The Voice, Winter 2013

Volume No. 23 | Issue 2

WINTER 2013

VOICES FOR CHILDREN

in this issue:

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4

6

VFC Receives Single Largest Individual Gift

Stars Align at Starry Starry Night

Serving Country and Case Child VOICES FOR CHILDREN

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FY2012-13 GOALS:

1,157 CASAS

Message from the Chair of the Board

advocate for

1,735 FOSTER CHILDREN

Dear Friends, At this time of year, children everywhere are the focus of their families. Mothers and fathers, grandparents, aunts, and uncles all want to give the children in their lives the sense of wonder and joy that are part of the holiday season.

OUR MISSION

Voices for Children transforms the lives of abused children in San Diego County by providing them with volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs).

OUR VISION

Voices for Children believes that every child deserves a safe and permanent home, and to that end, will provide a CASA to every child in the foster care system who needs one, monitor every court file in the system, and advocate to improve the lives of San Diego County’s foster children.

But for the vast majority of the more than 5,000 children living in foster care in San Diego County, there are no family holiday traditions, no dreams of Santa coming to their house, no lighting Menorah candles for Hanukkah. In fact, the holidays are often the worst time of year for a foster child. Many children actually come into foster care during the holidays, when tensions are high in families already challenged by poverty, drugs, or alcohol abuse.

I am proud of the fact that for the past 29 years, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) of Voices for Children have been there to help San Diego’s most vulnerable children. Voices for Children recruits, trains, and supports more than 800 volunteer CASAs to advocate on behalf of children living in foster care. Among the many things that our CASAs do, they make sure that their assigned foster children have reasons to celebrate during the holiday season. Each December, our organization throws a festive holiday party for CASAs and their kids, who come to enjoy games, special treats, and gifts – including a gift card for each child so he or she can go shopping to get the “perfect thing.” All of this is possible only because of the extraordinary generosity of our donors. You are the reason we are able to help foster kids and we are very, very grateful.

You may have received a mailing recently, telling the story of Candace, her brothers, and their wonderful CASA Genevieve. It is a story about heartbreak and hope. Five siblings separated by the trauma of foster care and the dedicated CASA who kept the family together. With your help, we can replicate that story for the thousands of San Diego foster children, like Candace, who need someone to stand up for them, someone to speak up for them, someone to love and look out for them, and someone to be their passionate advocate in Court, in school, and in the community.

From all of us at Voices for Children, we thank you for your compassion and dedication to our cause and we wish you the happiest of holiday seasons.

With gratitude,

Rochelle Bold Chair, Board of Directors

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IN THE NEWS

Making a Difference: Generous Donor Steps Forward A meeting last summer between Voices for Children’s President/CEO Sharon Lawrence and David Dunn led to remarkable results: Mr. Dunn’s contribution of $350,000, the single largest individual gift ever received by VFC! This amazing and generous contribution will help Voices recruit, train, and manage volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) for abused and neglected children in San Diego County foster care. “Our organization is humbled and grateful for this magnificent gift,” Sharon Lawrence said. “Mr. Dunn understands how difficult life can be for children caught in the foster care system, and he knows that our CASA Program is an effective way to help these young people find stability, safety, and hope.”

Mr. Dunn’s gift is part of VFC’s Serve Every Child campaign to triple the number of San Diego foster children supported by the lifetransforming services CASAs provide, so that every foster child who needs a CASA will have one. Serve Every Child seeks to raise an additional $10 million between 2010 and 2016. It launched in 2010 with a $1 million grant from the Leichtag Foundation, followed by a number of major gifts from the Qualcomm Foundation, Price Family Charitable Fund, Rivers of Hope Foundation, Rose Foundation, and others.

Even with these funders, VFC is challenged to raise the $4 million needed for this fiscal year. In July, VFC’s largest government source, the Superior Court, rescinded its funding (equal to nearly 10% of VFC’s operating budget) due to severe budget cuts at the state level. Only with broad support can VFC meet its FY2012-13 goals to recruit and train hundreds of new volunteers to advocate

Gifts of Hope Thanks to recent grants, Voices for Children continues to make a transformative difference in the lives of foster children.

Through the County’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Program, San Diego County Board of Supervisors pledged $27,732 for urgently needed technology and information systems. Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program granted $25,000 in

David Dunn with CASA Jocelyn Bauer at the 2012 Judge’s Luncheon

“I have been impressed with Voices for Children,” he said. “I am convinced that each foster child should have a CASA, someone to steer them through the maze of the County welfare system into a permanent family situation where they can thrive. All of us should realize that these foster children are our children and need our help. I hope others will also step forward.”

for 1,735 foster children. Caught in the overburdened foster care system, these children desperately need the loving, consistent advocacy that only a CASA volunteer can provide. To help us Serve Every Child, contact Anne Farrell, Chief Philanthropy Officer, at (858) 598-2246 or by email to AnneF@speakupnow.org

support of the CASA Program and ResMed Foundation allocated $10,000 for CASAs working with teens with educational needs.

Morrison & Foerster gave $10,000 at the request of partner David Doyle and his wife Nancy Doyle, a Case Assessment volunteer.

The Employees Charitable Organization of Northrop Grumman awarded $5,200 to VFC in recognition of CASA Brandi Cropper’s service. Former Case Assessor Greg Byrum donated generously to VFC, and his employer matched part of his gift with $3,500 through its Goodrich Foundation. We are also grateful

for recent grants from the Seth Sprague Educational & Charitable Foundation, Charles & Ruth Billingsley Foundation, The Samuel I. & John Henry Fox Foundation, Cubic Corporation, Del Mar/Solana Beach Rotary Club, Sundt Foundation, and the Community Services Association of San Diego City Schools. AT&T employees came to our offices to see their investments at work, made regularly though the AT&T United Way Employee Giving Fund. Many thanks to our supporters!

VOICES FOR CHILDREN

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STARRY STARRY NIGHT The stars aligned for the Voices for Children community on September 29, 2012, when the 10th annual Starry Starry Night raised a record-breaking $1,170,000 in gross income, and an estimated net of $970,000 to support VFC’s CASA Program. Event cochairs Lise Wilson and Steve Strauss and Debby and Wainwright Fishburn were joined by more than 400 VFC supporters at the sold-out event, held at the stunning, newlyrenovated Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe. The spectacular evening included cocktails and dinner under the stars, a live and silent auction, and a special musical performance by legendary blues guitarist Coco Montoya.

We are very grateful to everyone who contributed to this event! Major sponsors of Starry Starry Night 2012 were Life Technologies, Cox Communications, the Farrell Family Foundation, Ashford University, Competitor Group, Covington & Burling LLP, Genentech, KPBS, the Ellis Family Foundation, and Shari’s Berries. Other sponsors included Cooley LLP, Kyocera, Qualcomm, and Union Bank, with additional support from Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, The Floral Department, Pacific Events Productions, glassybaby, Grasswalkers, Kool Party Rentals, Neyenesch Printers, Nordstrom, Studio TM, Aperol, and Voli.

Photos, top row, l-r: Voices for Children President/CEO Sharon Lawrence; Irwin and Joan Jacobs; Haeyoung Kong Tang; Amy Gibbs and Charles White; Duayne and Michelle Weinger Bottom row, l-r: Starry Starry Night Co-chairs Wainwright and Debby Fishburn, Lise Wilson and Steve Strauss; Robert Anslow and Marina Marrelli; Lisette and Michael Farrell; Patsy Marino, Terri Bourne, and Mary Drake; Marilena and Greg Lucier

provides

$970,000 Gala Net Income

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380 FOSTER CHILDREN

WITH CASAS

resulting in

1,140

FOSTER CHILDREN’S FILES reviewed

VFC EVENTS

JUDGE’S LUNCHEON In October, Voices for Children hosted its annual Judge’s Luncheon at the University Club, for VFC donors and sponsors who contribute $1,000 or more annually. The Honorable Laura J. Birkmeyer, San Diego County Superior Court Judge, shared insights into the current state of the juvenile dependency system, the effect of the State budget crisis on Court activities, and how Voices for Children and its CASA Program are helping to bridge the gaps exacerbated by the State budget shortfalls. She told stories highlighting the CASAs’ role in the courtroom and heartwarming examples of how these volunteers transform the lives of foster children every day. In addition to Judge Birkmeyer we were privileged to have 9 judges in attendance, including the Honorable Robert J. Trentacosta, Presiding Judge of San Diego Superior Court.

VFC Board member Scott Peters with Board Chair Rochelle Bold; The Honorable Laura J. Birkmeyer

Candace and Her Brothers Video Touches Audience and Breaks Records at Starry Starry Night “I tucked in my little brothers every night because I wanted someone to do that for me.”

A new video highlighting the role of CASAs in foster children’s lives debuted at Starry Starry Night 2012. Candace and Her Brothers tells the story of a family of five children who entered foster care very young and lived within the system until they turned 18. Genevieve, their CASA, had enormous impact on their lives, including inspiring four of the five to attend college and the fifth to be on his way there after he graduates high school. Following the screening, Candace (now 20) and Genevieve appeared on stage to a standing ovation, just before the “Fund a CASA” paddle-raise took place. In 20 minutes, $648,000 in outright donations were made, including two generous donors who raised their paddles at $100,000 each. The story of Candace’s family was also featured in our year-end Annual Fund campaign. We urge you to consider making a tax-deductible gift to help more foster children and invite you to watch the video to hear from Candace herself! www.speakupnow.org

VOICES FOR CHILDREN

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A Hero Indeed: Deployed CASA also Served Case Child While Overseas Serving her country wasn’t enough for Lieutenant Junior Grade Brandi Cropper, of the U.S. Navy. The 24-yearold wanted to “give back” even more, and became a Voices for Children CASA. Brandi began advocating for Jason in 2008 when he was six years old.

Four years later, Brandi is still Jason’s CASA, even though part of her CASA service took place from off the coast of Yemen, while stationed aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard.

“Before I was deployed, I made a plan. I built a relationship with Jason so I could be a constant in his life when I was away. I developed a rapport with my VFC supervisor and with the other professionals working with him so that I could remain involved in all aspects of his case while overseas,” Brandi said. She also set expectations with Jason on how deployment would change their types of communication for a while.

Jason’s mother abandoned him at a drug treatment facility when he was just a few months old. Shuffled from one relative to another for years, Jason was placed in a foster home. Soon after, allegations arose of sexual abuse at the foster home, so Jason was moved again, again, and again. At only six years old, Jason had experienced a lifetime of chaos and hurt.

Starfish Make GREAT Gifts VFC’s Starfish gifts will please your pocketbook, support CASA advocacy, and delight your friends, family, coworkers, and clients! Choose from our gorgeous, hand-blown glass starfish ornaments, keepsakes, and paperweights in multiple sizes and colors, plus a contemporary line of sterling-silver jewelry, starfish wine corks (only $8!). Each is beautifully packaged, with an insert featuring The Starfish Story and VFC’s mission. And we gift-wrap and ship! View and order most items online at our Starfish Store or contact Rebecca Reyes at (858) 598-2232 or RebeccaR@speakupnow.org

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Jason lived in a group facility specializing in therapeutic care when CASA Brandi started working with him. Shocked that a child so young was living in such a place, Brandi advocated for intensive therapy to address Jason’s behavioral difficulties and untreated psychological trauma. With such help, she believed—and continues to believe—Jason could be adopted.

Brandi has written nine court reports during her years with Jason, including one from Yemen! While away, she communicated via email and had her VFC Advocacy Supervisor attend meetings on her behalf. Brandi’s persistent advocacy from abroad kept Jason at his school placement and in his therapeutic horseback riding program, both threatened by his behavior challenges.

She also continued building her relationship with Jason. She videotaped herself reading books, and sent him the DVD and book, so he could read along as he watched and listened to her reading to him. “I wanted Jason to feel special and know that I was only gone temporarily, that he was in my heart and that I missed him,” she said. They emailed, and Jason still boasts about the online correspondence he and Brandi had while she was deployed.

Brandi, home from deployment and back at Northrup Grumman, continues as Jason’s CASA. She will never forget his enormous smile and bear hug when she returned. Jason knows that Brandi kept her promise to stay connnected, and trusts that she will be by his side for as long as it takes. Thank you, Brandi, for all you have done for our country and for Jason!

Donate Your Car to Vehicles for Voices Let us clean out your garage! Donate that rusty car, motorcycle, or boat and help the foster children of San Diego. It doesn’t need to be running! Your donation is taxdeductible, and we’ll take care of the logistics of moving the car! Contact Eric Pitarresi at (858) 598-2243 or EricP@speakupnow.org

DONORS

DONOR HIGHLIGHTS

We are grateful to the following major donors who have made gifts or pledges of $5,000 or more between July 1, 2011 and December 1, 2012. If you see any inaccuracies, please contact Eric Pitarresi at EricP@speakupnow.org

$250,000+

Barney & Barney

Stacy and Don Rosenberg

Julez Bryant

Anonymous

Jocelyn Bauer

Lauree and Monte Sahba

David Dunn

David Bialis

Sahm Family Foundation

Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity Zeta Rho Chapter

Leichtag Foundation

Julie and Noah Bretz

Samuel & Katherine French Fund

Price Family Charitable Fund

Patty and Marc Brutten

San Diego County Bar Foundation

Sally and Jeff Busby $100,000+

Greg Byrum

The Seth Sprague Educational & Charitable Foundation

Anonymous

C.J. & Dot Stafford Memorial Trust

Shari’s Berries

Joan and Irwin Jacobs

Charles and Ruth Billingsley Foundation

Howard Sherwood & Family

Makua, Friends of Voices for Children

Mary and Scott Clifton

Shrontz Family Foundation

Qualcomm Foundation

Karen and Don Cohn

Kathliene and Jon Sundt

Charles E. White

Valerie and Harry Cooper

Union Bank

Covington & Burling LLP

United Way of San Diego County

$75,000+

Cox Communications

Weingart Foundation

Anonymous

Becca and Jason Craig

Sheryl and Harvey White

Judicial Council of California

The Estate of Patricia and William Daiber*

Lise Wilson and Steven Strauss

Rivers of Hope Foundation

Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity Eta Iota Chapter Kiwanis Club of La Jolla Kelly and Mark Kjos Jeri and Dr. Bill Koltun Nancy Koodish Kyocera International Linda and Tom Lang Kathy and Ken London Marilena and Greg Lucier Papa Doug Manchester/UT San Diego Larry D. Marcus Ellen Marks

Lany and Alex Zikakis

Marcia and Michael Martin Mitchell International

Daniel’s Jewelers

Barbara Meserve and Ken Pickle

$50,000+

Day for Change

$5,000+

Anonymous

Ilia Terrazas Dickey and Scott Dickey/ The Competitor Group

Anonymous

Sara and Dr. Larry Dodge

Joan Ames

NBC San Diego

AT&T United Way Employee Giving Campaign

Caroline and Nico Nierenberg

Sue K. Edwards

Nordstrom Inc.

Philip M. Eisenberg Trust*

Robert Bennett

Caroline and Anthony Farwell

Vicky Carlson and Steve Cologne

Northrop Grumman Employee Charity Organization

Debby and Wain Fishburn

Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & LLP

Pacific Life Foundation

Audrey Geisel/Dr. Seuss Foundation

Kimberly and James Peterson

Genentech

Nikoo and Jack Chitayat

Beth and J.P. Plavan

Amy and William Geppert

Cooley Godward Kronish LLP

Procopio

Lynn Gorguze and Scott Peters

Jenny Craig

Terry and Timothy Riley

Helene and George Gould

Gigi and Ed Cramer

Gina and Gregory Rippel

Dorothy and John Helm

Carol and Dr. Pedro Cuatrecasas

Renee and Duane Roth

Maria and Michael Herman

Janeen and Joseph D’Angelo

Colette and Dr. Ivor Royston

Life Technologies

In-N-Out Burger Foundation

De Falco Family Foundation, Inc.

Mary and Dr. Gene Rumsey

Nikki St. Germain Memorial Golf Tournament

The Irving Group

Del Mar/Solana Beach Rotary Club

Tricia and Dan Ryan

Drs. Stacy and Paul Jacobs

Dowling & Yahnke, Inc.

The Samuel I. & John Henry Fox Foundation

Lee and Stuart Posnock

Jewelers For Children

Lynne and Steve Doyle

The San Diego Foundation

Price-Lynn Collaborative Fund

Junior Seau Foundation

Roi Ewell

Sempra Energy

San Diego County Board of Supervisors

The Ernest Laks Trust*

The Fieldstone Foundation

Robin Stark

Sheryl and Bob Scarano

Sharon Lawrence and Darin Boles

Jake Figi

Strategic Meetings

Katie and Dr. Daniel Sullivan

Sarah and Kurt Livermore

Carolina Finch

Iris and Matthew C. Strauss

Joan Waitt & Family

Genta and Fred Luddy

Angela and Koji Fukumura

Jeffrey Strauss/Pamplemousse Grille

Jennifer McIlvaine and Matt Landa

Goodrich Foundation

Jill Skrezyna and Alex Sun

Walter J. and Betty C. Zable Foundation

Nicole and Todd Mikles

Laury Graves

The Susan Scott Foundation

Paula and Kenneth Whalen

Laurie Mitchell M.D. and Brent Woods

Joanna and Kevin Harris

Sycuan Band Of The Kumeyaay Nation

Morrison & Foerster Foundation

The Hay Foundation

The TJX Foundation /The TJX Companies

Jennifer and Tim O’Connell

HD Supply

Christine Trimble

Ashford University

Matthew Osborne

Helmstetter Family Foundation

U.S. Bank

Kathryn Ashworth, Esq. and The Honorable Thomas T. Ashworth

Kristi and Dick Pfister

Hervey Family Fund

Katherine and Jim Umpleby

Jori Potiker and Michael Brown

Karen and Bob Hoehn

Connie and Dr. Richard Unger

ProFlowers

Debby and Hal Jacobs

Wendy Walker and Randy Woods

ResMed Foundation

Deni and Jeff Jacobs

Michelle and Duayne Weinger

Kalpana and James Rhodes

Yolanda and Jimmy Janacek

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

David Jenkins/Next Proteins, Inc.

Cissy and Scott Wolfe

Rochelle and William Bold Farrell Family Foundation Patsy and David Marino/Hughes Marino Qualcomm Incorporated $25,000+ Anonymous (2) Dr. Tom Bombardier and John Fowler Annette and Daniel Bradbury Gina and Raymond Ellis Claire and Holly Ellison Cambra and Randy Finch Galinson Family Foundation at Jewish Community Foundation

Walmart Foundation

$10,000+

Association of Legal Administrators San Diego Bank of America Charitable Foundation Denise Larkin and David Barnard

Ann and Dr. Robert C. Dynes

Altegris Investments, Inc.

Susan and Steven Mollenkopf Money/Arenz Foundation, Inc.

Denotes gift made through the San Diego Foundation. *Deceased Voices for Children’s programs and services for foster children are made possible, in part, thanks to major institutional support from the Leichtag Foundation, Qualcomm Foundation, Price Family Charitable Fund, Rivers of Hope Foundation, and a broad range of generous individuals, companies, and foundations.

VOICES FOR CHILDREN

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Upcoming Events Join us, and help give all foster children the advocacy of a CASA. 21st Annual Golf Tournament For the first time ever at the beautiful Del Mar Country Club!

Monday, April 22, 2013 Del Mar Country Club

2nd Annual Wine, Women & Shoes Slip into your stilettos and help a foster child reach new heights! Be dazzled by an afternoon of wine tasting, culinary delicacies, exclusive shoes and accessories, a fashion show, and much more!

Saturday, May 11, 2013 Estate of Patricia Brutten, Rancho Santa Fe For information about sponsorship opportunities for these two upcoming events, contact Kristen Kurtz at (858) 598-2222 or KristenK@speakupnow.org

8 www.speakupnow.org Follow Us!

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