Every Gift Matters Because Every Child Matters by Bea Pedersen
CASA of McHenry County is a very unique nonprofit organization. Our work ensures that the interests of each child in our community who is taken from their family is fully represented and their voice is heard. CASA works to see every child who is assigned a CASA (or Court Appointed Special Advocate) by the Juvenile Court Judge of McHenry County is permanently placed into a safe, loving, forever home.
CASA of McHenry County fulfills this mission by recruiting, training, monitoring, and supporting the adult volunteers who commit themselves to visiting the kids involved in their case, building trusted relationships with them, listening to them, and committing themselves to be the one consistent adult in that child’s life.
Because you see, Every Child Matters!
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASA of McHenry County relies on the generosity of our community – our Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, Advocates, sponsors, donors, and supporters – to financially support our work to ensure the support and safety of these McHenry County children placed into foster care.
And every gift donated in support of our mission – every dollar stemming from an outright contribution, the purchase of a ticket to an event, the winning bid on a silent auction item or raffle, the distribution of a legacy or estate gift, a monthly donation or matching employer gift -each one makes an impact on the work we do.
“I don’t want any recognition for my gift,” a very generous donor told me, who made a gift of $10,000 in support of CASA’s mission. “I don’t even want any benefits. I just want to know I helped.”
And, as impactful as that gift has been for CASA, there are others with of equal significance. “This is all I have,” the young woman told me, who made a $25 gift to honor one of our CASA Heroes. “But I wanted these people to know I admire them for what they have done.” What a beautiful way to honor those who have supported CASA’s mission for so many years.
It doesn’t matter what size of gift you donate, because every gift matters – every gift – large or small – helps CASA of McHenry County to assist a child to move forward during what is often the most traumatic time in their life.
“I want to help,” a young professional once told me after I made a presentation to his networking group about the work of CASA.
“How do you see yourself helping?” I asked him.
“I want to be a CASA – a Volunteer Advocate. I know I can help.”
That man signed up for the next CASA training class. And so did his sister-in-law!
Their donation of time matters and has an impact on the lives of the children they are privileged and honored to serve and support.
Each of us has the capacity to give – to give of our time, our talents, and our treasures – in whatever amount that is comfortable and maybe even a little sacrificial – to show we care.
We believe every child deserves to live in a safe, loving, forever home. And that every child needs to be heard and represented when their futures are being decided.
Every gift to CASA matters because every child – not just our own children, or our neighbors’ children, our kids’ friends – but every child in our community and in our midst matters!