Press Release, April 2008

Contact: Ellen M. Bush
            Executive Director, 406 439 6298

CASA Promotes Local Montana Events in April

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs around the state will recognize April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month with a range of activities to help communities protect and provide for abused and neglected children.

Court Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers trained to advocate for children who have been removed from their homes because of alleged abuse and neglect and through no fault of their own.  More than 400 volunteers in 15 local CASA programs advocated for over 1,300 Montana children in 2007.  As in past years, CASA programs around the state have planned numerous Light of Hope events throughout the month of April to draw attention to the needs of abused and neglected children.

This year, Light of Hope events will kick off at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton on April 4th with a banquet fundraiser to benefit the Bitterroot CASA program.  Beginning at 7 p.m., this will be an exciting evening of fine food, good drink, live and silent auctions and live entertainment by Russell Perri and Cyndy Hull.  Tickets are $30 per person or $55 for a couple and can be purchased at Chapter One Bookstore and the Marcus Daly Hospital Marketing Department.

In Flathead County, CASA for Kids will hold their annual Light of Hope event on April 17th at the Hampton Inn in Kalispell.

CASA-Advocates for Kids has planned its 7th annual Run/Walk fundraiser for Saturday, April 19th in Helena.  The event consists of a 5k run and a one- mile historic walk, beginning at 10 a.m. in Yund Park, to be followed by games, food and prizes provided by local businesses.  Registration forms are available online at www.helenacasa.org. Call 457 0797 for more information.
April 19th is also the day for Yellowstone CASA’s annual event in Billings with details to be announced. 

The annual Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) Conference will take place this year April 22-24 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula.  Speakers from around the country will address topics such as domestic violence, preventing child abuse, foster care, permanence, cyber stalking, assisting youth with disabilities, and substance abuse. National CASA CEO Michael Piraino will speak Thursday at the conference. For more information or to register, see http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/cfsd/can/ .

CASA of Lake County's 2nd Annual CASA Golf Scramble fundraiser will take place the following week, on April 26th. The event is an 18-hole four person scramble that begins with a full breakfast at 8:00 a.m.  Cost of entry is $200.00 per team.  The scramble will take place at the Polson Bay Golf Course.  Golfers wanting to sign up should call Cameron at 406-883-8230.

April is also a big month at CASA of Montana, the state network office.  In addition to Light of Hope, registration opens April 3 for the 4th Annual Park-2-Park Montana bike ride, which takes riders nearly 400 miles from St. Mary’s KOA to Gardiner, just outside Yellowstone Park. Last year 43 riders raised $42,000 for CASA programs in Montana. For more information, see www.park2parkmontana.org

Last April, the President proclaimed, “By honoring our obligation to support and protect our young people, all Americans have an opportunity to make a positive difference in the life of a child.”  CASA of Montana encourages community members to take advantage of this opportunity and help us give a voice to abused and neglected children in our state. It is a time to recognize that protecting our children is a national responsibility. 

For more information on local Light of Hope events or the Park-2-Park ride, call CASA of Montana at 866-863-2272 or visit us online at www.casagal.org.