Jim Vidro: Human of CASA

Statistics don’t lie. Sometimes, though, they do more than inform—they stop you in your tracks and demand action. That was the case for Jim Vidro, a retired math teacher turned CASA of Kent County volunteer.

Jim first encountered CASA after attending a Heart of CASA dinner with his kids. The stories he heard moved him deeply, but it was a single statistic that shook him into action: 83% of CASA volunteers are women. Only 17% are men. After spending decades in the classroom, Jim knew how much young people benefit from positive male role models. That night set Jim on the path of volunteering with CASA and spurring others on, as well.

Jim’s life has always been shaped by the influence of others. Growing up in a bustling Grandville household with seven kids, it was his teachers who often provided the encouragement and guidance he needed. One teacher in particular, a math teacher who believed in him, inspired Jim’s own career in education. “The way he interacted with students was powerful,” Jim remembers. “He’s the reason I became a math teacher.”

The greatest influence of all, though, was his wife, Gail. A first-grade teacher, a loving mother, and later a devoted grandmother, Gail embodied compassion and service. Even after her passing last year, her legacy continues to guide Jim. “She inspires me every day,” he says.

Jim’s first CASA case has closed, but his work is far from done. Now, he’s pouring his energy into sharing CASA’s mission with anyone who will listen. He strives to encourage men in particular to step into the lives of children who desperately need someone in their corner.

His message is simple but powerful: “YOU can be a force in these kids’ lives. YOU can make an impact.”

And Jim is living proof of that truth—showing that one person, driven by compassion and conviction, can spark change far beyond themselves.

This post is part of our 2025 Humans of CASA of Kent County campaign. Click here to check out the campaign webpage and read more featured stories.