Reunified with parents55%

CASA of Travis County: Highlights of 2013

Family Finding ProgramThrough a grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, we have created a staff position and volunteer opportunities with the sole purpose of finding family for children in foster care. The Family Finding Specialist trains and supports experienced volunteers to locate and connect youth with family and supportive adults. Often extended family members are unaware a child is in foster care, especially if they are out of touch with the child’s family. Whether family can offer a permanent home, links to a child’s heritage or simply the promise of a supportive adult in a child’s life, youth in foster care who have healthy connections to family are more likely to thrive in any environment.

Enhanced Volunteer Recruitment EffortsWe have expanded our volunteer recruitment team by hiring a Strategic Partnerships Manager who reached out to over 100 civic-minded businesses and government agencies to connect volunteers to CASA. We also have team positions dedicated to diversity/inclusiveness and volunteer retention. We implemented monthly Volunteer Info Sessions in our office and around the community, and of those who attended the sessions, over 40% applied to become CASA volunteers! This helped achieve a 38% increase over 2012 in the average number of volunteer applications per month, moving us closer to our goal of having a CASA volunteer for every child who needs one.

Education AdvocacyCASA is now appointed as the official “education advocate” to school-aged children in addition to being appointed as guardian ad litem. This will have a strong positive impact on educational outcomes for children, especially those who have experienced multiple school transfers and are at risk of falling behind in school.

1,605 Children Served

678 New children

assigned to CASA

Early AppointmentsJudges have always wanted to appoint CASA at the earliest possible stage in the court process in order to have a dedicated advocate on the case from the very beginning. To move towards this vision, we are now being appointed early to all children over age four, all sibling groups and all children with special needs.

Aaron ended up in foster care after his father died. A rough divorce and complicated family relationships had separated him from his mother, and his father’s family kept him at first but then gave him up to CPS without telling his mom. He bounced around the foster care system for years. His CASA volunteer found notes on a half-brother in his case files. It turned out that Aaron’s half-brother and mother had been looking for him and were told he was adopted by someone else. Aaron was able to reconnect with his mom for the first time in 7 years!

Carissa and Lara’s parents were about to have their parental rights terminated in trial and the girls were staying with an aunt but she couldn’t care for them both. CASA found another aunt who was willing to help but had been denied previously due to misinformation about her background. We discovered she actually had no criminal history and could have been a great placement option all along. Trial was even avoided when Carissa and Lara’s mother agreed to relinquish her rights if her daughters could live with their two aunts.

Alex has lived in foster care for 10 years with no family connections, moving from one group home to the next. CASA tracked down his older sister, Dee, who aged out of foster care and was doing well, but was too young to care for Alex. We reconnected Alex and Dee and now drive him to regular visits with her that dramatically improve his mood and progress in treatment. While we continue our search, finding family is also about connections to history and relationships with supportive adults. It is truly special to see these two reuniting as family.

Jenny’s mom was addicted to drugs and her grandmother could no longer care for her. She was about to end up with strangers in foster care. Her CASA volunteer worked with Family Finding and, through her father’s obituary, they identified relatives interested in helping. We advocated that Jenny stay with her grandmother a few more weeks to have time to get relatives involved. Within a few days, a cousin agreed to care for Jenny long-term. Jenny avoided a traumatic entrance into foster care and now has a promising future with family.

2013 Fiscal Report

688 Children’s cases closed with the

help of CASA

76% Children’s cases that closed reunited with

family or relatives

89% Children’s cases

that closed with a permanent home

Adopted by or live with non-relatives 13%

Powerful Voice Society - Our major donor society ended 2013 with a record 117 members. Of our new members, 31 of them joined during the 2013 CASAblanca Gala and were motivated by a surprise anonymous $100,000 matching gift!

New Donors - 2013 brought us 510 new supporters for CASA including two first-time gifts of $10,000. The brand-new Amplify Austin city-wide day of giving gave us a huge boost in new donors. We raised over $17,500 in just 24 hours through this event!

Campaign for CASA - We continue to work towards securing major, multi-year gifts and pledges to help reach our vision of a CASA volunteer for every child who needs one. In 2013, approximately 44% of our individual gifts were donated through the Campaign for CASA.

Aged out of the system - 3% Other - 8%

(Includes courtesy work for other CASA programs, cases dismissed, other outcomes)

Of the 688 children’s cases closed...

Adopted by or live with relatives21%

1,288children had a dedicated

CASA volunteer

416children still needed CASA’s advocacy

Of the approximately 2,021 children in the Travis County courts due to abuse or neglect...

317children were served by CASA staff members

Hispanic40%

Caucasian 17%

Bi-Racial/Multi-Racial

15% Other/Not-Specified - 4%

Child Race & Ethnicity

African-American

24%

0 - 434%

14 - 1715%

18 & Up - 5%

Child Age

5 - 1345%

Unknown - 1%

32%$1,061,223*

Foundation Grants

27%$892,466

Government Grants

23%$762,548*Individual/Corporate

Contributions

18%$609,110Special

Events, Net

Revenue & Community SupportTotal: $3,325,347

79%$2,143,315

Program Services

14%$371,982

Fundraising

ExpensesTotal: $2,697,893

593 Active volunteers appointed to children

207 New volunteers completed training

49% Volunteers who closed a case in 2012 and took a new case in 2013

1,407 Volunteer inquiries thanks to our enhanced recruitment team

*In accordance with accounting rules includes $597,310 in pledges or grants of funds to be paid in future years.

7%- $182,596 - Adm

inistration

Endowment DonorsIn 2012, we established the CASA Endowment for Children to provide a permanent source of revenue for the future. The Austin Community Foundation helped us launch the endowment by issuing a challenge for us to raise $20,000 each year for four years and is providing matching funds. The following donors have given $250 or more to the endowment since 2012:

MissionCASA of Travis County exists to promote and protect the best interest of children who have been abused or neglected, by training volunteers to advocate for them in courts, in schools and in our community to help them find safe, permanent and loving homes.

VisionFor every child who needs us, CASA of Travis County envisions a trained volunteer advocate, a safe home and a promising future.

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Dear CASA family,Thank you! You made 2013 a year of innovative advocacy and important initiatives for children and families.

We proudly launched our Family Finding program with the support of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. With a dedicated staff specialist and volunteers training each month, we’re looking at family trees in a way we never have before. Through Family Finding we can tremendously improve the futures of children who’ve been stuck in foster care for years and help other children avoid lengthy stays in the system.

Also in 2013 we dedicated ourselves to growing the CASA “family” in order to speak up for more of our community’s children. We grew our volunteer recruitment team and increased our fundraising efforts to bring in more volunteers and more supporters like you who believe in the power of CASA to make a difference for children.

And just as you would do for your own family, when a problem is identified, you get in there early to help them fix it. If your family is falling behind in school, you advocate for their needs and help them catch up. We built upon this notion to further improve our advocacy by agreeing to be appointed as “education advocates” for school-aged children.

As I always say to new volunteers in training at CASA 101, “Now you’re part of the CASA family.” Family is really, in one way or another, at the heart of everything we do at CASA. Thank you for your support in growing our family tree in 2013.

Laura D. Wolf, Executive Director

$100,000 +AnonymousMichael & Susan Dell Foundation

$50,000 - $99,999Conway & Associates, Inc.Melissa & David Rubin

$25,000 - $49,999AnonymousJuli & Everett CarmodyStephanie & Jerry GregoireDebbie & Bryan HolleyTopfer Family Foundation

$10,000 - $24,999Anonymous3MThe Anderson FoundationJessica & Jimmy BlacklockBrigham Family FoundationLorry & Rollie CarlsonThe Costigan Family FoundationDell Employee Giving ProgramDr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.Tracy & Matt HamiltonHarutunian Engineering Inc.Johnson & JohnsonDana & Max LeamanLesley LedwellCarolyn LewisThe Long FoundationThe Lowe FoundationKaren & George MansonThe Roy F. & Joann Cole Mitte FoundationCarolyn & Tom NicewarnerOxford CommercialLisa & Phil RosenbaumShield-Ayres FoundationEmily & Paul TwitchellEmily & Daniel WalkerWarren Walters

$5,000 - $9,999Anonymous (3)Austin Christian FellowshipBalcones Pain ConsultantsAnne & Bud BrighamJennifer BrockwellThe Cipione Family FoundationConocoPhillips CompanyJamie & James CottonKelly & Lee DodsonEndo Pharmaceuticals Inc.Anissa & Todd EverettIla & John Falvey

Grace Covenant ChurchIn-N-Out Burger FoundationThe Junior League of AustinKemp KaslingKasling, Hemphill, Dolezal & Atwell, L.L.P.Lisa & Todd LewisLola Wright FoundationNational InstrumentsKennedy & John NeffDebbie & Chris PacittiPiper & Turner PLLCPotts + Blacklock PLLCKari & Lee PottsTina & John ReckerRetailMeNot, Inc.Pam & Leonard RussoCatherine & Charles SansburySXSW Conferences & FestivalsteleNetwork Partners, Ltd.Sharon & Curt WebbNancy H. WebberDebbie & Ken WilsonLaura D. WolfCarin & Paul Zito

$2,500 - $4,999Kathi & David AllenAustin American-StatesmanAustin Bar FoundationAustin Pain AssociatesDonna & Kevin BellAnn L. Benolken & Mark EngelingBoon Insurance Management Services, L.P.Rhonda & Skip ChandlerBonita Griffith & David ChasisCoca-Cola RefreshmentsYolanda & Chris Conyers

Jeanne & Michael CrosnoElectric Transmission Texas, LLCFleckman & McGlynn, PLLCMorgan & Ben GaddisGive Realty, Inc.Gail & Harold HamiltonJackie & Albert HawkinsH-E-BKappa Alpha Theta - UT ChapterKPMG, L.L.P.Kathy F. LaneLeslie & David LavertyJill & Kirk LewisLifeAustinJoyce & David LindseyTeresa & Joe LongShelley & Steve MalachowskiCelina & Vaughn MankeyMary & Lynn MoakAmanda & Christopher MontgomeryBee & Leif PedersenPlainsCapital BankGina & Buddy SchroederKim & Jared SlosbergSpredfastSt. Thomas More Catholic ChurchTexas Capital BankMary & John VanderheydenRachael & Ben Vaughan FoundationHeather & Ruston VickersAshley & Mark Whitfield

$1,000 - $2,499AnonymousKelli & Ryan AgnellSudie & Brad AndersonElizabeth Barsalou & Scott WoodburyBazaarvoice, Inc.Fayruz Benyousef & Malek Ben-MusaJohn BerkowitzBethany United Methodist ChurchKathryn Blackbird & Craig Hurwitz

Mary & Mathis BlackstockBlue Cross Blue Shield of TexasPaula & R. Sterling BoonBose Family FoundationPat & Michael BreiyPaige A. BuechleyPatricia Burgess & Doug JeffriesThe Honorable Darlene & Mr. Daniel ByrneLinda CarterClark Mente Architects, Inc.Jim CreswellJ. Calvin CrowderJacqueline & Matthew CurtinJennifer DarrouzetDorothy & John De La GarzaPhilip S. DeMariePatricia Donahue & Paul KaronRosemary & Russell DouglassCooper DrennerThe Dubose Family FoundationAlicia & Jon DulebaDebbie DupinThe Edgewater GroupKathryn Engelhardt-Cronk & Tom CronkEnoch Kever PLLCEZCorp, Inc.Tera Ferguson & Douglas RiveraFirst Presbyterian ChurchFiservKevin FlemingBonnie & Jack FosterSusanne & Chad FranksJanet & David FreidbergJames N. FrinziFrost National BankLonny R. GorbanGridiron Stadium NetworkGuardians of the Children - Austin ChapterKelly HanssenCheryl & Corey HartKara & Jay HartzellTracy L. HendersonG Herver & Brad HermesKejda & Peter HerzogTera & Brett HoganKristi & Erik HooverMolly & Craig HughesKim & Kyle HughesIBM Employee Services CenterI Live Here, I Give HereStephanie & Anthony IcenogleShanna IgoTerri & Scott IngrahamJackson Walker LLPJasper Design AutomationJourneyman ConstructionKeri & Adam Kinsey

Debbie & Chick KobelanKocurek Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., TrusteeKorean Baptist Church of AustinBarb Kowal & Nancy WallingApril & Kris KubikKathy & Bodey LangfordLenovoStephanie & Randy LischLive Oak - Gottesman LLCMelissa & Wade LorberLesley & Ted LorenzJulianne Nelson & Richard MattinglyMercedes-Benz of AustinKevin J. MiddletonDaniel MondrikKirsten & Charles MoodyMary K. Wolf & Ron H. MossHeather & Jack NelsonGreg NorrellKit Belgum & Forrest NovyPatricia & Bob OttoPfizer FoundationCatherine & Willy PowersPraxair, Inc.The Prudential Foundation Matching Gifts ProgramTimi & Phillip QuiciBitsy & Bill RiceNicole & John RivasPam & Jerry RouseBenjamin RubensteinDevon & Daniel RussoJoyce & Jack SampsonHeidi & Scott ScholzSerendipity GiftsSeton Healthcare Networksi2Silicon LaboratoriesBeki & Steven SmitStephanie SmithSno-BeachSpivey & Grigg, LLCBeth & Frank StabileSamantha & John StevensYogi & Robert StraitSuperior HealthPlanAndrea & Andy SwansonTela Innovations, Inc.Heather & Scott ThackerDavid E. ThonJanelle & Ken TreaccarMelinda & Barry TwomeyUnited Heritage Credit UnionUrban Mattress South AustinSarah & Andy ValenzuelaCapital City Post #8787 VFWDenni & John Washburn

In 2013, these donors gave substantial gifts of products or services:360 Press SolutionsAndrew Dorer PhotographyAustin American-StatesmanThe Austin ChronicleAW Media, Inc.Bethany United Methodist ChurchBrown Distributing Co. Inc.Shari & Robert ButlerCallaway Golf InteractiveCamp Balcones SpringsCatapult Systems Inc.Chad W Adams PhotographyCircuit of the AmericasCoca-Cola RefreshmentsConway & Associates, Inc.Rosemary & Russell DouglassDr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.Driveway Austin Motor SportsThe Electric Reliability Council of TexasDaniel EsquivelEvent Data SolutionsAnissa & Todd EverettFit Events, LLCFitness 360H-E-BThe Hills of Lakeway Golf & Country ClubDebbie & Bryan HolleyHorseshoe Bay ResortJackson Walker LLPKasling, Hemphill, Dolezal & Atwell, L.L.P.KLRU-TVKVET 98.1 FMLajitas Golf Resort & SpaLyles-DeGrazier Wholesale JewelersPeggy McDonellMueller DevelopmentNew York Life InsuranceQuik PrintRiverbend ChurchRogue EquipmentRussell Korman Fine Jewelry & WatchesLauren & John SaundersScott, Douglass & McConnico, L.L.P.Steiner CaresStrong EventsTexas Commission on Environmental QualityTexas MonthlyTransfiguration Greek Orthodox ChurchUnited Heritage Credit UnionUnivision 62Zoltan David, Atelier

If you feel you’ve been left off this list or we misspelled your name, please accept our apologies and let us know so we can properly thank you.

Powerful Voice Society As of May 31, 2014

These passionate, committed individuals care deeply about CASA’s mission and provided one or more children with a CASA volunteer for a whole year through their gifts of $1,500 or more.

Multi-Year Pledges: The donors highlighted in blue above also have current pledges of gifts over multiple years in support of our vision of serving every child in need in our community.

Bonita Griffith & David ChasisRuth & Patrick Doane

Ila & John FalveyLeigh Gump

Jane Quentan PiperAnita & Bert PluymenGenevieve Duncan &

Keith Snodgrass

Denise & Todd WadeJane M. Wolf

Lissa AdamsKelli & Ryan AgnellAna & Jay Aleman

Kathi & David AllenSudie & Brad AndersonAmanda & Dave Andrae

Anonymous (8)Gretchen & Chris Atwell

Elizabeth Barsalou & Scott WoodburyDonna & Kevin Bell

Fayruz Benyousef & Malek Ben-MusaJohn Berkowitz

Jessica & Jimmy BlacklockSandy & Bob Blevins

Paula & Sterling Boon Anne & Bud Brigham

Jennifer BrockwellStephen Brown

Patricia Burgess & Doug JeffriesBrooke Burns

Rose & Kevin ByrneLorry & Rollie Carlson

Juli & Everett CarmodyLinda Carter

Rhonda & Skip ChandlerBonita Griffith & David Chasis

Denise & Jerry ConwayCostigan Family Foundation

Jamie & Jimbo CottonKathryn Engelhardt-Cronk & Tom Cronk

Jeanne & Michael CrosnoCalvin Crowder

Philip S. DeMariePeggy & Bob Dickerson

Kelly & Lee DodsonRosemary & Russell Douglass

Dubose Family FoundationAlicia & Jon Duleba

John EganDawn & Randy Eckert

Annie & Dirk ElmendorfMeghan & Stephen Elwell

Ann Benolken & Mark EngelingIla & John Falvey

Tera Ferguson & Douglas RiveraJulie & Ryan Foster

Susanne & Chad FranksJanet & David FreidbergMorgan & Ben GaddisCarolyn & Dennis Gans

Becca & Russell GipsStephanie & Jerry Gregoire

Melissa & Kareem HajjarGail & Harold Hamilton

Tracy & Matthew HamiltonLisa HannuschLinda Harman

Alice & Tom HarrisonCheryl & Corey HartKara & Jay Hartzell

Sara & The Honorable John HathawayJacquelyn & Albert Hawkins

G Herver & Brad HermesKejda & Pete Herzog

Debbie & John HighbargerDebbie & Bryan Holley

Kristi & Erik HooverKim & Kyle Hughes

Stephanie & Anthony Icenogle Terri & Scott Ingraham

Jennifer JorgensonRony Kahan & Xochi Shuey

Dana KaslingKemp Kasling

Debbie & Chick KobelanApril & Kris Kubik

Kathy LaneKathy & Robert Langford

Leslie & David LavertyDana & Max Leaman

Sheila & Casey LeamanCarolyn Lewis

Jill & Kirk LewisLisa & Todd Lewis

Joyce & David LindseyStephanie & Dr. Randy Lisch

Teresa & Joe LongMelissa & Wade Lorber

Lesley & Ted LorenzShelley & Steve Malachowski

Celina & Vaughn MankeyKaren & George Manson

Julianne Nelson & Richard MattinglyLynette & John MaxwellTeresa & Matt McCarty

Sally R. McIntoshAmy & Jim Miller

Mary & Lynn MoakAmanda & Chris Montgomery

Kirsten & Charles MoodyHollis & Jerry Moore

Margaret & Jack MurrayNidhi & Tanuj Nakra

Dina & Jimmy NassourKelly & Jason NassourKennedy & John Neff

Heather & Jack NelsonCarolyn & Tom Nicewarner

Greg Norrell Kathryn Nowlin

Patricia & Bob OttoDarlene & Anthony Owens

Debbie & Chris PacittiJulie & Bryan Payne

David “Snap” PearsonJane Quentan Piper

Kari & Lee PottsCaroline Powers

Catherine & Willy PowersTimi & Phillip QuiciTina & John ReckerBitsy & William Rice

Key & Hank RichardsonNicole Goldstein & John Rivas

Lisa & Phil RosenbaumPam & Jerry Rouse

Ben RubensteinMelissa & David Rubin

Ana & Alejandro RuelasDevon & Daniel RussoPam & Leonard RussoJoyce & Jack Sampson

Catherine & Charles SansburyAmanda & Dick Schmidt

Heidi & Scott ScholzIrene & Alexander Shoghi

Kim & Jared SlosbergBeki & Steven Smit

Donna & Michael SmithBeth & Frank Stabile

Samantha & Johnny StevensAndrea & Andy Swanson Michelle & Martin Taylor

Janelle & Ken TreaccarEmily & Paul Twitchell

Melinda & Barry TwomeySarah & Andy ValenzuelaHeather & Ruston Vickers

Kyrrha & Steve WackerEmily & Daniel Walker

Warren WaltersThe Webber Family

Ashley & Robert WhitfieldDebbie & Ken Wilson

Laura D. WolfCarin & Paul Zito

Jessica Blacklock, President John Recker, Vice President

Matt Hamilton, Secretary/TreasurerJohn BerkowitzAnne Brigham

Everett CarmodyJamie Cotton

Lee E. PottsBenjamin Rubenstein

David RubinJared Slosberg

Andy ValenzuelaAshley WrightMaria Wright

Alicia DulebaAlbert Hawkins

G HerverDebbie HolleyKemp Kasling

April KubikTodd Lewis

2013 Donors