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CASA Newsletter
September 2011
SAVE the DATE!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
7 - 8:30 a.m.
St. Petesburg Coliseum, 535 Fourth Avenue North
The CASA Peace Breakfast brings together more than 700 Tampa Bay area Business leaders to support the life saving services CASA provides to more than 15,000 men, women and children each year. As the organization's signature event, more than 20% of the community support needed to provide services to domestic violence survivors and their children will be raised. Sponsorships available. Contact Stuart Berger, Development Director at (727) 895-4912 x 114 or sberger@casa-stpete.org.
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CASA Development Department
in New Hands
Stuart Berger, Development Director, gets down to work on his first day at CASA.
Stuart Berger comes to his new position as Development Director for CASA from a similar role with the Jewish Federation of Pinellas and Pasco Counties. His former position called for him to raise money for projects in many locations. He shared in the interview process for CASA that he was looking forward to working in a place where the local impact of his work could be clearly seen. He will get his wish at CASA!
Stuart reminded an interviewer of the Jewish phrase, “Tikkun Olam,” which means ‘repairing the world.’ He believes he has been a peacemaker for his entire life. Stuart is a 2003 graduate of the Eckerd College PEL Program and had intended to become a teacher before being hired as a Development Director. Some of his proudest achievements have come as a member of the Interfaith Coalition of Pinellas County where he produced a concert to raise awareness of the atrocities in Darfur and an Earth Day program to educate and inspire attendees about the environmental needs of our planet.
He has been married for 25 years to his wife, Helene, and the couple has two children: Alana, a 20-year-old junior at Florida State University and Daniel, a 17-year-old student at Countryside High School. In his spare time, Stuart is an avid writer and a fervent fan of both the Bucs and the Rays.
Stuart says, “I’ve met so many caring people in the week and a half that I’ve been here at CASA, and I’m excited to be a part of this team!” He invites all friends of CASA to say ‘hello,’ in person, or by phone: (727) 895-4912 or e-mail: sberger@casa-stpete.org. He is looking forward to meeting as many CASA donors as possible over the next few months.
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"CASA helped me to be a help to others."
Erica Florence unpacks one of a series of donations of high-end towels from Loftex USA, headquartered in New York City.
Erica Florence is becoming a familiar face at the CASA Community Center. Last year she was on duty as a volunteer for CASA’s Hope for the Holiday program in December. On most days, staff would come in the morning to her shining face with its wide, welcoming Santa Claus smile, and Erica would still be there, still smiling, still accepting donations for CASA residents during the holidays when most staff members were on their way home.
This year, Erica can often be found with Danielle Schaffer, CASA’s Volunteer Coordinator, transporting donations from donors to residential facilities. She is unfailingly willing and positive. Looking at her and feeling her warmth, few would guess the road she has travelled to bring her to CASA and recovery.
Erica‘s birth family was far beyond the term ‘dysfunctional’. Erica suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of her father, mother and brothers from the age of 7 until she managed to leave as a young adult. When her father abused her sexually, he forced her to drink moonshine “to stop the hurt.” Her mother repeatedly told her to “Suck it up! What happens in this house, stays in this house.”
At age 10 she became pregnant by her father and had to be hospitalized to give birth to a son. After that she was left in a bedroom with the baby, whom she did not recognize as her child. She was locked away and not permitted to go outside to play. Her mother beat her severely on one occasion when she dropped the baby she was holding.
When she was 12, she began to fight back against the abuse. Her older brother came home from the military with a firearm. When he assaulted her, she resisted and he shot her three times before he raped her. She lost so much blood that she was taken to the hospital again. This time, despite her mother’s instructions, she told authorities what had occurred, and her brother was arrested and given 25 years behind bars. As a result of the assault, she became pregnant for the second time and delivered another son. She was kept in the hospital for a length of time because of the bruises that were evidence of the abuse. When she recovered, however, she was allowed to return to the home where the abuse continued unabated.
When she was 13 her mother beat her so severely with a two-by-four that she became numb from the waist down and couldn’t walk. She was told she would never walk again and she was left to defecate in her own clothing because she could not reach the toilet.
At age 16, some respite arrived in the form of her grandmother who came to visit the home and discovered Erica locked in a back bedroom. Her grandmother took her to a hospital and then began caring for her. Erica began to be able to walk with canes. Erica’s parents fought her grandmother in the courts to regain custody of Erica, and eventually they were able to take her back to Georgia where the abuse continued.
As an adult, Erica escaped and slowly began to mend. She met an extraordinary psychologist who agreed to treat her at no cost. Dr. Claudia Ressel-Hodan was pivotal in providing Erica with the foundation for a healthy life-view.
In 1985 Erica was introduced to CASA as a participant in the Outreach Program. More recently she has volunteered for CASA, putting in 12-hour days in her zeal to help the organization that helped her, and to help the women who have suffered as she did. She has some criminal charges on her record, and is in the process of seeking a waiver which will allow her to volunteer at the CASA shelter. Until then she helps in any way she can, working with the CASA Volunteer Coordinator to pick-up donations, organize the Hope for the Holidays donation program and at the CASA Front Desk.
She says she knows now that she has “come out of the darkness of 40 years!” She tells her story everywhere. She says to victims, “Break the silence. Don’t be afraid. No matter how scared you feel inside, you don’t have to live in darkness. If you don’t tell your story for you, tell it for others who can get the help you have to give. I’ll help you get help.”
Erica tells anyone who will listen that CASA gave her her life back. “Now I live my life for others. I have many achievements, awards. I help many people. I have gratitude for CASA because I’ve come through. It’s helped me to be a help to others.
Alison Payne and friends, along with Bonnie Marshall, CASA Residential Director and Brenda Goodman, Transitional Housing Coordinator, share a photo-op with Jennifer McVan, a producer from ABC Action News and Matt McGlashen, an Action News photojournalist. Alison and friends have just completed their eighth transitional housing furnishing and decorating venture! Next week a new resident and her children will move into a fully furnished apartment, complete with food, toiletries, children's toys and clothing. Alison and her friends are private Pinellas County citizens who discovered an extraordinary way to use their skills and gifts to give to CASA participants, many of whom have never had a home of their own! See more of the story on ABC Action News' 2011 Taking Action Against Domestic Violence Primetime Special – Friday, October 14, 2011, 8pm – 9pm.
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Leave a Legacy when planning your estate.
Including the following information for your bequest will allow you to impact the future of survivors of domestic violence and their children:
Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA)
P.O. Box 414
St. Petersburg, Florida 33731
Federal Tax I.D. #59-2114359
For more information, contact Stuart Berger,
Development Director, at (727) 895-4912 x 114,
or e-mail sberger@casa-stpete.org
Please share your thoughts and ideas for our E-News by emailing
info@casa-stpete.org
We encourage you to forward this newsletter to your family, friends, and colleagues.
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