Board Member Spotlight: Fred Seitz

Fred Seitz discovered CASA of Lexington after he had been volunteering with another organization. He wanted to do something to give back, but he wasn't satisfied with the work he was doing.

"First of all, there was no training. So it minimized the responsibility of the job," he said. "After less than a year, I felt I wanted to do something more, something better."

Fortunately, he attended a luncheon where CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison was speaking about the impacts CASA volunteers have for kids.

"I said, 'That's where I want to be. That's where I want to spend my extra time,'" Seitz said. "So I joined, and I was an advocate for about three years."

Seitz now serves on the CASA of Lexington board. He misses working directly with the children, but he also enjoys working with the other board members to guide the organization forward.

"I enjoy making a difference in the lives of kids through the board and it's work," he said. "I also enjoy meeting wonderful people with something bigger than themselves in mind."

Seitz was born in the Bronx, and his family moved to a New Jersey farm called Brookdale when he was 5 years old. He grew up around horses. So, after serving in the Marines, he returned to horses.

"The day I got out of the Marine Corps, my wife and three kids got in a car and came to Kentucky," he said.

Seitz leased farm land and built his business over time. Eventually, he was able to buy a farm, and he named it after the place he grew up — Brookdale Farm. Today, he runs the Woodford County Thoroughbred farm with some of his children — he has two sons and three daughters, and many of them work in the horse industry, either at Brookdale or on their own.

When Seitz thinks back about his time as a volunteer advocate prior to becoming a board member, he remembers one 16-year-old boy he served who had significant issues.

"I was assigned this boy and watched him progress over time," he said. "It was wonderful."

He said he's thankful for the work all of CASA of Lexington's volunteers are doing for their CASA children today.

"Keep up the good work," he said. "You are doing great."