When the world ground to a halt last spring and summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a particularly tough blow for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program.
The program trains volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the Kansas courts system.
Regular fundraisers, one of the revenue staples for the program in Allen County, had to stop, “but our services were definitely still ongoing,” explained Aimee Daniels, director of the CASA program within the 31st Judicial District.
“We normally have four or five fundraisers a year,” she said. “Last year, we had two.”
Thankfully, one of those fundraisers, the annual Father’s Day Golf Tournament at Allen County Country Club, is back in 2021.
Eighteen four-man teams will tee off this morning at 9 o’clock, with a number of prizes and games planned along the way, but with the thoughts of helping children in need at the forefront.
Just ask Sharla Miller of Farm Bureau Financial Services, one of the ongoing sponsors for the fundraiser.
As a regular participant in past golf tournaments, Miller discovered the vital role CASA plays in the court system when she worked for two years as a paralegal.
“It really showed just much of a need there is for such a wonderful program,” Miller said.
The golf tournament is celebrating its 15th year this weekend.
The primary duties of a CASA volunteer are to investigate and become acquainted with the facts, conditions and circumstances affecting a child’s welfare, then to advocate to the courts for the child’s best interests in finding permanent, safe homelike placement.
Most often, the children are victims of abuse or neglect.
The group’s work continued through the pandemic, with most of the operation done remotely, Daniels explained.
“It was tough,” she said.
While the golf teams have already been filled out, Daniels is always eager to hear from other potential sponsors, supporters, or potential volunteers.