25th Anniversary Celebration of Hope
2010
To celebrate twenty-five years of service to abused and neglected children
in Kittitas County, 101 persons accepted invitations to attend “Celebration
of Hope 2010,” Court Advocates’ volunteer appreciation and candlelight
benefit dinner held in conjunction with its annual business meeting.
Dakota Café catered a buffet dinner and Central Washington University
music students entertained us during the social hour. The evening’s
program began with an inspirational a cappella solo by singer/composer/artist
Barbara Ansley-Vensas (wife of CASA David Vensas).
Court Advocates gratefully acknowledges the support of Celebration of Hope
sponsors, co-sponsors and contributors: Mark and Carrie Anderson; Anderson
Hay and Grain; Armstrong’s Stove and Spa, Central Washington University
Foundation; Chamber Cowboys; Frances Chmelewski, Attorney at Law; Court Advocates’
Board of Directors; Nancy A. Jewett; Old Mill Country Store; Law Offices of
C.K. Powers; Puget Sound Energy; Rodeo City Kiwanis; Super 1 Foods
Court Advocates also appreciated silent auction and raffle donations from
Anderson Hay and Grain; Karen Eslinger; Bea Fairburn; Vickie Barela; Kay Miles;
Mike Luvera; Sazon; Warren and Libby Street; Paul Coppin; Pam Anderson; David
Rawlinson; Gene Dana; Jim and Carol Pidduck; Charlotte Tullos; Jan and Brian
McElroy; Sandra Bankston; Dakota Café; Bev Cridlebaugh; Mike McCloskey;
Iron Horse Brewery; Children’s Activity Museum; Ellensburg Rodeo; Seattle
Mariners; Doug Miller; Seattle Seahawks; Jerrol’s Book and Supply Company;
and Washington State CASA Association.
All those who attended the dinner and donated to the program have enabled
us to sustain our work on behalf of abused and neglected children in Kittitas
County.
Sandra Bankston Honored As Judge Alumbaugh
Volunteer of the Year
Executive Director Carol Pidduck and the Board of Directors honored Sandra
Bankston as the 2010 Judge JoAnne Alumbaugh “Volunteer of the Year.”
Mrs. Bankston has been a volunteer with the CASA program since May 2008. In
her two and one-half years as a CASA, she has effectively advocated for eleven
children. Since November 2009, Mrs. Bankston has also served as the program’s
executive assistant.
The program also acknowledged several previous Alumbaugh award recipients
who were present at Celebration of Hope 2010: Adrienne Zimny, Anne Read, Patrick
Brown and Carrie Anderson.
Volunteer Service Awards
Board president Libby Street presented a special recognition award to outgoing
board member Brian McElroy who was recently named Chief of Police for the
city of West Richland, Washington. The contributions of Chief and Mrs. McElroy
to the youth of the Ellensburg/Kittitas County community will be missed.
The program recognized and honored several volunteers for their tenure with
the program:
* CASA Nancy Jewett for twenty years of service
* CASAs Patrick Brown and Carrie Anderson for seven years of service
* CASAs Alexandria Wood and Janine Yoder for two years of service
The Year 2010 in Review
In 2010, our CASAs advocated for 103 children, including thirty-two new children
who ranged in age from birth to thirteen years old. Statistically:
* 47% of the new cases involved neglect resulting from parental substance
abuse
* 16% involved neglect resulting from parental mental health conditions
* 37% involved physical abuse of a child.
We closed the cases of twenty-three children in 2010. Eleven children were returned home to a parent; eight children were adopted; two children “aged out” of the system when they turned eighteen; two children were placed with legal guardians or custodians.
Officers and Directors Elected
During the annual business meeting, the membership elected Bea Fairburn, Mike
McCloskey and Mike Luvera to the board of directors for three year terms ending
December 31, 2013. Elected as board officers for 2011 were: Libby Street,
president; Mike McCloskey, vice-president; Bea Fairburn, secretary; and Karen
Eslinger, treasurer.
Four New CASAs Trained
In 2010, four newly trained volunteers began serving abused and neglected
children in Kittitas County as volunteer CASAs: Sue Armstrong, Megan Prater,
David Vensas and Leah Whitsett.
