CASA of Trinity Valley press release
A generous local rancher has made the first donation of the year to CASA of Trinity Valley’s Cattle for CASA program.
The 1,270-pound cow sold at an Athens Commission Co. auction in April for $914. After fees, CASA netted $878. The funds will be used to help recruit and train community volunteers to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children.
“We are preparing to start two training classes this month,” resource development officer Emily Heglund said, “but new cases are still coming in every week. These children have landed in foster care through no fault of their own. They are uncertain about the future, and they need volunteers who can help clear a path to permanency for them.”
CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, is a nonprofit that provides volunteer advocates for foster children in three East Texas counties. Cattle for CASA began as a unique way for farmers and ranchers to support the organization. Donations are tax deductible.
“Our volunteers get to know the children and others involved in their cases,” Heglund said. “They come back to the courts, report their findings and make recommendations about what is best for the children.”
In 2015, CASA of Trinity Valley served 720 children in Henderson, Anderson and Cherokee counties, making it the sixth-largest CASA chapter in Texas according to children served.
“This is remarkable because the five largest CASA programs in Texas are in metro areas: Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Austin and Fort Worth,” Heglund said, “and then there’s CASA of Trinity Valley. We serve a very rural area.”
For more information, contact Heglund at (903) 675-7070 or [email protected].