Lee Ann Duver of CASA.

Douglas County cares about its children.

More than 100 people crowded into Cielito Lindo, 815 N.H., Saturday night for the announcement of the 2009 Honorable Jean F. Shepard Volunteer of the Year Awards.

The award presentation was part of the 18th annual Casa4CASA benefit.

The event recognized volunteers from both Douglas County CASA, which aims to find loving homes for abused or neglected children, and the Citizen Review Board, which helps children and families involved in the foster care and juvenile justice system.

Diana Frederick, director of Douglas County CASA, said this year’s recipients, Linda Lungstrum for CRB and Lee Ann Duver for CASA, both demonstrated outstanding dedication and served as admirable ambassadors for the program during the past year. Frederick said both had gone beyond the normal expectations of volunteers in the program.

“Volunteers are our greatest natural resource,” Frederick said.

Duver, who is a retired teacher, has been with CASA since 2002. Lungstrum, who could not attend the event, has been with the CRB program for more than 20 years.