Business & Tech

Chamber Recognizes CASA's Service to Abused, Neglected Children in DuPage County

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of DuPage County receives Chamber award for best small nonprofit organization, celebrates organization's 20-year anniversary.

The Wheaton Chamber of Commerce last week recognized Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of DuPage, an organization that helps abused and neglected children in the Dupage County court system, as the best small not-for-profit organization in the area.

CASA was "very fortunate" to be nominated with so many remarkable organizations, CASA Executive Director Lisa Drake said in a statement.

The 2013 award is especially meaningful as CASA celebrates its 20th year as an organization, Drake said. In the past 20 years, CASA of DuPage has served 1,449 children who have been adjudicated or abused and neglected, according to a CASA news release.

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CASA of DuPage is supported by individual donors, grants and special events and focuses solely on a child’s needs through one-on-one advocacy. 

Every month, each volunteer advocate visits his/her assigned child, attends court, family meetings and case reviews and writes reports for presiding judges. Last year DuPage advocates spent approximately 6,000 volunteer hours and drove over 44,000 miles on behalf of the children. Today 258 DuPage County children are under CASA care provided by 128 citizen advocates.

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