Woodford County community members and Lakeshore Learning employees signed up to brighten the holidays for 41 abused and neglected children during Thursday’s Woodford County CASA Angel Tree event.

“The children on this tree deserve to have a wonderful Christmas,” said Woodford County Judge-Executive James Kay. “They deserve it more than most because they’ve been through so much.”

Envelopes with the wish lists of the children decorated the CASA Angel Tree in a conference room on the factory floor of Lakeshore Learning. Each child is involved in a family court case and has a CASA volunteer, who advocates for their best interests.

Woodford County Family Court Judge Joe Fooks said he likes getting CASA reports because they let him understand the children much better and they identify things that others on the case may not think of. CASA volunteers help get better outcomes in big and small ways for kids, he said.

“We really appreciate everything CASA does,” Fooks said. “And I really appreciate everything that the community does to list up an organization like this.”

Attendees picked the envelopes from the tree so they could then go shopping for gifts for each child. Once they bring back the gifts, Woodford CASA volunteers will deliver them to each child’s caretakers in time for the holidays.

"We are here today to light the CASA Angel Tree and bring some much-needed light and happiness to children who have suffered more in their few short years than many of us will in our lifetime,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of the Woodford County CASA program.

This was the sixth year for the CASA Angel Tree program in Woodford County, and Lakeshore Learning has hosted every year. Over the first five years, participants provided gifts for 122 children. This year’s participants are now shopping for gifts for another 41.

CASA volunteers are matched with abused and neglected children. They visit the children monthly, gather information about their lives and provide reports that help the judge and others involved better understand each child’s needs and what would be best for them.

It takes about 5-10 hours a month to serve as a CASA volunteer. Jamison said Woodford County has more CASA volunteers now than it has ever had before, but there are still children without a CASA volunteer.

In 2023, Woodford CASA volunteers served 26 kids. Through the first nine months of 2024, there had been 41 new cases of child abuse and neglect in Woodford County.

“We want you to just show up for these kids,” Jamison said.

The next regional in-person training class for new CASA volunteers begins Jan. 9, with classes on evenings and weekends in Lexington. A full schedule is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. Online classes are also available; you can inquire about those trainings by emailing info@casaoflexington.org.

For more information about the CASA Angel Tree program, visit www.casaoflexington.org/angeltree.

A crowd gathered at First Southern National Bank in Lancaster Wednesday morning to kick off the holiday season by lighting the CASA Angel Tree and providing gifts for abused and neglected children. 

This was the third year for the CASA Angel Tree program in Garrard County. The community provided gifts for 40 children over the first two years, and 24 more children were on this year’s tree. Children on the tree have open family court cases and are served by CASA volunteers, who visit them regularly and advocate for their best interests. 

"We are so excited to be here today to light the CASA angel tree and bring some much-needed joy and happiness to children who have suffered more in their few short years than many of us will in our entire lifetimes,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of Garrard County’s CASA program. 

People chose children’s names from the tree and received their wish lists so they could go shopping for gifts for them. Participants will bring the gifts back to CASA’s Garrard County office inside Lancaster City Hall or First Southern, and CASA volunteers will then deliver them to the children’s caretakers in time to be wrapped for Christmas or any other holiday being celebrated in the home. 

First Southern Community President David Grigson said the bank was very excited to host the CASA Angel Tree again this year. “It means a lot to us,” he said. 

CASA Board Member Jonathan Shell, who is Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture, also spoke, encouraging attendees to go beyond purchasing gifts for kids on the tree and sign up to become CASA volunteers. 

"You just have to show up for these kids,” he said of the CASA volunteer role. “If you are here and you have a heart for these kids, or you know somebody who does, we're always looking for volunteers." 

Jamison said Garrard County’s incredible support of its CASA program led to it being the fastest growing program for its population size in the state. But there are not currently enough CASA volunteers for all the children who could benefit from having one. 

"I’d like you ask yourself, ‘Do you have five hours a month to just show up to change a child's life, or even potentially save it?’" she said. 

The next regional in-person training class for new CASA volunteers begins Jan. 9, with classes on evenings and weekends in Lexington. A full schedule is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. Online and in-person classes in Lancaster are also available; you can inquire about those trainings by emailing info@casaoflexington.org.  

For more information about the CASA Angel Tree program, visit www.casaoflexington.org/angeltree.

A crowd of more than 60 people gathered at Dan Cummins of Paris Tuesday morning to kick off the holiday season by lighting the CASA Angel Tree and providing gifts for abused and neglected children.

And for the fourth year in a row, Josh Cummins announced that his family’s dealership would be donating $100,000 to provide CASA volunteers — funds raised by taking a small amount from every purchase of a new vehicle through Dan Cummins.

“CASA is one of the greatest causes that we have,” Josh Cummins said. “It’s something that’s a fabric of this company.”

The gift represents roughly the cost of providing a year of advocacy services to 100 children in central Kentucky.

This was the eighth year for the CASA Angel Tree program in Bourbon County. The community provided gifts for 384 children over the first seven years, and 43 more children were on this year’s tree. Children on the tree have open family court cases and are served by CASA volunteers, who visit them regularly and advocate for their best interests.

"We are so excited to be here today to light the CASA angel tree and bring some much-needed joy and happiness to children who have suffered more in their few short years than many of us will in our entire lifetimes,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of Bourbon County’s CASA program.

People chose children’s names from the tree and received their wish lists so they could go shopping for gifts for them. Participants will bring the gifts back to CASA’s Bourbon County office or the Dan Cummins dealership, and CASA volunteers will then deliver them to the children’s caretakers in time to be wrapped for Christmas or any other holiday being celebrated in the home.

Bourbon County Family Court Judge Joe Fooks also spoke at the event, which was also attended by Bourbon County Judge-Executive Mike Williams, Paris Mayor John Plummer, Paris City Manager Jamie Miller and Paris City Clerk and Treasurer Stephanie Settles.

Fooks said he is proud of how involved the Bourbon County community is in supporting CASA services, which help him get better outcomes for kids in family court.

“You don’t have great organizations without a great community,” Fooks said. “And I think that’s a reflection of our community.”

Jamison said there are not currently enough CASA volunteers for all the children who could benefit from having one.

“If you have 5-10 hours a month to volunteer and a heart for helping children, we need you to show up for these kids,” she said.

The next in-person training class for new CASA volunteers begins Jan. 9 and a full schedule is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. Online training classes are available, as well.

For more information about the CASA Angel Tree program, visit www.casaoflexington.org/angeltree.

A crowd gathered at the Bluebird in Stanford Monday morning to light the CASA Angel Tree and help brighten the holidays for abused and neglected Lincoln County children.

“We are here today to light this CASA Angel Tree and bring some much-needed light and happiness to children, many of whom have suffered more in their few short years of life than many of us will in our lifetimes,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of Lincoln County’s CASA program.

Children on the tree have open family court cases and are served by CASA volunteers, who visit them regularly and advocate for their best interests. There were 15 Lincoln County children on the CASA Angel Tree this year, and attendees selected all of them during the event.

Attendees who chose a child’s wish list from the tree will now go shopping for gifts for them. The gifts will be brought back to the CASA office in downtown Stanford. Then, CASA volunteers will deliver them to the children’s caretakers in time to be wrapped for Christmas or any other holiday being celebrated in the home.

In the first two years of the Lincoln County CASA Angel Tree program, community members have purchased gifts for 40 children. Once all children on this year’s tree get their gifts, that number will be 55.

Jamison said there are still many more children in Lincoln County’s family court system who do not have a CASA volunteer. She encouraged anyone with a heart for helping kids in need to consider becoming a CASA volunteer.

The next regional in-person training class for new CASA volunteers begins Jan. 9 in Lexington and a full schedule is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. Online training classes are also available, and in-person trainings for volunteers in Garrard and Lincoln counties are scheduled throughout the year.

For more information about the CASA Angel Tree program, visit www.casaoflexington.org/angeltree.

MORE INFO

If you would like more information about the CASA program in Lincoln County or if you would like to become a volunteer and change the trajectory of a child’s life, you can email info@casaoflexington.org or call the Lincoln County CASA office at (606) 442-1355.

McBrayer Law Firm Managing Member James H. Frazier III high-fives CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison during the 2024 Fayette County CASA Angel Tree lighting at McBrayer.

Dozens of people from the Lexington community came to downtown Lexington Friday to get an early start on the holiday season by lighting the CASA Angel Tree.

Lexington Vice Mayor Dan Wu, who serves as a CASA volunteer, had the official honor of lighting the tree at McBrayer Law Firm, which has hosted the lighting all 21 years it has happened. The event gives people a way to brighten the end of the year for abused and neglected children who need someone to buy them gifts.

Children on the tree have open family court cases and are served by CASA volunteers, who visit them regularly and advocate for their best interests.

“We are here today to light this CASA Angel Tree and bring some much-needed light and happiness to children, many of whom have suffered more in their few short years of life than many of us will in our lifetimes,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington.

People chose children’s names from the tree and received their wish lists so they could go shopping for gifts for them. The gifts will be brought to CASA of Lexington, and CASA volunteers will then deliver them to the children’s caretakers in time to be wrapped for Christmas or any other holiday being celebrated in the home.

James H. Frazier III, Managing Member of McBrayer, said the law firm involves itself in many charitable causes, but CASA tops the list.

“It means a lot to everybody,” he said. “We have 222 envelopes on the tree this year. Let’s show up.”

Wu said he wound up going through training and becoming a CASA volunteer at the same time he was elected to office. He was concerned about having too much on his plate, but he found the time commitment of 5-10 hours a month for a CASA volunteer to be “very manageable.”

Wu said the children CASA volunteers serve are facing a lot of challenges and often don’t have someone showing up consistently and always being in their corner.

“Our job as CASAs is really just to be there, to show up, to be there for that kid,” he said.

In the first 20 years of the Fayette County CASA Angel Tree program, community members have purchased gifts for 2,481 children. Once all children on this year’s tree get their gifts, that number will be 2,703.

Jamison said that’s a remarkable achievement by the Fayette County community. She pointed out that almost 900 Fayette children suffered known abuse or neglect in 2023, the county is on-track to see an increase in that number in 2024.

There are currently only enough CASA volunteers to serve about 20% of children in the system. Jamison encouraged anyone with a heart for helping kids in need to consider becoming a CASA volunteer.

The next in-person training class for new CASA volunteers begins Jan. 9 and a full schedule is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. Online training classes are available, as well.

For more information about the CASA Angel Tree program, visit www.casaoflexington.org/angeltree.

The CASA of Lexington Fall Festival last week celebrated all of CASA volunteers in CASA of Lexington’s seven counties and the amazing work they do for abused and neglected children.

CASA volunteers and their families enjoyed a free cookout with games, gifts, awards and prizes.

“Each CASA volunteer improves the lives of more than two children every year on average,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of the nonprofit. “They are dedicated coming up with solutions to tough problems and making sure these kids get the best possible outcomes. They deserve a whole lot more thanks than we can ever give them!”

Bourbon County CASA volunteer Judy Kendall was honored with the Debbie LaBoone Volunteer of the Year Award. Kendall, who is retiring from CASA work this year, was Bourbon County’s first CASA volunteer and has advocated for nine children since 2017.

In Kendall’s final CASA case, she was matched with a teen girl whom no one had been able to connect with. Through her visits with the girl, Kendall forged a bond that will continue long after she is no longer the girl’s official CASA volunteer.

“The difference for so many children is having that one person who believes in them, who gives them hope, and who stands up for their needs when no one else does,” Jamison said.

The Volunteer of the Year Award is named in memory of Debbie LaBoone, a CASA of Lexington volunteer who advocated for five children over two years, before passing away from cancer. LaBoone’s husband remains a strong supporter of the organization his wife loved.

Here are the rest of the annual awards presented at the Fall Festival:  

-          Most Miles Driven: Susan Bukowski (3,122 to date)

-          Above and Beyond for Continuing Education: Priscilla Miller and Linda Baker

-          Above and Beyond for a New Volunteer: Brenna Cain

-          Above and Beyond for a Veteran Volunteer: Ute Keathley

-          Above and Beyond for a Friend of CASA: Cassie Bottoms

-          Excellent Advocacy: Anne Jones, Kellye Cole and Barbara Phipps

-          Exemplary Court Reporting: Kelly Sampson

-          Compassionate Connection Award: Charlene Floyd

To learn more about CASA volunteering or make a donation, visit www.casaoflexington.org.

Fayette County Family Court Judge Tiffany Yahr swears in new CASA volunteers Feb. 28.

Central Kentucky has 18 new volunteers ready to advocate for abused and neglected children.

CASA of Lexington’s winter training class was sworn in by Fayette County Family Court Judge TIffany Yahr on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The new CASA volunteers are now ready to be matched with children in the family court systems of seven central Kentucky counties.

Yahr told the new volunteers they would be providing consistency and a voice in court for the children they serve.

Yahr, who also has lengthy experience working for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said she has seen everything change for children in the system over and over again, from homes to doctors to schools. But “no matter how much changes with placements, that CASA volunteer always stays the same,” she said.

She said whenever she is looking to learn more about a child’s case, “I always start with the CASA volunteer, because that is who has been invested in this kids life. The information the CASA volunteer brings is just invaluable.”

CASA of Lexington Executive Director Melynda Jamison speaks to new CASA volunteers during the Feb. 28 swearing in ceremony.

After completing their initial training and being matched with a child, each CASA volunteer spends an average of 5-10 hours a month volunteering. They visit with the child, often getting to know them better than anyone else in the courtroom. They also speak to adults in the child’s life and review important records and documents about the child.

CASA volunteers provide reports and recommendations to judges like Yahr, enabling them to make more informed decisions. Children who receive a CASA volunteer do better in school, get more services like therapy and educational interventions, move less frequently in the foster system and are less likely to re-enter foster care after their cases close.

Those sworn in Feb. 28 are Beverly Chandler, Jeff Clark, Kellye Cole, Phillip Ely, Katie Grubb, Emily Hale, Sarah Jones, Emily Koyagi, Alison List, Lindsay Medley, John Mullins, Leah Omeara, Matthew Rudoff, Debbie Rurik-Goodwin, Susan Schimmel, Melissa Sears and Payton Thurmond. Isaac Sutherland will also be sworn in at a later date.

Over the next year, the 18 new volunteers may serve as many as 50 children. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of children who suffer abuse and neglect in CASA of Lexington’s service region every year, and not enough CASA volunteers to serve them all.

Yahr said there will be highs and lows for the new CASA volunteers as they begin working their cases and getting to know their assigned children. But through it all, they will be filling huge need.

“You are absolutely going to make a difference,” Yahr told the new volunteers.

 Next CASA Volunteer Training

CASA of Lexington holds at least four volunteer trainings each year. The next training class begins April 6, with classes on evenings and weekends at the CASA of Lexington office, 3245 Loch Ness Dr. In Lexington. A full schedule of the classes is available at www.casaoflexington.org/training. Anyone interested in joining the class can apply to be a CASA volunteer at www.casaoflexington.org/apply.

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All proceeds from virtual fun run on April 18 benefit CASA of Lexington

(April 10, 2020) CASA of Lexington is challenging runners, walkers and anyone who just wants to get some exercise while staying healthy at home to help log a mile for every local child who was abused or neglected last year.

A "virtual fun run" — organized by John's Run/Walk Shop and benefiting CASA — is being held on Saturday, April 18. We hope to get enough people participating to collectively walk and run 1,346 miles — one mile for every new petition of child abuse and neglect in Fayette, Bourbon and Woodford counties in 2019.

Participating in the fun run is easy. You can register for free or for a donation amount of your choice by visiting johnsrunwalkshop.com, clicking on "Keep Moving Forward" and choosing the April 18 date for CASA's fun run. Or click here to visit the registration page directly.

When you log your miles, let us know on Twitter (@CASAofLexington), Facebook (@lexingtoncasa) or Instagram (@casaoflexington), so we can celebrate and all run/walk together online.

"For these runs, there won't be any shirts, there won't be any medals, and the only way we can support you is in spirit," John's Run/Walk Shop explains. "Instead, 100% of the proceeds from these runs will be going to local charities. Additionally, with the future looking uncertain for so many people, the cost of participating in these runs is entirely up to you."

You won't be running or walking alone: CASA volunteers, staff and board members have been invited to participate. And even CASA's certified service dog Matilda plans to log miles from her morning and afternoon walks.

We may not be able to come together physically right now to support CASA's mission of ensuring all victims of child abuse and neglect are safe and thrive in a permanent home. But there's also something powerful about hundreds or even thousands of people around Kentucky and beyond coming together virtually while each doing their own small part from home. We hope you'll join us and run or walk for the kids on April 18.

You can register for the virtual fun run here: https://www.runsignup.com/Race/KY/Lexington/KeepMovingForwardforCASAofLexington

About CASA of Lexington

CASA of Lexington’s trained and supervised volunteers advocate through the family court system to ensure all victims of child abuse and neglect are safe and thrive in a permanent home. Changes such as where the child lives or goes to school, changes in social workers, teachers and friends, as well as the uncertainty of what life holds, can be very overwhelming for these children. The CASA volunteer is there to help recognize what the child needs, work to minimize these detrimental changes, and advocate for positive changes for the child’s future. For more information on CASA of Lexington, to volunteer or make a donation visit the website at www.casaoflexington.org.