Texas CASA FY 2014 Annual Report

hearing from our ceo
Our story started in 1989, when a passionate
CASA volunteer from one of our state’s then
13 local CASA programs had a wonderful vision.
She imagined a statewide hub – an organization
belonging to everyone in Texas working tirelessly
in pursuit of the same mission – where member
programs could get the funding and expert
support they needed to help them achieve their
goals. That individual was Jane Quentan Piper,
and her idea was, and is, Texas CASA.
Vicki Spriggs,
Texas CASA CEO
Today, Texas CASA celebrates 25 successful
years shaped by visionaries like Jane as well
as volunteers working on the front line of
children’s advocacy in Texas. These people
make up the CASA network – they’re local
program staff and board members, dedicated
volunteers, government agencies and elected
officials, generous donors and caring community
partners. Most importantly, they’re dreamers and
creative thinkers who have had the knowledge,
compassion and courage to achieve great things.
We have grown exponentially since our humble
beginnings with a staff of two, working from
Jane’s kitchen table, tasked with matching a
$25,000 grant within two weeks or risk losing the
organization’s only funding. Today, we operate
with more than $17.5 million in federal, state and
private funds to support the 71 CASA programs
across Texas and ensure they can effectively
serve the children in their regions.
Texas CASA is thankful for the commitment of
our staff and board of directors that has allowed
us to reach these accomplishments. Everyone
in the CASA network has come
together in unprecedented ways
over the last 25 years, and we are
proud to have been an integral
part in advancing the charge.
Throughout the pages of
this report, you’ll meet some
individuals who have played major
roles in the growth and success of
Texas CASA. These incredible men
and women have offered support
and guidance through some of
the most challenging issues in
our community, but what’s most
remarkable is that each one
of them would acknowledge
that they have received more
gratification and personal growth
from their work with CASA than
they ever could have imagined.
Many things have changed
over the years, but Texas CASA
has remained focused on one
primary mission: to work with
local programs to assure a CASA
volunteer is available for every
child in the child welfare system
in Texas. While we have come a
long way, there are currently still
22,000 children who need a CASA
volunteer to advocate for them.
We will continue looking
toward the future, offering
policy leadership, collaborating
with stakeholders and working
to expand and strengthen local
programs until we achieve
this goal.
Thank you for playing a vital role
in our story and for your continued
support as we commit to an even
more successful future.
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