Invite CASA to speak at your event!

We  would be happy to provide you with additional information about CASA, and we are available for speaking engagements and presentations to corporations, civic groups and membership organizations. CASA provides a wonderful service in the Roanoke Valley and we welcome opportunities to educate and inform about our work for children in the Juvenile Court system and opportunities available to volunteers. Call us! 540.853.6891.

JULY - DECEMBER 2008 CONTINUING EDUCATION CALENDAR:

 July 22 - 6 - 8 pm - The Reverend Melissa Hays-Smith, LCSW and Director of the Pastoral Counseling Center of the Roanoke Valley will present a case study approach to attachment theory and play therapy.  Joining Reverend Hays-Smith will be June Bridges, the CASA volunteer on the case.  Heather Woods, Roanoke City DSS caseworker and Heather Austin, case manager for the therapeutic foster home placement from DePaul Family Services...

September 23 - 6 - 8 pm - Mary Ellen Verdu, MSW, CASA volunteer and Assistant Department Head and Instructor at Virginia Tech Department of Human Development, using a case study format will walk volunteers through a case from gathering information to interviewing children and biological parents to writing a report with appropriate and valued court recommendations....

November 18 - 6 - 8 pm - Martha Allman, MA, LPC, LMFT and Director of Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare Specialized Services will talk about the dynamics of alcohol and substance abuse and how abuse and addiction impact our children and families in CASA, specifically addressing timelines for successful treatment and the impact of these timelines on appropriate and successful parenting..

Please call 853-2407 to register or email lmm@roanokecasa.com

Events Upcoming:

2008 - Adoption Day -- November 15, 2008

2009 - Fourth Annual Kaleidoscope Art Fest - April 9, 2009 - Mark your calendar now - Jefferson Center

Past events......

2008 Gala and Law Day Celebration - Dance for the Children --

A Fundraising and Awards Event to Benefit the Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation and the Roanoke Bar Association Foundation. Honoring the Recipients of the Frank W. "Bo" Rogers, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award and the Young Lawyer of the Year Award. This event was held at Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center - Friday, May 16, 2008.

Advocates Luncheon - - 

On May 20, 2008 our luncheon for the advocates was held at Hunting Hills Country Club. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful group of Advocate volunteers.  We were honored to have with us Melissa O'Neal - State CASA Program Coordinator - Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, Richmond, VA. The CASA advocates that have served 5 years were honored at the event.

Croquet Tournament at Roanoke College --

June 1 was the 12th Annual Backyard Croquet Tournament held at Roanoke College Rear Quad - . There was an afternoon of tournament play and lots of fun with family and friends.  CASA was one of the beneficiaries of the proceeds.

CASA Children's Garden Clean-up Day - We are always in need of someone to help keep our CASA Children's Garden clean. If you are interested in helping, please let us know. Just call our office at 853-6891.

KALEIDOSCOPE 2008 - CASA's Third Annual Art Fest - April 3, 2008 - Marked the third art event.

This year featured artists were Judy Bates, Judith R. Damon, Marie Gobble Levine and Kay Sutherland. We enjoyed the live progressive art and creative talents of more than 100 area student and professional artists. In addition, Ray Kass, artist, returned with a new painting experience.

Delicious food was provided by Outback Steakhouse and musical entertainment was enjoyed by all thanks to the William Penn Quartet. Many, many thanks to everyone who participated in this event to help benefit Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation.

A Night at TRIO’s - Many thanks to Sands Woody of Trio's Bistro Bar Bottle for sponsoring a night at Trio's on April 16, 2008, benefiting Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation. We received a portion of the proceeds from the bar and food for the evening and appreciated so much all who attended.

TOYS FOR TOTS – On December 12, 2007, CASA again partnered with the United States Marine Corps for Christmas 2007 in providing toys for CASA children as well as other children with Roanoke County DSS and Roanoke City DSS foster care systems and other participating children's agencies. Hundreds of children were be present to receive their gifts directly from Santa and enjoy refreshments, live music and toys throughout the afternoon. If you would like additional information about participation in 2008, please contact the CASA office at 540-853-6891 or 540.853-2407.

Barnes and Noble Holiday Book Drive Celebration - We would like to thank Barnes & Noble Valley View for selecting CASA as the beneficiary of the annual Holiday Book Drive! The promotion ran from November 1 - January 1, and approximately 1000 books were collected for children of all ages. All gifts were donated to the children represented by the Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation (boys and girls up to age 18).

Saturday, December 1st. Friends, family, media and members of the greater Roanoke community came to join Barnes & Noble - Valley View on Saturday, December 1 at 11:00 AM for the Holiday Book Drive Celebration.  Favorite children's stories were read by CASA Advocates, and gift donations were made to support the Holiday Book Drive. On January 24, 2008, the gift of books collected during the book drive was presented. Please contact Jill Johnson, Community Relations Manager with questions at 540-563-8463; visit www.bn.com or call the store (540-563-5683) for more information.

National Adoption Day 2007 - Held on Saturday, November 17, 2007, Adoption Day Saturday was celebrated at Andrew Lewis Middle School and recognized many families in the Roanoke Valley with recent finalized adoptions.  Special guests included The Honorable Philip Trompeter, Lelia Hopper from the VA Supreme Court Improvement Program and John Chambliss, Assistant Roanoke County Administrator. National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the 114,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. For the last eight years, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care.  This event is celebrated every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. For the first time in 2006, National Adoption Day was celebrated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In total, more than 250 events were held throughout the country to finalize the adoptions of more than 3,300 children in foster care, and to celebrate all families who adopt.

 A Night at TRIO’s - Many thanks to Sands Woody of Trio Bistro Bar Bottle for

 sponsoring A Night at TRIO's on October 10, 2007, benefiting Roanoke Valley

 CASA!  We received a portion of the proceeds from the bar and food for the evening

 and appreciate the support of all who attended.

CASA Meet and Greet - The first CASA networking event for 2007-2008 was held at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, September 20, 2007at 6pm. Professional women throughout the Roanoke Valley enjoyed an hour of networking, wonderful food, a special presentation by Fresh Market and an opportunity to learn more about CASA. If you are interested in attending a future Meet and Greet, call 853-2407 for information.

Virginia Heart Gallery - The Virginia Heart Gallery is a collaborative effort between several Social Service Departments through southwestern Virginia, children's agencies and select photographers dedicated to increasing the number of foster and adoptive families, as well as heighten awareness for the hundreds of children needing homes in our community.  The goals of the Heart Gallery are 1) To present expressive professional portraits of some of our county’s precious foster children who are ready for adoption and awaiting their “forever families”; 2) To raise awareness of the fact that there are approximately 130,000 children across the country waiting for permanent adoptive homes and a half million children in the foster care system altogether: and 3) To promote adoption and fostering in general.  CASA is on the steering committee of this inaugural event in southwestern Virginia.  The Opening Gala was held at the Fralin Atrium at the Jefferson Center, with special guest Delegate William Fralin.  The gallery of photos will be displayed in different locations throughout the Piedmont region.

Volunteer Luncheon 2007 - In honor of our excellent CASA volunteers, the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon was held on May 10, 2007, at Hunting Hills Country Club with Gailen Miles of Milestone Performance, Inc. as our special guest.  We are very fortunate to have an excellent group of advocates and look forward to a large training class in the fall.

The Inn at Burwell Place – The 11th Annual backyard Croquet Tournament at the Inn at Burwell Place was held on Sunday, June 3, 2007 at 2:00 P.M. Rear Quad, Roanoke College!  CASA is a beneficiary of the proceeds and was present at the event volunteering and competing in the games. The annual tournament is a single elimination event, and a match is comprised of four players with the top players of the match proceeding on to the next round. Winners continue until they reach the final championship match. In addition to croquet, a silent auction featured many items donated by local businesses, individuals and merchants. 

KALEIDOSCOPE 2007 - CASA's Second Annual Art Fest - On Thursday evening, April 19, the doors of Fitzpatrick Hall at the Jefferson Center opened to again welcome the public to a unique opportunity to purchase art created by more than 90 regional artists and high school students in the Roanoke Valley, judged by White House Galleries owner, George Ferguson. The Best in Show honor went to Kay Sutherland for her piece entitled "Small World".  Patrons were treated to an exhibition of Live Progressive Art by four artists: Joan Henley, Ken Motley, Greg Osterhaus and Kay Sutherland. with the excellent original creations auctioned at the close of the evening, with the assistance of Ken Farmer and Jim Woltz as our distinguished auctioneers.  KALEIDOSCOPE 2007 included live music by the Lenny Marcus Trio, beer, wine and soft drinks and wonderful food.  This was the second annual art event mounted to benefit the CASA program, and planning is underway for Kaleidoscope 2008, scheduled for April 3, 2008. Join us for this unique and festive evening!

View Kaleidoscope 2007 – CASA’s Annual Art Fest as a PDF file

Voice for Every Child Pledge Campaign - Our third annual giving campaign was held in March 2007, and we encourage year-round tax deductible donations to the Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation. When abused children need to be heard, Court Appointed Special Advocates lend them a voice. Help CASA grow and strengthen as we work to increase our services to the children in the Roanoke Valley. Your contribution will support the work of CASA in providing direct services for children and speaking up for abused and neglected children, and we thank you for your support. Please visit our Donate page.

Holiday Couture 2006 - The Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation hosted 2006 “Holiday Couture…Saving Children is Always in Style” at the Hotel Roanoke on December 5, 2006 at 6:00pm.  The evening was a combination of wonderful food, excellent music, beautiful clothes and decorations, a variety of auction items and many outstanding women in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding region supporting children through the work of the Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation. Many thanks to E. I. Randle owners Henry and Diana Vaughan and to Andrea Becker, who was instrumental in coordinating the details of the event.  Holiday Couture will return December '08!

DEDICATE & CELEBRATE! – The dedication of the CASA Children’s Garden was held on April 5, 2006 in conjunction with the In the Garden Art Show & Sale at Fitzpatrick Hall. Special guests at the dedication were First Lady of Virginia Anne Holton, a former juvenile court judge in Richmond, VA, and Judge Philip Trompeter. The dedication provided the opportunity to thank the many area businesses who contributed to the garden project, and many were in attendance to accept a small gift of appreciation. Vice Mayor Bev Fitzpatrick presented the First Lady with a key to the City and congratulated CASA on the success of the program and the addition of the garden to the Jefferson Center. After the acknowledgement of donors and official cutting of the ribbon, guests moved inside Fitzpatrick Hall for wonderful art, food and musical entertainment.   A unique part of the evening was Live Progressive Art featuring artists Ed Bordett, Ann Glover, Greg Osterhaus and Harriett Stokes, moving from canvas to canvas to create four new original pieces of art, which were auctioned at the end of the show. The "In the Garden" concept developed from our efforts in creating the CASA Children's Garden, which daily honors the children we serve in the Roanoke Valley. Providing a voice for a child in court and bringing awareness to young victims of abuse and neglect are two of the many goals of our program; providing hope and the opportunity for a successful future is one of the many rewards of our work. The dedication and art show were both successful events for the organization and we thank the many people and businesses who made the day possible.  Special acknowledgement to the students at the Roanoke County Career Center, 7th Grade Exploring Construction Technology, who constructed over 125 panels for the artwork.  Pictures

CASA Legislative Day – In the effort to increase the funding allocation for CASA throughout the state of Virginia for the state budget covering the period from 2006-2008, the Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation was an active member of the CASA Legislative Committee and represented many CASA offices throughout the state in Richmond in January 2006 and 2007. CASA acquired the support of numerous Delegates and Senators with the introduction of a Budget Amendment outlining the necessity of increased funding for the CASA network of organizations. The CASA Legislative effort resulted in a small increase in the 2008 state allocation for CASA programs, and we will be working as a joint committee again for the next opportunity to address the state budget.