AS 2025 DRAWS TO A CLOSE, we reflect on a remarkable year of connection, advocacy, and community.
JANUARY KICKED OFF our year-long Humans of CASA campaign with a radio interview on The Shelley Irwin Show!
FEBRUARY MARKED our first Corporate Partnership with Express Employment Professionals Companies and our annual Phone a Friend campaign.
MARCH SAW CASA featured on FOX17 Morning Mix and a webinar watch party with Ottawa County CASA to explore trauma-informed, culturally responsive advocacy.
APRIL CELEBRATED Volunteer Appreciation Month! Also, we swore in six new volunteers, presented at Helen Devos Children’s Hospital Grand Rounds, advocated for funding at the State Capitol, and hosted our largest Annual Luncheon ever with 368 guests.
MAY FOCUSED ON PARTNERSHIP, as Writer’s Alley hosted their annual Mom Always Says event and Berger Chevrolet held their first employee luncheon of 2025, both raising funds for CASA! We also welcomed Program Manager Daliecia Conkle and summer intern Sophia Rolfe to the team.
JUNE HONORED Family Reunification Month at John Ball Zoo alongside child welfare partners. We welcomed Advocacy Manager Leah Rettig, and convened a roundtable with Michigan CASA partners, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and Rep. Hillary Scholten to discuss federal funding changes.
JULY BROUGHT the swearing-in of eight new volunteers, participation in Baxter United’s Family Field Day, and a feature with former board member Andy Rent on The River radio show to share CASA’s mission.
AUGUST WAS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY, as we welcomed new Advocate Supervisors Kaylee McElrath, Jeff Stob, and Maya Sutton-Jackson and recognized volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.
SEPTEMBER BROUGHT CONNECTION as staff participated in Heart of West Michigan’s Day of Caring, distributed new laptops to CASA children for their education, and held our annual board/staff retreat.
OCTOBER CELEBRATED Heart of CASA, featuring powerful Humans of CASA stories, and strengthened our advocacy though the Michigan CASA Conference in Detroit.
NOVEMBER RECOGNIZED seven new advocates sworn in as officers of the court and launched our final volunteer training of the year.
DECEMBER WILL BRING the final volunteer swearing-in ceremony of the year and a holiday celebration with CASA children and volunteers.
Thank you for being part of a beautiful and impactful year! Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with love, hope, and community.
WITH GRATITUDE, CASA OF KENT COUNTY
For Heart of CASA, the annual fundraising dinner and award ceremony, the CASA team decided to take the opportunity of having the CASA community gathered to feature some of the Humans of CASA – in person. Thus, this year’s theme was born: Meet the humans. Feel the heart.
A month or so ago, I was reminded in the sweetest way of how lasting a CASA’s impact can be. While I was meeting with a prospective board member at a local coffee shop, a woman approached me and said, “We’ve never met, but my son, Peter, remembers you. He had a CASA — Miss Cindy.”
Hope is not a strategy—or so I’ve been told more than once.
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