers – court appointed special advocates for abused and neglected children. Family and friends gathered in the ballroom at Emerald Foundation Community Campus, 2120 Oregon Pike, Lancaster to watch the volunteers take an oath promising to advocate for the best interest of the child.

LANCASTER, PA (May 29, 2019) – The Lancaster County 8 Ball League held their Annual Harry Hutchinson – Jack Byerly Charity 8 Ball Tournament earlier this year to raise money for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County.

LANCASTER, PA (05, 20, 2019) – On any given day, there are nearly 443,000 children in foster care in the United States. During National Foster Care Month, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County challenges residents to help ensure these children find safe, nurturing, and permanent homes by becoming a CASA Volunteer Advocate.

LANCASTER, PA (May 6, 2019) – As part of Lancaster County Motors Subaru’s commitment to supporting local nonprofits, they have once again included Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County as part of their Share the Love Campaign.

LANCASTER, PA (04/30/2019) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County hosted their Seventh Annual Community Awareness Breakfast on Friday, April 26, 2019 at Cork Factory Hotel Ballroom. The morning included a breakfast and several presenters explaining the positive impact the CASA program is having in Lancaster County.

We would like to make you aware that there is another organization operating under the nae of CASA that has become active in South Central PA.

LANCASTER, PA (04, 11, 2019) – In 2018, forty children died of abuse in PA. That's 40 too many! Every child deserves a safe and happy childhood free from violence. During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County challenges residents to stand against child abuse and take action to support children.

LANCASTER, PA (March 28, 2019) – Join Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Of Lancaster County for an inspiring, free one-hour breakfast to learn more about how CASA is making a difference in the lives of Lancaster County’s most vulnerable children and how you can help. The event aims to recruit new volunteers, raise funds, and spread awareness about the work of CASA. One of the scheduled speakers is a teen former foster child. She will share her experience and how a CASA volunteer helped her during her time in foster care.

LANCASTER, PA (March 21, 2019) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County would like to extend their congratulations to the newest class of CASA volunteers, sworn in on March 20th by Judge Jeffrey J. Reich. The ceremony was held at Emerald Foundation, 2120 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601.

LANCASTER, PA (03, 07, 2019) – The number of children in foster care in Pennsylvania is rising. Nationally, neglect is the most common reason for removal (62%), but these cases often involve other underlying factors such as drug or alcohol abuse or parental mental health problems. Too many children in the child welfare system lose hope, the family they know and their rights. Fortunately, there are ways you can help give them a chance at a better life.

LANCASTER, PA (February 28, 2019) – Begin your day with a blueberry breakfast to honor the memory of Nicole Mathewson, a beloved Brownstown Elementary School teacher who tragically lost her life in December 2014. Celebrate Nicole’s lasting legacy with friends and family on March 16 from 9 to 11 am at Community Fellowship Church, 200 Bethel Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601 (Jacob’s Creek neighborhood), where proceeds from the breakfast will go towards supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County.

LANCASTER, PA (February 14, 2019) – The Lancaster County 8-Ball League is again honoring Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County by naming them the beneficiary for their Annual Harry Hutchinson – Jack Byerly Charity 8 Ball Tournament. The tournament was established in memory of Harry Hutchinson and Jack Byerly, two of the founding members of the Lancaster County 8 Ball League.

LANCASTER, PA (01, 31, 2019) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County has moved to The Offices at Marion Court in downtown Lancaster. We spent the previous eight years in a building around the corner from our new location -- our old office served us well, and we made great memories there, but we are very excited about our new space.

LANCASTER, PA (January 24, 2019) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County is pleased to announce its 2019 Board of Directors: Rebecca Caplan, President, J. Seroky, Vice President, Steven Russell, Secretary, Laura Rineer, Treasurer.

LANCASTER, PA (December 13, 2018) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County recently held their year-end Volunteer Swearing-In Ceremony. Over forty friends, family members, and CASA supporters witnessed Judge Thomas B. Sponaugle swear in twelve volunteer advocates during a ceremony held November 19 at the Emerald Foundation, 2120 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA.

LANCASTER, PA (November 19, 2018) – Nobody longs for a safe and loving home more than a child in foster care. With November being National Adoption Month, communities are encouraged to support the thousands of children across the country in need of permanent families. As a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer, you will be empowered by the court to help make this dream a reality.

LANCASTER, PA (November 08, 2018) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County is recruiting volunteers to advocate for the hundreds of kids in Lancaster’s foster system. These vulnerable children need community volunteers - just like you - who are willing to stand up and speak out on behalf of our county’s most severely abused, abandoned and neglected children.

LANCASTER, PA (October 30, 2018) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County is pleased to welcome Sophia Wanner to the staff. Ms. Wanner is CASA’s newest Volunteer Manager and will be assuming the cases of recently retired Volunteer Manager, Brian Klugh.

LANCASTER, PA (October 22, 2018) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County is counting down the days to November 16th and the Extraordinary Give. Please consider making a donation to us and/or to any of the great participating nonprofit organizations in Lancaster. With your donation, CASA of Lancaster can advocate for more children to ensure their fundamental human right of having a safe, nurturing, and permanent home is met. On November 16th, all day, visit ExtraGive.org, and every dollar donated will be stretched by a pool of cash and prizes from the Lancaster County Community Foundation, Rodgers & Associates, The S. Dale High Family Foundation, and other corporate sponsors.

LANCASTER, PA (October, 11, 2018) – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County recently hosted their annual Heroes Gala and Benefit Auction on Friday, September 28, 2018 at Lancaster Marriott At Penn Square. The evening raised nearly $100,000.