Honoring Those Who Give Their Time, Their Voice, and Their Hearts
Last night, CASA of Jefferson County hosted its annual Volunteer and Staff Appreciation Dinner, bringing together nearly 40 members of the CASA network for an evening centered on gratitude, connection, and the impact of child advocacy in Jefferson County.
Through funding provided by the Indiana Youth Institute Wellness Grant, guests were treated to a three-course dinner prepared by Chef Vanessa Goode. The evening was held at Richwood on the River, with the venue generously sponsored by owner Colleen Sutton.
The evening began by sharing stories of some of the meaningful successes CASA volunteers have achieved while advocating for the children they serve. These stories offered a reminder that the work of a CASA volunteer often goes far beyond attending court hearings or writing reports. It means asking questions, noticing what others may miss, bringing new ideas to the table, and continuing to advocate until a child's needs are heard.
One of the successes highlighted involved CASA volunteer Jillian Gregory and her advocacy for brain mapping as an additional resource for a child she serves.
“Through Jillian’s advocacy, she introduced not only the court, but also the Jefferson County Department of Child Services, to a non-invasive tool that may help parents and providers better understand and support children who have experienced abuse and neglect,” said Whitney Pennington, Executive Director of CASA of Jefferson County. “That is what CASA advocacy looks like. Our volunteers are willing to learn, ask questions, explore resources, and bring something new to the table when they believe it could make a difference for a child.”
Several longtime members of the CASA network were also recognized for reaching significant service milestones.
Sara Scroggins was honored for 10 years of service to CASA of Jefferson County. John Hutchinson was recognized for 13 years of service, beginning as a CASA volunteer and continuing today as a member of the Board of Directors. Dr. Linda Zapp was recognized for 11 years of service, also beginning as a CASA volunteer before transitioning to the Board of Directors. Pennington was recognized for 10 years of service, beginning her CASA journey as a volunteer before eventually joining the staff and becoming Executive Director.
While the milestones represented years of service, the evening was also an opportunity to recognize what those years truly represent: countless visits with children, court hearings, difficult conversations, late-night concerns, reports, phone calls, meetings, celebrations, and moments when a child simply needed to know that someone was still standing beside them.
“Our volunteers give something incredibly valuable to the children they serve—their time,” Pennington said. “They continue showing up through some of the most difficult and uncertain seasons of a child’s life. They don't do this work for recognition, but that is exactly why we believe it is so important to create opportunities to recognize them.”
The appreciation continued with a special gift for every CASA volunteer.
Jess Hall of Rejuvenation Skin Care gifted each volunteer a complimentary custom facial as a way of personally thanking them for the work they do in the community. “CASA volunteers give so much of themselves to advocate for children in our community, and I believe it’s important that we take care of the people who spend so much of their time taking care of others. This was simply my way of saying thank you and reminding them that the work they do is seen, valued, and deeply appreciated.”— Jess Hall, Rejuvenation Skin Care
That gesture reflected one of the most meaningful themes of the evening: caring for the people who spend so much of their time caring and advocating for others.
“I don’t know that I could ever adequately put into words how grateful I am for the people who make this work possible. To our volunteers who continue to show up for children, our staff who pour so much of themselves into this work, our board members who believe in our mission, and the community partners who continually step forward to support us—thank you. To the Indiana Youth Institute, Chef Vanessa Goode, Colleen Sutton and Richwood on the River, and Jess Hall at Rejuvenation Skin Care, thank you for helping us create an evening where the people who spend so much of their lives caring for others could be cared for themselves. There is something incredibly special about a community that recognizes the importance of taking care of the people who take care of its children. I am incredibly proud of this CASA family, and even more grateful to be part of it. Every person in that room has played a role in making life better for a child, and there is no greater gift you could give our organization—or me—than that.”
The evening also included a special moment as CASA volunteers, staff, and board members gathered for a group photo with the Nonprofit of the Year award CASA of Jefferson County received from the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce in January. The photo was especially meaningful because this recognition belongs to the entire CASA network. It represents the collective dedication, advocacy, and heart of the people who show up every day for children in our community.
CASA volunteers routinely walk alongside children and families during some of the most challenging circumstances of their lives. They listen to children, communicate with families, collaborate with professionals, review records, attend meetings and court hearings, and advocate for what they believe is in the best interest of each child. Much of that work happens quietly, without public recognition.
The annual appreciation dinner provides CASA of Jefferson County with an opportunity to turn the attention toward those advocates and remind them that their work is seen, valued, and deeply appreciated.
CASA of Jefferson County extends its gratitude to the Indiana Youth Institute for helping make the evening possible through its Wellness Grant, to Chef Vanessa Goode for preparing the evening’s meal, to Colleen Sutton and Richwood on the River for providing the beautiful setting, and to Jess Hall of Rejuvenation Skin Care for her generous gift to CASA volunteers.
Most importantly, CASA of Jefferson County thanks every volunteer, staff member, and board member who continues to stand beside children in Jefferson County. The evening may have been about appreciation, but the stories shared throughout the night served as a reminder of why the work matters. Behind every court case is a child. Behind every CASA report is hours of listening, learning, visiting, and advocating. And behind many of the successes celebrated that evening was a volunteer who simply refused to stop asking, “What does this child need?”
