Put it On the Calendar and join everyone in Libertyville.

Run or Dye trying!

Although I set TWO alarms on my phone, I still found myself worrying about getting up in time for this morning's event.  Therefore, I was up at 3:11, 3:46, 4:05 and finally I gave up trying to go back to sleep at 5 am.  That is of course when I really could have gone back to sleep.  But not this morning.  It was time to Run or Dye.  I was asked to help volunteer for this new event and so I recruited some others to join us.  The event chose Prevent Child Abuse America as one of the three organizations it would support through the 5k run.  Although it was listed as Run or Dye Chicago, it was actually about an hour away from my house (and that is without traffic) in Bridgeview.  My friend Angelica and I drove down together at 6am to help out as they needed.  Runners pass through starting gates and then run a 5k while onlookers throw colored powdered dye on them.  By the end of the race, every person looks like a living rainbow.  More than 1600 runners helped Prevent Child Abuse America, which in turn, helps CASA. The more abuse and neglect that can be prevented, the less children we have in need of a volunteer advocate and the less strain on the already overwhelmed Child Welfare System.

Angelica and me pre-race. She is such a trooper.

Post-race for these Run or Dyers. 

Happy Mothers Day!

Oh, how I wish my mother lived closer.  We talk at least once a day and she is truly my best friend.  However, my parents live hundreds of miles away. If only she lived just down the street. Anyway, Happy Mother's Day.  Whether you are being celebrated or are celebrating someone, I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.  The four of us woke up and headed downtown for the Komen Race for the Cure.  We opted out of the run and did the walk instead which was smart because with two young curious minds, there was a lot of stopping and looking around as we made our way along the streets of downtown Chicago.  I always love the sea of pink at these events, but it is hard because I know on this day many walk in memory of those who lost their fight with breast cancer and seeing their pictures on shirts and signs reminds us there is still more research to be done. My hope is by unlocking one mystery, we can then solve the other cancer puzzles. 

 After the walk we headed home and then to a late lunch/brunch with my MIL and FIL who just returned from spending the Winter in Florida. Given the Winter here in Chicago, I don't blame them! We are so fortunate they are able to spend time with the kids and see them grow and the kiddos always love spending time with them too.

Casa gala 2013 "Seeds of Hope "

Well...it was a HUGE success and a smoothly run night, in spite of many last minute unforeseen changes.  The annual fundraising benefit for CASA Lake County means we can now serve an additional 20-children in need of an advocate. While we have more than 200 county volunteers in Lake County, we only have 75% of the kids in needs covered by advocates. That statistic is sadly lower everywhere else. To serve more children, we must have a new CASA manager for every 8 children our country is assigned by a judge. It's an undertaking we hard for and tonight, 20 more children will have a voice in court. 

CASA Meet and Greet

Today I was back at Takeda.  This time it was for a meet and greet.  It was more of a one-on-one opportunity to answer questions from employees looking rewarding to dedicate themselve to being a part of. We know that 90% of those who would love to help CASA are simply not aware of us. Every time I meet with a group or corporations like Takeda, we reach out to atleast a few people who will then become child advocates! They tell me how they have wanted to do something like this but they weren't sure how or with which organization. Well, Welcome to CASA and to an expereience that will forever change your life.

CASA and Takeda U.S.A...a beautiful partnership!

This afternoon I was able to participate in a lunch and learn at Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA. They are an enormous corporation with their U.S. operations headquartered in Deerfield. Their large buildings line I-294 and offer their employees Starbucks, on-site dry-cleaning, day care, a gift shop and an even an innovation room! This is their inaugural Volunteer Week. And we were thrilled to be invited to speak with everyone about the work we do through CASA on behalf of our abused and neglected children who find themselves now in the child welfare system. I along with our Executive Director and advocate trainer met with Takeda to explain more about CASA and answer questions about our organization.