News:

Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation receives award........

At The Family & Children's Trust Fund of Virginia Conference on Community Collaboration in Preventing Family Violence, held in Richmond, Virginia, on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, the Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation was recognized by the Family and Children's Trust Fund Board of Trustees for their outstanding community collaborations.  We were presented a beautiful plaque for our collaboration with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, Department of Social Services, Child Protective Services, Foster Care Services, Adoption Services, Court-ordered Custoday/Mediation Services and the Juvenile Justice system on child abuse and neglect cases before the courts. 

On May 23, seven additional CASA Advocates were sworn in by Judge Bounds.  They were Carla Terry, Susan Gibson, Nancy Wilson, Deborah Camicia, Lynlee Thorne, Jane Wright, and Linda Moody.

Board members, Zip Basile and Donna Mills prepared a beautiful reception in the CASA office for the new advocates and their families.

        MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS:

              ROUND TABLE ---- JULY 10, AUGUST 14, SEPT 11, OCT 9, NOV 13, DEC 11

                            IN SERVICE/TRAINING ---- JULY 22, SEPT 23, NOV 18

  College Internships - CASA thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to    work with college interns, and last fall Meredith Withers from   Roanoke College joined us for her third year! Another Roanoke   College senior, Molly Bradley also worked with the program and we look forward to a busy and successful spring semester. If you are a college student and interested in an internship with CASA, send

your resume to the CASA office or call at 540-853-6891. .

Training for Volunteers - Fall training for new volunteers is scheduled for September 2008, with classes twice weekly for six weeks in the CASA offices. Applications are now being accepted!  If you are interested in becoming an advocate, please complete the application and mail to P. O. Box 35, Roanoke, Virginia 24002-0035. Training consists of an extensive period of class and instruction from the judicial system, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Police Departments, Mental Health, Child Protective Services, Foster Care and Adoption Services and numerous other agencies that operate in Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Salem. Current advocates may earn in-service hours by attending selected classes and should call or email the office to schedule these sessions.

 Friends of the Salem Library Donations (FOSL) - CASA is fortunate to

 have the support of the FOSL with annual children's book donations.  Joyce

 Foster visited the office with two boxes full of brand new books in early

 December, and we greatly appreciate this contribution.  CASA children will

 be pleased to receive these books from their Advocates.

Penny Bears - The Penny Bear Volunteers have operated out of the home of Mary Bickford of Roanoke, Virginia for several years.  CASA has been very fortunate to be one of several agencies in the Roanoke Valley that has benefited from their efforts in providing wonderful teddy bears with beautiful hand knit sweaters for all Roanoke CASA children. The Penny Bear™ Company, Inc., originted in Marblehead, Massachusetts, as an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. The company was established to provide opportunities for people of all ages to work together with their hands and hearts for a common purpose - to share messages of love, hope, and healing through charitable outreach projects in local communities and beyond. The Penny Bear has become a symbol of comfort, compassion, and love... perfect for anyone in need of a hug! Each is different and special, and all carry a penny in a heart shaped pocket as a reminder of the hope and faith found in the message printed on each U.S. coin - "In God We Trust". We thank Mary and her volunteers for the wonderful contributions made to CASA children - each Penny Bear gift to a child has carried the hope of a brighter tomorrow. Visit the Penny Bear Website. Article in Salem Times.

CASA Children's Garden - On June 7, 2005, a bare stretch of dirt and mulch at the entrance of the Jefferson Center became a beautiful garden with more than 200 donated shrubs, trees and flowers, planted in recognition of the hundreds of children who have been involved in the CASA program. After initial difficulties  with contaminated soil, the garden site was excavated, soil replaced and the garden replanted on October 14th and 15th with the assistance of numerous businesses in the Roanoke Valley. We extend special appreciation to Mary and Ray of QLC, Inc., who directed the project, Contracting Enterprises, Inc., who supplied equipment and men to excavate the area, Mulch & More, who contributed several truckloads of new soil, Precision Steel, who donated the wonderful steel sculptures of the children in the garden, and Sign  Design for the creation of the beautiful custom garden sign. The dedication of the CASA Children’s Garden  was held on April 5, 2006 at 5pm with special guests  the First Lady of Virginia Anne Holton and Judge Philip Trompeter, and the event was a wonderful success. The purpose of the garden is threefold: to honor all children, to give children a place  to experience plants and flowers, and to bring awareness to CASA. Over 20 area businesses participated in the garden project, which includes seating areas, decorative rock, a cherry tree and an annual flower bed, which will change seasonally. The Roanoke Valley CASA Foundation extends appreciation to the many businesses who contributed to this project. CASA Children’s Garden contributing businesses. Pictures of garden in progress.

 Verison Hope-Line Award - CASA was selected to receive the

 2007 Verizon Wireless Hopeline / Verizon Foundation Grant Award

 and was presented the check directly from Attorney General Bob

 McDonnell at a formal ceremony at the Office of the Attorney

 General in Richmond, VA.  CASA is pleased to be the recipient of

 this honor with only 11 other Virginia organizations selected. The

 Hopeline incentive focuses on victims of domestic violence.

Mid-Atlantic GROWER - The April 5, 2006 dedication of the CASA Children’s Garden is featured in the May 2006 edition of the Mid-Atlantic GROWER, a regional publication serving the nursery, greenhouse and horticultural industry. You may visit their Website at www.americanfarm.com and click on the Mid-Atlantic GROWER link to read the article.

Kroger Cares - Kroger Cares Cards are available for purchase for $5.00 each in the CASA office. The card is reusable and functions like a gift card – continue to reload with cash or credit at the Service Desk and use it like a typical gift card or cash at checkout.  Accumulated totals of all CASA participants will eventually pay back a percentage of all sales to CASA.  Please call the office at 853-2407 to purchase a card.