Connie Greenawald joins CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Brown County as its Executive Director, succeeding Marilyn Bennin, who successfully developed and ran the organization for 5½ years. Marilyn will continue with the organization as the Program Director, overseeing the volunteers and Volunteer Coordinators and the children they work with. Connie joins CASA from The Einstein Project where she served as Development & Communications Director for 5 years. Prior to that she was the Executive Director for the Bay Area Humane Society & Animal Shelter. She has also worked for the Brown County United Way and Shopko Stores. As Executive Director, Greenawald will be responsible for planning and administering a program providing service to children found to have been abused and neglected as a result of juvenile court proceedings.
On April 19, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. at the Brown County Courthouse on the 3rd floor, Branch VII, Judge Timothy Hinkfuss swore in 11 new volunteer advocates for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children of Brown County. These 11 new CASA volunteers will be assigned by juvenile judges to advocate for at least 20 additional abused and neglected children in the Brown County court system.
New CASA volunteers mention some of their reasons for becoming an advocate include, “I have been given much and it is time to give back.” “I want to make a difference in the life of someone who needs a chance at a fulfilling life.” “To help the next generation, one child at a time, to feel valuable and cared for.” The new CASA volunteers are:
· Tom Bartel, Green Bay, Schneider National
· Ana Maria Coleman, Green Bay (Ana is bi-lingual, a much needed asset)
· Linda Hartenian, Neenah
· Kitty Luedke, Howard, Robert W. Baird & Company
· Steven Miller, Pulaski
· Gabriele Nelson, Green Bay
· Kris Olson, Green Bay, Midwest Communications
· Cheri Salmon, De Pere, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
· Amy Sehring, Green Bay
· Ruth Slang, Green Bay, UW-Green Bay
· Laura C. Smythe, Appleton
CACASA of Brown County now has 132 active volunteers working with more than 200 children in Brown County. CASA of Brown County is currently accepting applications for its fall volunteer training class which will begin in September 2011. Information about volunteering is available on the CASA website, http://www.casabc.org/vol.html and more information is available on the Wisconsin CASA Association website, www.wisconsincasa.org.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Brown County, Inc. is a non-profit organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system. CASA of Brown County recruits, screens, and trains caring, committed citizens from the community to provide close, consistent contact with the children they serve, seeking to assure them a safe and permanent home. CASA volunteers act as the "eyes and ear of the court," making independent observations about the safety and well-being of the children, and communicating that information to the judges making decisions about their future. For more information, contact the CASA office at 920.437.2272 or or the CASA website.