MEADVILLE, Pa. – Oct. 8, 2009 – Crawford County Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) will sponsor a “Forgotten Children” rally to raise awareness of its programs assisting abused and neglected children on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. on the Allegheny College campus. The rally, which is open to the public, is scheduled to take place in the Gator Quad area outside the Henderson Campus Center.
Since 1994, 244 CASA volunteers have assisted 641 foster children in Crawford County, speaking for their best interests in the legal and social service systems. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for children who are unable to live safely at home. Volunteers stay with each case until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.
The “Forgotten Children” rally will feature life-size cutout displays representing children who have received assistance through the CASA program. Speakers scheduled for the rally include Meadville mayor Richard Friedberg and Crawford County CASA board president Paula DiGiacomo. In addition, several CASA volunteers will share their experiences in the program.
“CASA volunteers are a constant in the lives of children who need someone to stand up for them,” said Belinda Nichols, program director for Crawford County CASA. “The Forgotten Children rally will show firsthand how the CASA program is making a difference every day in our communities.”
The rally is part of Crawford County CASA’s Forgotten Children campaign. For more information, visit crawfordcountycasa.kintera.org or call the Crawford County CASA office at (814) 337-4471.
