CASA Awarded Grant by Community Foundation

CASA of Santa Cruz County is pleased to announce it has received a $20,000 grant from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County. These funds will support CASA’s efforts to reduce its waiting list of children and youth in foster care, and to serve at least 250 children, youth and young adults this year.

The volunteers that CASA trains make a profound difference in the lives of children and youth in foster care. For six years, Patrick was a part of the dependency care system. Fortunately, when he was 15, he was connected with a CASA volunteer who, for the past three years, has been a consistent presence in Patrick’s life. In June, with his high school diploma in hand, Patrick said, “My CASA kept me on top of my stuff. Without her, I don’t know what I would have done.”

Cynthia Druley, CASA’s Executive Director, said that it is young people just like Patrick who will benefit most from the support of the Community Foundation. “The Foundation’s support will not only help us meet the educational needs of our CASA children; it will also allow us to help older youth like Patrick experience a successful transition to adulthood.”

CASA of Santa Cruz County, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1992 to be a child’s voice in dependency court, providing advocacy, stability and hope to children in foster care who have been abused or neglected.

For more information, go to www.casaofsantacruz.org or call (831) 761-2956, ext. 106.

Caption: (L-R) Cynthia Druley, Executive Director, CASA of Santa Cruz County Christina Cuevas, Program Director, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County