Mayor Gorton Declares CASA Day as Dozens Honored with Serve Kentucky Awards

At Thursday’s city council meeting, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton declared April 16 “CASA Day” in Fayette County, in honor of the local Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program’s 40th anniversary. 

The declaration came as 31 CASA volunteers serving abused and neglected children were honored with Serve Kentucky Awards for each giving more than 100 hours to the cause in 2025. 

"Kentucky unfortunately is among the worst states in the nation when it comes to the number of new child abuse and neglect cases every year,” Gorton said. “Our Fayette family court system is filled with cases of children who deserve a stable, loving home but are instead navigating a world filled with chaos and uncertainty." 

In her CASA Day proclamation, Gorton explained that “volunteers support children who are going through the court system and provide them with a sense of hope for the future.” 

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison received the proclamation from Gorton before honoring the 31 Serve Kentucky Award recipients. Jamison said the program could not have provided 159 volunteers to serve 434 Fayette children last year without the financial backing of the Lexington-Fayette council. 

“You've shown your commitment to serving some of the most vulnerable through CASA services. The children we serve find themselves not knowing where they may sleep that evening, if they have a next meal, and unfortunately, don't always get to go to a safe home,” Jamison said. "It is a collective effort with a regional program and we have to have all cities and counties supporting to serve the children." 

Five of the 31 volunteers receiving Serve Kentucky Awards were also named “Top CASA Volunteers” by CASA of Lexington for logging more than 300 volunteer hours each. The five Top CASA Volunteers are Debra Gabbard, Brittney Thomas, Jan Colbert, Jane Crickard, and Cynthia Budek. 

The other 26 Serve Kentucky Award recipients are Rene Saner, Pat Riddell, Jane Bennington, Cynthia Phillips, Sally Brunner, Fawn Torkelson, Sally Schneider, Ava Crow, Elizabeth Westin, Glenda Dees, Maquel Sarantakos, Todd Johnson, Terri Potter, Lisa Travis, Pat Dugger, Jan Roehl, Meredith Feiertag, Susan Pope, Anne Flynn, Barbara Phipps, Jennifer Dishman, Evelyn Mitchell, Jackie Washburn, Kathy Edwards, Kim Mosley, and Cara Duggan. 

Combined, the 31 volunteers gave 6,042 hours last year. 

The Serve Kentucky Volunteer Recognition Program is a partnership among the Office of the Governor, AmeriCorps, and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. It recognizes volunteers who make a difference by giving their time within the state of Kentucky. 

CASA volunteers are matched with children in the family court system who have been abused or neglected. Each volunteer visits their CASA child at least monthly, gathers information about the child’s life, provides reports to the judge on the child’s case, and speaks up if the child needs something they aren’t getting. 

Jamison said currently, there are enough Fayette County CASA volunteers to serve about 22 percent of children with open abuse and neglect cases.  

"In the last 10 years, we went from 1 percent to 22 percent, so with continued support, we're going to get to 100%,” she said. 

It takes about 5 to 10 hours a month to serve as a CASA volunteer. If you are interested in becoming a CASA volunteer, supporting the Fayette County CASA program or learning more about what CASA volunteers do, visit www.casaoflexington.org.