News & Events
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Celebration on the Grand was Grand!
On Friday, September 11, 2008, Bud and Susan Brasic hosted the first ever Celebration on the Grand CASA Fundraiser. Their lovely home overlooks the city of Grand Rapids where 60 guests enjoyed a bird’s eye view of the evening’s fireworks. Entertainment was provided by “Life of the Party” where new and not so new songs were danced to under the stars. Summer was bid farewell that evening with a feast of chicken and ribs all in support of CASA of Kent County, Inc. Please plan on joining us next year as we celebrate not only the wonderful city in which we live but an organization that truly benefits children.
First Annual Table Hosted Event
On Tuesday, June 2, 2009, Watermark Country Club was the site for CASA of Kent County’s first annual Table Hosted Event. MC’d by Ms. Jennifer Moss from TV-8, 160 people enjoyed lunch while listening to first hand accounts of volunteers, an adoptive mother, board members and staff. Please plan on joining us next spring as we continue to bring the story to the community. That abused and neglected children deserve a voice in court.
An Experienced & Dedicated Addition: New Executive Director Patty Sabin
On July 2, 2009, CASA of Kent County welcomed Patty Sabin as Executive Director. Patty is intimately familiar with CASA’s impact in the community having served in a variety of capacities including child Advocate Volunteer, Advocate Supervisor and Interim Director. Patty’s employment as a CASA Advocate Supervisor followed years of management positions within the grocery industry. Her own parenting experiences and belief that “we have only one chance with our children” led to a deep resonance with the mission and work of CASA. Since her start as a volunteer in 2001, Patty has advocated for 12 children. She shares that “some had happy endings and some not so happy, but all of the children had a voice”.
The experience of working for CASA as an Advocate Supervisor motivated Patty to return to school full-time earning her degree in Nonprofit and Public Administration at Grand Valley State University. She continued to work as a CASA volunteer while employed with the YMCA’s Safe Connections program, facilitating safe exchanges and parenting times for families of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Patty shares that she is “very excited” to be joining the CASA community as Executive Director. She adds that she is “thankful for the foresight and hard work of Julie Mauer, since the foundation for the program is solid and strong”.
Recognizing that the need for CASA is only growing, Patty adds, “I am committed to the ultimate goal of providing a child advocate for any child that needs one”. With 43 active requests from judges seeking volunteer advocates for children, she acknowledges that “we have our work cut out for us” but that she is “looking forward to bringing CASA to the next level”. It is a significant undertaking but Patty says it best: “It just takes one person to make a difference in a child’s life. One person to listen, digest and act of the child’s behalf”.
Welcome Patty. The children of Kent County and CASA look forward to the positive impact you’ll make.