Annual Appeal

Thanks to the generous donations in support of our Annual Appeal campaign we achieved our goal for the 2012/2013 appeal.  We are on our way to being able to achieve our strategic growth goal to be able to provide a “voice” for every abused and/or neglected child in our community.  With the continued support of individuals, business and foundations we will be achieve the financial and volunteer growth needed to make a difference in the life of the children will benefit by having an advocate, a CASA in their life.  

In the last year, Winnebago County CASA Advocates have:

• Allowed the voices of  389 children to be heard
• Volunteered in excess of 35,000 hours
• Made over 800 court appearances
• Assisted in finding safe and permanent home for 143 children
• 35 new Advocates were trained and sworn in

In 2013, we want to be there for an additional 108 children at a cost of $350 per child.  We can

do that by training and supporting 35 additional Advocates at a cost of $1,070 per Advocate.

Can you help Winnebago County CASA be there for more children?

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2013 Annual Appeal Letter from the CASA Chairperson:

As I look to the end of another year and think of all that has happened in my life, I remember the difficult days and the great days. These memories have been shaped by many people in many areas of my life. There is my family, there are my friends, my co-workers, and the casual acquaintances that passed through each day. I never knew what would lie ahead in each day of this year.  The one constant that I could count on was change. I am thankful for the love of my family , the peace of having my home to return to each day, and the support of my friends to help me move through each day.

The over 1500 children that are being cared for in the Abuse and Neglect division of our Winnebago County Juvenile Court system often do not have these same opportunities in their lives.  They have no control over their lives, often do not live in a safe environment, nor are their homes safe, nurturing places to live.  The goal of the Winnebago County CASA program is to provide a Guardian ad litem (the Court Appointed Special Advocate, a trained volunteer, to represent the child’s best interest in court) for every child in the Juvenile Abuse and Neglect Court system.  The Guardian ad litem is the child’s voice in court that becomes the key person that the child can rely on to have their best interests at heart.

Until I became involved in the Winnebago County CASA program, I had no idea how many children were in need of an advocate.  Please help us provide the financial assistance needed to train and maintain our dedicated volunteers who advocate for the abused and neglected children so that they can live in a safe, loving, and permanent home.

To learn more about our program, to volunteer or to donate online, visit our website at www.winnebagocountycasa.org.  Thank you for your support and best wishes for the holiday season.

Sincerely,

Fred G. Muehlfelder

Chair, Winnebago County CASA Board of Directors