CASAs give light of hope

Annual benefit set for Nov. 14 at Northwest Arkansas Convention Center.

CASA of Northwest Arkansas will benefit from the 11th annual Light of Hope luncheon Nov. 8 at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale with speaker Doug Ramsey, Tyson Foods poultry group president. John Furner, Sam’s Club president and CEO, will serve as the featured speaker at the companion event, a breakfast Nov. 14 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers.

CASA provides trained volunteers to represent children in the jurisdiction of family courts. Volunteers conduct their own investigations and then make recommendations to the court for what is in the best interest of the child. A child’s court-appointed special advocate is often the one constant in his life while involved in family court.

This fiscal year, volunteers have worked on cases for 847 children. There have been 81 adoptions and 138 children reunited with their families. The nonprofit organization has 330 trained volunteers but needs more, as there are 104 children

on the wait list for advocates. The group’s goal is to train 120 more volunteers in the next year.

In the coming weeks the nonprofit group will host a number of CASA 101 information sessions for those interested in becoming a CASA volunteer.

Sessions at the CASA office in Springdale are set for noon Nov. 13 (lunch provided); 10 a.m. Nov. 15; and noon Nov. 19 (lunch provided). A session at Harding University

in Rogers will be at noon Nov. 29 (lunch provided). The next volunteer training will begin in January.

Courtesy photo CASA volunteers work to serve the best interests of children in family courts. The Light of Hope luncheon Nov. 8 and breakfast Nov. 14 will benefit the nonprofit organization.