Voices of Hope
Annual Volunteer Recognition Event
On Tuesday, March 1st, we celebrated our advocates at our annual dinner under the stars and among the animals at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Judge Mary Dolas gave the Oath of Office and welcomed 24 new advocates who are now officers of the court to amplify the voices of children in foster care.
California CASA Board of Director and CEO of the Fresno Housing Authorities, Tyrone Roderick Williams, gave a very moving speech as he stood in the shadows near the podium. As he moved into the lights, he thanked our 200+ advocates for helping local youth be heard and seen in the dependency courts. He shared the gratitude of the community for the time they’ve taken to meet with social workers, attorneys, and teachers, and for letting our youth know that there is at least one constant adult, their CASA, who will advocate for them and give them HOPE.
The evening ended with a standing ovation for the CASA staff who was a bit overwhelmed with the show of gratitude. Each employee is incredibly dedicated to the mission of CASA and know that they are each a valued for their unique role. We are here for each of our advocates because we are here to help give …hope.
Our Event Sponsors
Tutellian
Properties
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Voices of Hope 2021
Advocate Volunteers
Steve Merrill
Leslie Booth
Jean Hand
Advocate Partnership
Kaleena Goodman and Hector Cerda
Advocate of the Year
Wendy Yribarren
CASA CARES Award
Sandy Bailey
Maureen Lewis Business Partnership Award Winner:
McGaughy’s Suspensions – Owners, Steve and Michelle McGaughy
Voices of Hope 2020
Advocate Volunteers
Esther Sanchez & Michelle Helmer
Advocate Partnership
Karen Semas & Alejandra Avila
Advocate of the Year
Melanie Welch
Maureen Lewis Business Partnership Award Winner
California Dingo Media – Owner, David Schlotterback
Voices of Hope 2019
Partnership Award Winners
John Lloyd & Lori Joo & Sarah Ruminson & Mai Xiong
Shelly Cooper & Donnisha Jennings
Rick & Jennifer Porter & Jennifer Her
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Mario Pinedo. Francisco Pelayo
Advocate of the Year:
John Ryan
Voices of Hope 2018
Partnership Award Winners
John Lloyd & Lori Joo and Sarah Ruminson
Elmer McDougald and Sarah Ruminson
Tom Agrava and Jen Dote
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Marcia Sieckowski, Jane Kautz
Advocate of the Year:
Elliott Balch
Voices of Hope 2017
Partnership Award Winners
Carolyn Plunkett and Natalie Aleshin
Lynne Hawkins and Alejandra & Steven James
Marie Edwards and Chris Salmeron
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Barbara Kosinski, Steve Merrill, Kaleena Goodman
Advocate of the Year:
Alice Pierson-Knapp
Voices of Hope 2016
Partnership Award Winners
Donna Rosenstein and Chua Chang
Vicki Sorenson and Helen Viau
Lori Curtiss and Ralph & Christina Luna
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Harry Cline, Sandra Bailey, Lisa Rocha-Danks, Allison Martinez
Advocate of the Year:
Cindy Jenkins
Voices of Hope 2015
Partnership Award Winners
Nancy Moradian and Frankie King
Cathy Mcguire and CASA of Fresno & Madera Counties
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Susan Early, Becky Cox, Mona Omar
Advocate of the Year:
Mona Omar
Voices of Hope 2014
Partnership Award Winners
Rick & Debra Elmore and Helen Viau
Ginger Thomas and Rub Falcon
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Jane Kautz, Cheryl Brumbaugh, Vanessa Carillo, Gary Gladding
Advocate of the Year:
Gary Gladding
Voices of Hope 2013
Partnership Award Winners
Cecily Short and Rene Mendoza
Kim Dyck and Ty Carpenter
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Ed Avila, Lynne Hawkins, Mary Schmidt, Mandeep Rajpal, Debra Spiliotis
Advocate of the Year:
Ed Avila & Debra Spiliotis
Voices of Hope 2012
Partnership Award Winners
Norm Baird and Abby Montano
Susan Early and Robin Silveira
Jeannette Giannetta and Jose Vargas
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Terri Bricker, Mike Rogers, Karen Spurgeon, Sylvia Woodburne
Advocate of the Year:
Sylvia Woodburne
Voices of Hope 2011
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Rod Blair, Joe & Sandy Fabry, Autumn Lencioni, Pam Neely, Linda Ramsey
Advocate of the Year:
Ed Avila & Debra Spiliotis
Voices of Hope 2010
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Jennifer Anderson, Barbara Grigsby, Wesley Merritt, Johanna Romero, Regina Tanner
Advocate of the Year:
Regina Tanner
Voices of Hope 2009
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Regina Tanner, Ana Paula Redditt, Brenda (Bree) Watson Hill
Shining Star Award:
Robin Leppo
Advocate of the Year:
Karen Fini
Voices of Hope 2008
Voices of Hope Award Winners
Dave Ferguson, Keith McCoy, Dan Bernardino, Laura Slagle
Shining Star Award
Joan McCoy
Advocate of the Year:
Ginger Thomas