Our impact in the community.
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News and Newsletters
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
2 April 2025. This morning, a parade of children from Foothills Child Advocacy Center came by the Piedmont CASA office to plant a garden of pinwheels for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Thank you!
PCASA at the Fluvanna County Fair
16 April 2025. CASA Supervisor Sherri Rosser is ready to go at the Fluvanna Fair! Recruitment and Training Coordinator Kari Joyner took the photo. Setting up at the fair is a great way to meet potential CASA Advocates.
Trish Foley inducted as CASA Advocate
22 April 2025. The Honorable Areshini Pather gave the oath to Patricia Foley - who is now our newest Piedmont CASA Advocate. Congratulations Trish!
Induction ceremony for graduates of the Spring Training Class - who are now CASA Advocates!
25 March 2025. The Honorable Areshini Pather gave the oath to our newest Piedmont CASA Advocates: 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. Not shown: Patricia Foley and Phyllis Payne. Welcome to Team PCASA!
Bracket Breakfast blends March Madness with mission to support local youth
17 March 2025. NBC29 story on our 10th Annual Bracket Breakfast. "Our own Steve Rappaport helped host the event, which featured celebrity bracketologists like UVA President Jim Ryan and best-selling author John Grisham giving their predictions ahead of the men’s and women’s tournaments."
Celebrating 10 Years of March Magic
17 March 2025. This was the 10th Anniversary of our biggest fundraising event of the year: Jimmy Magic Man Miller's Bracket Breakfast for Piedmont CASA. Thank-you to all the sponsors and supporters who make it possible - and so much fun!
Meet Kari Joyner, Our New Recruitment & Training Coordinator
27 January 2025. Kari Joyner is many things: Morning person. Runner of marathons and half marathons. Learner of languages. Seeker of new challenges and personal growth. These attributes should pay dividends in her role as recruitment and training coordinator for Piedmont CASA. It’s a new position, created as the nonprofit extends its footprint in Virginia’s 16th Judicial District.
Spring Training - First Class
3 February 2025. It's a big group - 18 men and women studying to become CASA Advocates! They met for the first time on Monday, February 3, when Program Director Leah Cole led the first class for Spring Training. Soon-to-be CASAs include Ray Andress, Scotty Batten, Kelli Charles-Henning, Julia Dawson, Trish Foley, Judy Gelber, Mark Goodson, Abbie Green, Kathy Johnson Harris, Drew Landrowski, Chris Little, Phyllis Payne, Toni Pollard, Caroline Roller, Karen Schwartz, Stacey Washington, and Zachary Wheat. Thanks to everyone for sharing their time and their heart to help kids in foster care change their story.
Spring Training Class tours Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
6 March 2025. Classes are done - time to take a tour through the historic Jefferson School. It offers a wide range of interdisciplinary programming including its permanent exhibition, Pride Overcomes Prejudice, that tells the history of the Jefferson School through the voices of alumni and community members.
Ragged Mountain Running donates 12th Day of Giving to Piedmont CASA
27 December 2024. Big thanks to Mark and the fabulous people at Ragged Mountain for making Piedmont CASA the beneficiary for their 12th Day of Giving!
Piedmont CASA holiday party
15 December 2025. In our work, the year can be like a roller coaster with so many ups and downs. When December rolls around, Team PCASA hits pause for a cozy holiday celebration and stocks it full of silly fun, big smiles, and warm wishes.
Team PCASA takes at look back at 2024
In this slideshow, each member of our staff shares a highlight from their year at PCASA.
How do we know the holidays are here? Emerson Electric.
13 December 2024. Every year, the incredibly generous folks at Emerson Electric make our conference room merry and bright with presents. For two decades, they have been granting wish lists for CASA kids. Big thanks to the Emerson Angels!
Phyllis James and Patricia Frye in Madison
15 December 2025. CASA Supervisor Phyllis James and Board Member Patricia Frye visited the Madison County African American Historical Association for an FPM.
Street Banner for Recruiting advocates in Madison
November - December 2024. Now that we are serving children in Madison, we need to recruit folks from Madison to become their CASAs. This banner stretched across Main Street for several months.
The Grand Finale of M4K 2024: The 'Stash Bash!
2 December 2024. Three Notch'd Brewing Company hosted the wrap on our first annual Mustaches 4 Kids fundraiser - The 'Stash Bash! Our incredible Growers raised over $58K to help kids in our community! Thank you to ALL who were involved - can't wait til next year! Photos courtesy of Sarah Cramer Shields.
How's it growing?
Hats off to everyone putting a mustache on to help raise funds for children served by Piedmont CASA and the Foothills Child Advocacy Center. More than 60 people all around the community have signed up to be growers in our Mustaches 4 Kids fundraiser. See them all on the M4K website - and vote for your favorite!
Högwaller Brewing hosts the midway for M4K
15 November 2024. Högwaller Brewing generously hosted the event and blooms4good showed off their flower power by donating all proceeds from the sales of their floral pumpkins and floral mustaches. To all the brave souls growing mustaches to raise funds for vulnerable children - we salute you! Be sure to support your favorite fundraising grower on the M4K website before the end of November!
They were so fast we couldn't get their photo, but we love the light they left behind
11 October 2024. Albemarle Electric called about replacing our ancient outdoor lights - the ones on the second and third floors - with new fixtures. Now for the first time in years, we actually have working outdoor safety lights with bulbs that will not have to be changed for a looooooong time. Thank you Albemarle Electric!
The Sun Tribe team came back for more!
24 October 2024. When they came for Day of Caring in September, it was rainy so the Sun Tribe team couldn't finish painting the exterior doors. It was weeks before the sun decided to come and stay awhile. Today, the painting is done and the doors are looking great. Thank you Sun Tribe!
Mustaches 4 Kids kicks off at Random Row
1 November 2024. The growing season is officially underway! Random Row hosted the launch party and JR the Bear was there - thanks to Albemarle Heating, Air, and Plumbing.
Appreciation Picnic for Piedmont CASA Volunteers
22 October 2024. More than 70 Volunteers, Board members, and family members came to Eastwood Farm & Winery to enjoy a beautiful fall evening with friends. As the sun was beginning to set, Supervisor Sherri Rosser announced that CASA Volunteer Helen Wanner was the 2024 Ruth Stone Advocate of the Year! Helen has been a CASA for five years. In that time, she has been an exceptional advocate for fourteen boys and girls in the foster care system. "Helen Wanner is everything we want a CASA Volunteer to be," said Sherri, "She is not afraid to ask questions or speak up. The kids are always excited to see her and the CASA bag she brings, filled with activities and items the kids are interested in. And she knows their interests because Helen is observant and she listens."
Kate Duvall also recognized Phil Giaramita for a remarkable two decades as a CASA. In that time, he has been the voice for 18 children. He has invested over 1,370 hours on their behalf - that's over half a year of eight-hour days! "One of the proudest moments in my service was when I spoke on behalf of a dad who deeply loved and cared about his three young children. Others in the discussion were insisting on adoption. As I talked, and my emotion surprised even me, the dad sat there with tears running down his face. The kids were returned to him, as they should have been. He was a good person and provider and somehow, I was the only one who knew that."
Thank you Phil, Helen - and all of the amazing advocates on the PCASA Volunteer Team!
Team PCASA enjoys an annual apple picking trip with kids and grandkids
16 October 2024. It was a beautiful afternoon for Team PCASA's annual apple picking at the Carter Mountain Orchard. At 4:00, staff gathered with their children and grandchildren to enjoy the brisk air, crisp apples, and lots of laughter.
Advocate Spotlight shines on Phil Giaramita
11 October 2024. Virginia CASA featured longtime Piedmont CASA Advocate Phil Giaramita in their monthly spotlight. During his nearly two decades as a CASA, Phil served 18 children. He devoted 1,350 hours to their cases - that would be 544 eight-hour work days!
Meet our newest Piedmont CASA Advocates!
15 October 2024. The Honorable Areshini Pather gave the oath to our newest Piedmont CASA Volunteers. On the left, 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, Brenda Rosenberg, Kate Foley, and Nick DiMaggio. Jon Keyserling will be inducted next week. Congratulations and welcome to the Piedmont CASA Team!
CBS19 interviews Kate about Mustaches 4 Kids
10 October 2024. CBS19 News reports that it is about to get hairy! No-Shave November is only weeks ago - and so is the first Mustaches 4 Kids in our community! Check out the website to learn more - or to sign up to be Grower!
Making new friends: Iota Chapter of UVA's Omega Phi Beta Sorority
10 October 2024. This was our first project together and boy, did we get a lot done. On Thursday, October 10, three Omega sorority members, all of whom are studying to become nurses, came by the office to help us stuff, seal, and stamp over 600 letters. They worked until 10pm to make sure every single envelope was in order and ready to mail. Big thanks to Annalisa Cintron, Bisola Olowe, and Galilea Estrada.
Hats off to Delta Chi - Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority
September-October 2024. Not long after hosting the traditional Waffle CASA fundraiser for PCASA on September 21, Emma Schuh came by to pick up blank envelopes, pens, and mailing lists. She returned a week later with boxes of hand-addressed envelopes. Every week, Lily Lynch drops in to help us out with various projects. We are beyond grateful for the many ways these ladies help us change the story for kids in our community.
Fall Training class tours Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
4 October 2024. At the end of the course, the Fall Training Class toured The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, which highlights Charlottesville’s African American history and culture of the African diaspora.
PCASA Board and Staff meet and greet at Louisa Fall Harvest Festival
5 October 2024. We've been going to the Fall Harvest Festival in Louisa for over a decade. It's a great place for meeting friends and families. Many of the Kids4Kids drawings you've seen originated here. Supervisor Sherri Rosser and Board Chair Joel Reich, were among the PCASA team members who pitched in.
Kate Duvall guests on NBC29's Community Conversations to talk about Mustaches 4 Kids
8 October 2024. Call for all courageous and fun-loving community members! Kate Duvall joined NBC29 Community Conversations to recruit growers for Mustaches 4 Kids. The November 1 kickoff at Random Row Brewing is only weeks away!
Sun Tribe spent Day of Caring beautifying the PCASA office
18 September 2024. The Sun Tribe Solar Team cleaned the carpeting on two floors and the stairwell - and it looks amazing! It was raining so they couldn't paint the exterior doors, so they scraped and prepped them for a sunny day return. Thank you, Sun Tribe, for making our office several shades brighter!
ACAC holds yoga nidra class led by Lynsie Mckeown just for PCASA Advocates and staff.
29 September 2024. A huge thank you to ACAC Cville for supporting Piedmont CASA this month with their 30 for $30 campaign AND for the wonderful yoga nidra class with the talented Lynsie Mckeown. It was an amazing class full of mindfulness and relaxation.
Donaldson Construction turns hall into beautiful work area
3 October 2024. We had been using the hall as a catchall until Ryan Roman and the fabulous folks at Donaldson Construction offered to design and donate a much more useful work area. Now it's beautiful with lots of storage space and two desks. Big thanks to Donaldson and to Cavanaugh Cabinets for donating the materials.
PCASA team pops up for Fork Union Day
14 September 2024. President Kate Duvall, Supervisors Phyllis James and Alison Taravella, and CASA Advocate Nikki Sheradon took turns at the PCASA table set up for Fork Union Day. They met lots of great people, and collected wonderful drawings from kids who drew what made them happy!
Year 2 at the Greene Health & Wellness Fun Fair
15 September 2024. Sponsored by the Greene Health Clinic, this is a very fun fair with everything from face painting to music to Bollywood dancing. Mostly, it's a great way to meet families in Greene and share the work of our PCASA Advocates.
Thanks to Charlottesville Catholic School for donating classroom space
26 September 2024. Sometimes our training classes are too large to hold in the Piedmont CASA room. We are so grateful that the Charlottesville Catholic School donated space so our future advocates had enough room to work and study.
Virginia CASA video features PCASA Supervisor Sherri Rosser
September 2024. Virginia CASA made a beautiful video about the work of CASAs all across the state. PCASA Supervisor Sherri Rosser was featured with one of the youth she served, who is now a young man. Produced by The Idea Center in Richmond, this video offers a memorable insight as to why CASAs do what they do. Click the button below to see "Throughout Virginia, CASA Volunteers are changing stories for children in foster care.
ACAC partners with CASA for their annual 30 for $30
1-30 September 2024. Join ACAC in September and get a 30-day pass for $30 - plus you’ll be helping kids in our community! Because ACAC will donate the full $30 to support the mission of Piedmont CASA! 30 days of unlimited group exercise classes of all types, aquatics centers, state-of-the-art fitness floor, Kids Zone child care and so much more!
First day of Fall Training
5 September 2024. The first day of our Fall Training Course for future Piedmont CASA Volunteers began at 5:00 pm. There were 19 men and women in the class. The course will consist of ten classes with the last one to be held on October 8.
CASA Advocate Valerie Palamountain in Fluvanna Review
18 July 2024. Piedmont CASA Advocate Valerie Palamountain's letter to the editor was published in the Fluvanna Review. "When Piedmont CASA decided to expand into Fluvanna County, I committed to becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate..."
Information Sessions held for first time in Fluvanna, Madison
11 July through 8 August, 2024. As part of our expansion into the counties of Fluvanna and Madison, we held multiple Information Sessions there, as well as in Louisa, Greene, and Charlottesville.
Don't miss this inspiring film about a Texas community that adopted 77 kids in foster care
18 July 2024. Piedmont CASA Advocates and staff went to the Violet Crown to see "Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot". "The film follows Donna and Reverend Martin as they ignite a fire in the hearts of their rural church to embrace kids in the foster system that nobody else would take. Their community adopted 77 children and proved that, with real, determined love, the battle for America’s most vulnerable can be won.
2 July 2024. Today we celebrate one full year of building our service in Fluvanna. After months of recruitment, screening, and training, 5 men and women in Fluvanna were sworn in by the court as Piedmont CASA Volunteers. Today, five children in Fluvanna foster care have the life-changing advocacy of CASA Volunteers. This spring, the Court inducted two more CASA Advocates from Fluvanna, who will soon be appointed to a case.
19 years of backpacking with the folks at Emerson
Coordinating a drive for up to 60 backpacks, each customized for a particular child, is no small feat. For one thing, every backpack needs to be packed with all the supplies required for the grade the child is entering. As any parent knows, that can be quite a list, yet the men and women of Emerson have been managing it for scores of kids every year, for nearly two decades. And for thirteen years, CASA Supervisor Kati Naess has been heading up the drive.
Kati’s first step is to figure out how many backpacks are needed, then get the Volunteers to find out what each kid would like. Requests range from a simple color choice to very specific characters and creatures. Dinosaurs are a favorite, so is Spiderman, and there is almost always a sparkling Barbie. But sometimes, we get a wish that is harder to grant. This year, it was a backpack with pink and white checks. Lo and behold, the dedicated team at Emerson managed to find one! That is what makes partnering with Emerson so special – they go over and above. And then they come back to do it again. Each year they call Kati to say they’re ready for the backpack drive, and she begins pulling together the wish list. Since 2005, more than 700 CASA kids have returned to school well provisioned and in style. We are so grateful to Kati for her outstanding dedication, and to the amazing, generous, and steadfast men and women of Emerson.
Newsletters
The Advocate: Monthly Editions
- The Advocate - December 2025
- The Advocate - November 2025
- The Advocate - October 2025
- The Advocate - September 2025
- The Advocate - August 2025
- The Advocate - July 2025
- The Advocate - June 2025
- The Advocate - May 2025
- The Advocate - April 2025
- The Advocate - March 2025
- The Advocate - February 2025
- The Advocate - January 2025
- The Advocate - December 2024
- The Advocate - November 2024
- The Advocate - October 2024
- The Advocate - September 2024
- The Advocate - August 2024
The Advocate: Quarterly Editions
- The Advocate - June 2024
- The Advocate - March 2024
- The Advocate - December 2023
- The Advocate - September 2023
- The Advocate - June 2023
- The Advocate - March 2023
- The Advocate - December 2022
- The Advocate - September 2022
- The Advocate - June 2022
- The Advocate - March 2022
- The Advocate - December 2021
- The Advocate - September 2021
- The Advocate - June 2021
Vintage Annual Spring Editions
- Newsletter - Spring 2020 (online)
- Newsletter - Spring 2019 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2018 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2017 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2016 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2015 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2014 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2013 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2012 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2011 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2010 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Spring 2009 (pdf)
- Newsletter - Summer 2008 (pdf)
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