Voices for Children Gala Raises More Than $1.5 Million

(October 28, 2024) SAN DIEGO – Starry Starry Night, the signature event of Voices for Children (VFC), took place on Saturday, October 19, at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego’s spectacular bayside performance venue. Attendees, sponsors, and supporters contributed over $1.5 million in gross revenue for VFC and its Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. The funds raised at Starry Starry Night will allow VFC to provide CASA volunteers to 600 abused, neglected, and abandoned children in foster care, helping ensure their voices are heard and needs are met. Last year, VFC supported nearly 900 CASAs and provided life-changing advocacy to more than 1,725 children living in foster care in San Diego County. The gala was chaired by The Sullivan Family and longtime supporters Katie and Dan Sullivan, Sarah Houghton, Megan Delgado, and Lindsay Estrada.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: Emceed by CBS 8’s Neda Iranpour, guests were treated to an exquisite dining experience, inspirational stories from the CASA program, the first-ever CASA Lifetime Achievement award presentation, an exhilarating live auction, and much more.

This year, the organization recognized the exceptional contributions of VFC’s founder and longest-serving CASA volunteer, Kathryn Ashworth, Esq., by honoring her with VFC’s inaugural CASA Lifetime Achievement Award. A resident of Point Loma, who has been a steadfast advocate for Voices for Children for more than 44 years, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to our cause and the children we serve.

Since its inception, VFC has remained the only organization in San Diego County authorized to provide CASAs to children in foster care. Today, VFC is the largest CASA organization in California. Thanks to Kathryn Ashworth’s vision, VFC has supported more than 100,000 youth across San Diego and Riverside Counties, making a tangible difference in their lives.

After a rousing live auction led by auctioneer Clint Bell, attendees watched the premiere of a new impact video where a former foster youth, Anthony O’Leary, shared his story and the impact that his CASA Danny had in his life.

“He gave me a voice that I very much needed, and he is the sole reason that I ended up moving back in with my great aunt and great grandma, where they ended up gaining guardianship of me, resulting in the end of my case and my time in the foster care system.” – Anthony

During the Fund-A-CASA paddle raise, guests made pledges from $100 to $100,000 to recruit, train, and support new CASA volunteers. The evening ended with everyone on their feet dancing to “America’s Best Dance Band,” Liquid Blue.

Visit voicesforchildrenssn.org to view the full list of sponsors and underwriters. To learn more about becoming a CASA or donating to the program, visit speakupnow.org.

ABOUT VOICES FOR CHILDREN

Founded in 1980, Voices for Children (VFC) transforms the lives of abused, neglected, and abandoned children in foster care in San Diego and Riverside Counties by providing them with trained, volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). CASA volunteers advocate for a child or sibling group in foster care in court, school, and the community to ensure their needs are met. VFC believes every child deserves a safe and permanent home and strives to provide a CASA volunteer to every child in the foster care system who needs one. Last year, VFC CASAs and staff provided direct advocacy to nearly 2,300 youth in foster care across San Diego and Riverside Counties as well as case monitoring services to hundreds of other children in foster care who might need an advocate in the future. For more information, visit speakupnow.org.