CASA's vision is a community without violence
so that home is a safe place.

Linda's 2010 Message to the Community

Dear Friends of CASA:

We’d like to begin by sharing a special note we received this year:

I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did for me.  I can honestly say I don’t know how I would of made it without CASA.  You all made such a difference in my life.  I learned something from each and every one of you.  Things are going okay and I get stronger and better every day.  Please take care and know that what you do really does make a difference.  I wish I could do something to repay for all that I received, but I figured if you knew I was safe, it was enough.  Thank you so very much!
…from a CASA shelter resident

It is enough for us to know that the women, children and men we help are safe.  It is the best payment we receive.  It makes us work harder and be better advocates and more committed Board members when we hear that families are safe because of CASA. 

This was an amazing year even though we did not initially have high expectations.  We began the year with concern that we may be faced with closing CASA’s Visitation Center. We anticipated more grant reductions and a budget shortfall.  By the end of the fiscal year, we were able to shout from the roof tops that The Visitation Center would remain open and, for the first time in four years, we would end with a small surplus.  CASA’s Board voted to place that surplus in operating reserves so that we now have five months of operating costs put aside - a prudent decision in these economic times.  We also decreased our insurance cost, increased our insurance reserves, and added a noteworthy amount to our board designated endowment.  This surplus was due in part to strategic decisions the board and staff made to reduce costs. 

It was our year to be strategic in other decisions as well.  Sonia and Steve Raymund stepped forward to match each donation made at CASA’s Peace Breakfast.  Sonia’s love of children could be felt in her determination to make sure the Visitation Center could remain open for two more years. Their very significant match of our signature event made this possible and set the minds of families in this community at ease..

Every three years CASA invests time in strategic planning.  This spring, Lou Ann Panacek, Executive Director of the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, generously donated her time to start the planning process.  CASA staff, volunteers, donors, Board members and program participants joined together at the Poynter Institute for a day and a half of brainstorming, idea sharing and strategy preparation.  Concurrently, CASA was awarded a capacity building grant by the Allegany Franciscan Foundation. Three board members and six staff participated in the Foundation’s JUMP (Journey to Unlock Management Potential) process where we learned how to set specific, measurable goals.  As the year ended the group actively worked together to form a goal and management plan to be implemented early in the new year.

WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS!  CASA’s Annual Peace Breakfast, our signature fundraiser in December, was the most successful ever under the volunteer leadership of John Stross and Craig Sher.  Including the Raymunds’ match, the community donated nearly half a million dollars, thereby giving the gift of security for children.  We are surrounded by terrific volunteers! For the past year and a half Claudia Graves, Virginia Jackson, and Donna Porter have come every Tuesday morning to read domestic violence police reports so that they may reach out to each and every survivor.  These three dedicated women didn’t know one another volunteering, but now the new friends depend on their time together each week. Last year they read 3382 police reports and sent out letters to 2993 victims.  In May, the Leadership St. Pete Class of 2010 raised a tremendous amount of materials needed to provide a much needed renovations to the Shelter.  We’ve seen a new found sense of pride in each woman that shares this new beautiful space!

In June, under the leadership of Mike Stevens, Home Depot provided more than 100 volunteers and the majority of funding needed for the construction of our new KaBoom! playground. CASA matched the effort with 200 more volunteers who worked together in the HOT June sun to install a gorgeous playground for CASA children.  It was thrilling to sweat side by side with so many eager volunteers.  Once the cement dried, it warmed our hearts as CASA children swarmed the playground and PLAYED.  Their continuous enjoyment of their new play space is the best payment we could have ever received. 

We are making a difference because it takes a whole community to end domestic violence and YOU are the community.  Thank you!

Linda A. Osmundson                          Amy E. Cuykendall
Executive Director                              CASA Board President

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