LOCAL NONPROFIT RECEIVES CHALLENGE GRANT FROM THE MORRIS & GWENDOLYN CAFRITZ FOUNDATION

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is standing up for children in the community by providing a Challenge Grant to Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County. This Challenge Grant will match all donations during CASA’s “I Am for the Child” campaign which will raise funds from April 16-30 to provide a voice for abused and neglected children in foster care. To make a donation that will be matched by The Foundation, individuals can go to the “I Am for the Child” campaign page.

April was officially declared “National Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Prince George’s County by County Executive Rushern Baker. During April and throughout the year, The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and Court Appointed Special Advocate encourage all individuals and organizations to play a role creating a safer community for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote children’s social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities. In honor of this year’s theme- “Making Meaningful Connections” these partners encourage everyone to think about how they can help families make meaningful connections to each other and to community resources, and to advocate for victims of child abuse.

The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is the largest private, independent, local Foundation focused exclusively on the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Foundation is the legacy of Morris Cafritz, one of Washington’s leading commercial and residential builders from the early 1920’s to the mid-60s. In the last 10 years, $190 million has been awarded to more than 890 organizations in the areas of Community Services, Arts and Humanities, Education, Health and the Environment.

Court Appointed Special Advocate helps abused and neglected children heal so they can live happier, safer lives. CASA volunteers – Court-Appointed Special Advocates – make sure kids don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service systems or languish in foster care. CASA volunteers stay with children until their court case is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. CASA volunteers also help prepare older foster youth for adulthood after emancipation.

“The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation has been a tremendous partner to CASA for many years,” said Ann Marie Binsner, Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocate. “April is a time to celebrate the important role that communities play in protecting children. The Foundation’s Challenge Grant is not only a demonstration of their commitment to protecting these vulnerable children but also a rallying cry to encourage others to stand up for children as well.”

Working together, we can end abuse and neglect so that every child has a chance to thrive. For more information on volunteering, events or to donate, go to www.pgcasa.org

About Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/Prince George’s County, Inc.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/ Prince George’s County, Inc. is a volunteer-based organization that partners with the juvenile court to improve the lives of abused and neglected children living in foster care. With a strong commitment to diversity, CASA trains and supervises volunteers from the community who advocate for the best interest of children, recognizing and respecting each child’s individual needs. By providing a voice to children in the foster care system, it is our goal to promote the timely placement of the children we serve in safe, permanent homes.

Media Contact

Ann Marie Binsner, Executive Director 301-209-0491