CASA Honors Trustee Richard Moore and The Smith Family For Their Commitment to Children in Need

MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY – On Thursday May 12th, 2016, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Morris and Sussex Counties (CASA) held its annual Give a Child a Voice fundraising gala at the Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park. The event honored long time CASA Trustee Richard A. Moore and dedicated CASA devotees Monica and Amy Smith and their children, as well as celebrated 29 years of CASA bringing better tomorrows to the community’s most vulnerable children.

CASA’s mission is to speak up for the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. CASA volunteers work with the Family Court to help place each child in a safe, nurturing, and permanent home.

Richard A. Moore has been a passionate CASA ambassador for the past 15 years, serving as a Trustee, Board President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Interim Executive Director. His steadfast advocacy and extraordinary leadership has connected numerous supporters and volunteers with the CASA cause.

The Smith Family’s personal journey encompasses the CASA mission; Monica and Amy’s commitment to philanthropy and overall altruism is a model for us all. In addition to raising their five adopted children, Monica and Amy founded One More Smith, which finds permanent homes for neglected and rescued animals, as well as Marketsmith, Inc., one of the nation’s fastest growing marketing firms professionally committed to supporting communities in need.

The purpose of the gala was twofold: to raise unrestricted funds for CASA programs and to raise awareness of the plight of children in the foster care system. CASA supporters gathered for cocktails, dinner, and a silent auction to support children who have been abused, neglected, removed from their homes, and placed in foster care. Local businesses and artists supported the silent auction by providing items and sharing their creative works.

“Our Give a Child a Voice Gala was an evening of energy and passion with members of the community coming together to make a difference. The money raised from this event will help our organization to expand our programs and enhance the advocacy we provide to children in foster care,” said CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties’ Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Barsky Firkser.

The funds raised will go directly to support CASA’s mission to recruit, train, and supervise volunteers who provide a voice in court to assure each child a safe, permanent and nurturing home.

For more information about CASA, visit www.casamsc.org or call 973-998-7590.

About CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties

CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties is part of a statewide network of community-based non-profit programs that recruit, screen, train and supervise volunteers to “Speak Up for a Child” removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. CASA is the only program in New Jersey that uses trained volunteers to work one-on-one with children, ensuring that each one gets the services needed and achieves permanency in a safe, nurturing home. For more information, visit www.casamsc.org or call 973-998-7590.