Businesses selling paper hearts in fundraiser for Court Appointed Special Advocates
Provided photos: (Left) Dan and Hans Rosentrater, owners of the Coffee Pot Cafe in Medina, are among the sites selling “Hearts for CASA.” (Right) Sue Fuller, owner of Della's Chocolates in Medina, also is participating in the fundraiser.
Press Release, CASA
Orleans and Genesee counties are teaming up throughout the month of February for a fundraiser called “Hearts for CASA.”
Participating area businesses will be selling paper hearts to their customers for $2 per heart. Customers can sign their hearts or write a special message to CASA, and participating businesses will display them all month long. Donations to CASA are also welcome.
“We’re so grateful to the businesses making this fundraiser possible, and we know the community will show up to support this important cause,” said Jennifer Metz, executive director for CASA. “It is through the generosity of our community partners and the public that we can continue our work, helping to change a child’s story.”
A huge thank you to Vision 2000 for kicking off the event in Medina and to Vic and Brenda Marchese for helping to kick off the event in Batavia. Let us make this fundraiser a success and support CASA’s mission to help children in need.
Hearts can be purchased at the following businesses in Orleans County: Vision 2000, Della’s Chocolates, The Shirt Café, Ashlee’s Place, and Coffee Pot Café.
In Genesee County: Main Street Pizza Company, The Coffee Press, House of Bounce, Holland Land Museum, Eden Café, Le Beau Salon, My Cut Barbershop, Beverly’s Florist, Meraki Salon, and The Spa at Artemis. In Monroe County hearts can be purchased at Romig’s Tavern in Greece.
Vision 2000 in Medina also is selling the hearts. From left, includes owner Darlene Witte, Dayne Kleinhans, Serina Petry and Alishia Lewis Panton.
All proceeds from this event go directly to CASA, a non-profit organization that trains and supervises volunteers to advocate for children who have been abused and/or neglected.
These children are at risk of being removed from their homes or have already been placed into the foster care system. The family court judge refers cases to CASA and then CASA assigns an advocate to the child.
CASA meets and talks to parents, foster parents, teachers, principals, social workers, counselors, case workers, the child’s attorney, and anyone else who may have relevant information on the well-being of the child(ren).
The CASA advocate then gathers all factual information and writes a report to the court approximately every 60 days which is seen by all parties involved in the case, including the judge. A child who has a CASA is more likely to succeed in school and is half as likely to reenter the foster care system.
If you would like more information about the organization or would like to learn more about becoming a volunteer advocate with CASA please contact 585-815-7809 or email inquiries to director@genseecountycasa.org.
