CASA of Jefferson County Named Nonprofit of the Year for 2025
Jefferson County is home to many remarkable nonprofits doing life-changing work every single day. These are groups led by people who see a need and courageously step into the gap. Watching them serve with such passion is inspiring, and it’s impossible not to admire the impact they are making in our community.
On January 22, 2026, at the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony, we were reminded of our gap—and the people who fill it. Being named Nonprofit of the Year for 2025 is an honor we hold with deep gratitude, but more than that, it is a reflection of the people who make CASA of Jefferson County what it is. Our volunteers and their families are our community’s greatest asset, and this recognition simply affirms what we have always known. Our program exists because this very community chooses compassion, courage, and action.
“This award does not belong to a building or a logo. It belongs to the volunteers who raise their hands and say yes to standing beside children who have experienced abuse and neglect—often some of the most severe cases imaginable. It also belongs to the families of those volunteers, who share their time, emotional energy, and loved ones with children who desperately need consistency, advocacy, and hope...”
CASA volunteers come from every walk of life. They are stay-at-home parents, teachers and retired teachers, nurses, crop pilots, scientists, marketing executives, volunteer firefighters, and so many others. They bring their lived experiences, skills, and perspectives into a courtroom where they advocate for what is in a child’s best interest. These are everyday people who find themselves speaking up for children—sometimes across the table from professionals with law degrees—because they believe a child’s voice deserves a place at the table.
They are often the ones who step away from their own supper tables to take a call, or quietly slip out of a gym or ball field during their children’s or grandchildren’s games because a case needs attention. Their emotions are fully involved. Their hearts sink when they hear hard news. Their hearts sing when a child is placed in a safe, loving home or when a small victory finally comes after months of waiting. This work follows them home, lives with them, and becomes part of who they are.
They are deeply committed, incredibly brave, and thoroughly trained to navigate complex systems, heartbreaking realities, and high-stakes decisions. They read reports, attend hearings, meet with families, collaborate with professionals, and—most importantly—build meaningful relationships with the children they serve. They show up consistently, often over long periods of time, providing stability in moments when a child’s world feels anything but stable.
“...The seeds our volunteers plant are not always immediately visible, but they are powerful. They take root in the hearts of children who learn that someone showed up just for them—that someone cared enough to listen, to fight, and to stay. Over time, those seeds grow into resilience, confidence, and possibility.
Statistics prove CASA volunteers help shape outcomes for children who will one day grow into adults with their own stories, careers, and contributions to society. Today’s CASA child could be tomorrow’s public defender, teacher, scientist, or nonprofit director. The advocacy and care they receive now helps lay a foundation for the future they will build.”
Our dedicated staff who walk beside our volunteers every step of the way—this recognition belongs to them as well. They are the steady presence in meetings and court hearings, the calm voice on the other end of late-night calls and texts, the safe place to vent, to grieve, and to celebrate the wins. They step in when a volunteer’s heart is too heavy for one more meeting, and carry the weight with them until they are ready again. Our volunteers are never alone, and our children are better served because of the care our staff gives—often quietly, often after hours, and always with their whole hearts.
The leadership, guidance, and belief in this mission help steady the organization so the work can move forward with integrity and strength. Our Board of Directors ask the hard questions, make thoughtful decisions, and carry responsibility that often goes unseen. We are especially proud to have three retired CASA volunteers serving on our board, bringing firsthand experience, deep empathy, and lived understanding of what this work truly requires—and one board member who is planning to become a CASA volunteer after their tenure. The willingness to lead from experience and step directly into the mission strengthens everything we do. Our program is better, wiser, and more grounded because of this, and we are deeply grateful for this type of commitment and care.
This award means so much to so many people who are doing the real work—people who choose to carry heavy burdens so children don’t have to. Thank you for honoring them with this award, and thank you for supporting their work.
Our work is strengthened by the support of the Indiana State Office of GAL/CASA, and we are deeply thankful to the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce and the community members who voted for our organization.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you for choosing CASA.
To learn more about other CASA programs in Indiana visit: https://nationalcasagal.org/ Supporting Children Starts Here
