At last, after fourteen years together, CASA of Kent County Program Manager Kari Williams and 17th Circuit Court Referee Craig Frederick celebrated their wedding in May of 2022. The Fredericks’ love story is one that has been heavily influenced by CASA. Both passionate supporters of the CASA mission to give every child a voice, Kari and Craig have worked hard to support the organization for many years. The two first met during Kari’s first case as a CASA volunteer, more than 17 years ago. They worked together, with Kari as a CASA and Craig as guardian ad litem, to find a safe, loving, and permanent home for a group of siblings. After the case ended, Kari and Craig remained close and have been together ever since!
When Kari and Craig decided to be officially married in 2022, they knew they had an opportunity to make a difference with their wedding gifts. Since they already had everything they could possibly need for their home, they decided that, in lieu of gifts, they would suggest that their guests make donations to CASA of Kent County. Kari said, “Why not have those gifts go to support a program that I am passionate about and is needed in the community? Gifts to CASA will fund the training of new volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in our community, and that’s what we want: for every child to have a voice.”
The wedding was a beautiful celebration of the happy couple and reflected Kari and Craig’s hard work in the community. The guests included many local judges, lawyers, referees, and CASA staff members. Together they raised over $3,500 to support essential CASA programming. Thank you, Kari and Craig, for your consistent hard work to ensure that every child can have what they deserve: a safe, loving, and permanent home!
This article is part of the Summer 2022 edition of CASA Connect, CASA of Kent County’s quarterly newsletter. Click here to view a pdf version of this newsletter.
For Chad Kirkpatrick, service has never been a pastime—it’s what guides every part of his life. As the VP of Operations at Broadway Grand Rapids, he calls his role his “dream job,” not for the title, but because nonprofit work feeds a part of him nothing else ever has. His commitment to community extends beyond his job, reflected in the many ways he invests his time in volunteer roles.
Music has always been part of Trudi Huizenga’s life. It shaped her career, her outlook, and—perhaps most importantly—her service to others.
Patty Sabin’s journey into advocacy began long before she ever volunteered with CASA. It started at home, helping her two children navigate school with their own unique learning styles. Supporting them through those challenging years taught her how to speak up, ask questions, and persist—skills that would become the foundation of her life’s work.
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