Piedmont CASA Annual Impact Report
Fiscal Year 2025: July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025
Shining a light for children and youth in foster care
Letter from our Leaders
Piedmont CASA Board of Directors Chair Joel Reich and President Kate Duvall
Dear Friend,
This year, as we celebrate Piedmont CASA’s 30th anniversary, we reflect on three decades of shining a light for children and youth in our community - light that brings clarity, safety, and hope when the path ahead feels uncertain. Since 1995, our Advocates, staff, and supporters have stood steadfastly beside thousands of children, ensuring that their voices are heard and their futures are bright.
The theme of this year’s report, Shining a Light, speaks to what Piedmont CASA does every single day. Our CASAs illuminate the stories of children who might otherwise go unseen. They bring to light the needs, strengths, and dreams of each young person they serve. And together with our partners, donors, and community, we help guide these children toward stability and opportunity.
Over the past 30 years, our impact has grown in ways we could only have imagined. From our first few CASAs to a thriving network of Advocates and Bridges to Success Coaches, from serving a handful of children to reaching hundreds each year - our collective light has grown stronger, more focused, and more far-reaching. And yet, the heart of our mission remains unchanged: every child deserves a safe and permanent home where they can thrive.
Even as we celebrate this milestone, the need for Advocates continues to grow. Today, nearly 50 children in our community are waiting for a CASA to stand by their side. This waitlist is a reminder of both the progress we’ve made and the important work still ahead. With more Advocates and supporters, we can ensure that no child has to wait for the advocacy and care they deserve.
This is where your support has a direct and immediate impact. Every contribution helps us recruit, train, and sustain more Advocates—enabling us to move children off the waitlist and assign a dedicated CASA. When you give, a child moves from waiting to being seen, heard, and supported.
As we step into the next 30 years, we carry forward the same passion and promise that have guided us from the start. There is still more work to do, more lives to touch, and more light to share. With your continued support, Piedmont CASA will keep shining brightly for the children and youth who need us most.
Thank you for being part of our story and for helping us light the way forward.
The kids we served in FY 2025
Shining a light on reuniting a family
To be reunited with her daughters, a homeless young mother had to find stable housing. When you're poor, 'stable housing' is a unicorn. For Roberta, there was no lack of desire or ambition. She wanted her kids back, but poverty is like a locked door. WIthout a key, all you can do is press your nose against the glass and look in. Roberta had setback after setback, but always continued fighting. Owing to the support of her daughters' CASA Advocate, a woman opened her home to the family. This was enough stability for Mom to maintain sobriety and engage with the Department of Social Services. Eventually her commitment and determination paid off, and the family was reunited in a Trial Home Placement. At a recent Family Partnership Meeting, everyone applauded her hard work and determination. She was proud and happy. At the next hearing, her children were transferred to her custody.
32 Advocates Were Inducted in FY25
October 2024. The Honorable Areshini Pather gave the oath to Frank Friedman and Mark Sackson flank PCASA President Kate Duvall. L-R: Heather Griffith, Betsy Cox, Curtis Davis, Ketlin Palacio Smith, Bill Terrell, Ashley Burke, Liz Burns, Joneisha Allen, Maria Rolph, Pam Quarterman (hidden), Brenda Rosenberg, Kate Foley, and Nick DiMaggio. Jon Keyserling was inducted the following week.
March 2025. L-R: President Kate Duvall, Antoinette Pollard, Stacey Washington, Julia Dawson, Drew Landrowski, Judy Gelber, Melanie Scott, Karen Joy Schwartz, Chris Little, Abbie Green, Ray Andress, Mark Goodson, Kelli Charles-Henning, Matthew S. Batten, Kathy Johnson Harris, Caroline Roller, Zachary Wheat. The oath was given by Honorable Areshini Pather. Not shown: Patricia Foley and Phyllis Payne were inducted the following week.
Shining a light on Janet's needs
Janet was 12 years old when she was placed with her aunt. Unfortunately, her aunt and the Department of Social Services (DSS) could not get along. DSS moved Janet to a non-relative foster home in another town miles away. Janet's CASA disagreed with this decision, and wrote as much in her report. During the critical court hearing, an attorney for the parents stated that "The only place we can find out what this child wants is in the CASA report -- and she clearly wants to be with her aunt." Because her PCASA Advocate was shining a light on what was best for Janet, the court listened, and reunited her with her aunt, with in-home services provided by a different DSS.
Shining a light for older youth so they can shine on their own
For years, experts recognized that older youth in care were not thriving and that young men and women who turned 18 and "aged out" faced dismal outcomes. When we looked at our own cases, we saw older kids experiencing more frequent placement changes, often to more and more restrictive settings, further and further from home. They were not doing well in school and certainly were not developing the soft and hard skills they needed to step over the threshold into young adulthood. That's why, in 2017, we developed the Bridges to Success for Older Youth in Foster Care program. For eight years, our Bridges Coaches have been shining a light for older youth - so they can gain the confidence and skills they need to shine on their own.
In FY 2025, Bridges Coaches served 39 young men and women.
The youth ranged in age from 14 to 21.
Older youth are placed all around the Commonwealth, so Bridges Coaches spend a lot of time on the road: 25,605 miles last year.
Of the 9 cases that closed when the youth were 18-21:
- 8 graduated from high school or earned their GEDs
- 3 were accepted to colleges
When we build strong children, we build a strong community.
Shining a light so he could see hope
Dan was lost, unmotivated, feeling like he did not have a single reason to keep trying. Patiently, his Bridges to Success Coach built a trusting relationship, and Dan opened up about being overwhelmed by his situation. His coach encouraged him to start therapy and practice self care. With less stress, he could do better in school. Dan tried and failed many times, even 'gave up' a few times, but with the support of his Bridges Coach, he kept going.
They worked together to explore employment options. Dan found a job that made him proud, and was promoted. All while he was still in school - and doing very well there.
Today Dan has multiple reasons to keep trying: a job he likes, good grades, and a future. With the support and mentoring of his Bridges Coach, helplessness has been eclipsed by hope.
Donors and Friends
Gifts received between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025
We thank our many supporters for their generous gifts to Piedmont CASA. If an error or omission has occurred, we express our sincere regret and ask that it be brought to our attention. If you would like copies of Piedmont CASA's financial statements, please call the Office at 434-971-7515.
Thanks to our friends, sponsors, and supporters - these 3 events raised over $130,000 for Piedmont CASA
Shining a light to see the possibilities
In the beginning, he was so withdrawn that folks were not even sure he would graduate from high school. Then he met his Bridges Coach. Years later, they could talk to about anything, even his dream career. What happened next changed everything. His coach introduced him to an online personal training program. He registered and is excelling in it. Because his Bridges Coach was there to shine a light on his potential, he found the confidence to turn a dream into a goal.
Finishing high school is so much easier when you can see there is a place for you in the world, a place you want to be.
Shining a light so a boy can fly
Todd was reclusive, immersing himself in video games. He was so reserved and shy, his Bridges Coach considered himself lucky to get more than a few words out of him. But his Coach was patient, a steady beacon of light and hope. Over the years, Todd became far more outgoing and confident. Today he is working part-time, playing on a soccer team, and volunteering at a local animal shelter. Instead of hiding in his video game shell, Todd is excelling academically, touring colleges and - learning to drive!
The Numbers
