To the editor:

Douglas County CASA would like to extend sincere thanks to the members of the Lawrence community who supported this year’s Casa4CASA fund-raising effort. The sole purpose of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is to recruit, train and supervise volunteers who work with abused and/or neglected children who have been removed from their homes. Many children in this situation face a confusing and destabilizing process before they can find a permanent home.

A CASA volunteer’s job is to represent a child’s concerns in court and guide the child through the process of placement. CASA volunteers present thorough written reports to Douglas County judges who use the reports to decide the futures of these children. So far this year, CASA has provided 72 children in Douglas County with a single, consistent adult who has overseen their case and served as their voice in court.

Casa4CASA is CASA’s annual fund-raiser through which a local builder builds a playhouse (a casa) with materials donated by local merchants. The casa is displayed for two weeks during which members of the community may donate a dollar for a chance to win the house. The 2004 Casa4CASA was a great success thanks to the builder, architect, other corporate sponsors, donors, members of the board and community volunteers. This year’s playhouse was won by Iva Bader, a great-grandmother of a Lawrence family. Congratulations to Iva, and again, a heartfelt thank-you to those who support CASA through service and/or annual donations.

Sarah Hill-Nelson,

board president,

Douglas County CASA