This year marks the 25th anniversary between Kappa Alpha Theta and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and Theta is excited to celebrate with you! Throughout this academic year, we will be sharing stories with you of CASA’s work, current and past foster children, and how you can celebrate this milestone. Most importantly, this newsletter will tell the story of how Thetas support CASA and impact the lives of foster children. We will share blog posts, articles, statistics, and photos throughout the year, and we hope you will also take part in sharing your stories with us. In the past 25 years, Theta has made a difference by participating in this movement, but there is still more work to do.

Share your stories with us via email or on social media by tagging Kappa Alpha Theta’s Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, as well as use our anniversary hashtag #Theta25CASA.

When people ask me what CASA is all about, I tell them it’s a movement. A volunteer movement of advocacy for abused and neglected children. Over the past 25 years, our partnership with Kappa Alpha Theta has helped thousands and thousands of those children in so many ways. ... Because of this partnership, many Thetas have decided to be trained to become volunteers and help children in their communities. And, caring alumnae continue to support CASA long after they have graduated. It’s a powerful partnership that has reached out across the country and continues to impact lives wherever Thetas are and beyond. 

To read the full blog post, visit the Fraternity blog.

Throughout this 25th year we are going to send out regular electronic newsletters about CASA’s work as well as Theta’s impact on this organization. We need your help to tell the story of Theta and CASA. Theta wants to highlight members and chapters who support, advocate, and volunteer for this great cause. Do you have a successful signature philanthropy event? Do you volunteer at your local CASA’s events and programs? Do you plan an educational opportunity for your chapter to learn more about CASA? Do you work for CASA or volunteer as an advocate? If so, we want to know! Send your stories and photos to CASA@kappaalphatheta.org. You may see yourself (or your chapter) featured in a future newsletter or post!

Read more on how you can support, advocate, and volunteer for CASA on Theta's website as we celebrate 25 years.

Our CASA Volunteer Was Our Voice

Melissa's Story

Our suffering began well before we were born. My younger siblings and I were all exposed to prenatal drug and alcohol use at birth, and each of us suffered the long-term effects. … For the first 12 years of my life, I was never allowed to be a child. ... My siblings and I lived in limbo for five long years, as my aunt and uncle fought to gain permanent custody of us. ... We lived in a constant state of fear, thinking that at any moment we could be released back into the hands of the person we desperately needed to escape. The only one we could turn to for answers was our CASA volunteer.

To continue reading Melissa’s story, visit CASA's website.

Since selecting CASA as our Fraternity philanthropy in 1989, Thetas have participated in fundraisers, served as volunteers, and advocated for the cause. Thanks to our members, we have fantastic photos documenting these activities. We invite you to take a look through our new Facebook album documenting how Thetas have been involved with CASA. If you have photos from your chapter experience that you would like to share, please send them to us!