For 30 years, Lone Star CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) has worked to provide our courts with the information needed to act in the best interests of abused and neglected children in Rockwall and Kaufman Counties, and to ensure that they’re placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.

Lone Star CASA Press release

Lone Star CASA Celebrates Volunteer Advocates at Annual Banquet

We are grateful for our exceptional volunteers!

Rockwall TX — 

For Immediate Release

Lone Star CASA 2024 Annual Banquet. Volunteers, former executive director Lucille Bell, and honorable judge Brett Hall seated at a table. Rockwall, TX– Lone Star CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) held its annual Volunteer
Appreciation Banquet on Sunday, April 28th, at the Parrish House prior to the launch of National
Foster Care Mont

h. This event served to celebrate and honor the dedication of CASA’s Volunteer

Advocates who make a resounding difference in the lives of children facing abuse and neglect in
our community as

they navigate foster care and the legal system.

The banquet was a heartwarming evening filled with recognition of Lone Star CASA’s active
volunteers and their efforts in the previous year. Advocates shared stories with one another
offering guidance and support as they dined. Before the awards presentation, it was time to
reflect on the posit

ive impact CASA Volunteers have on the children they advocate for and the

community as a whole. Inspiring speeches from Honorable Judge Hall, Board President Sandra
Ownby, Advocate Karen Wydra, and Program Manager Elizabeth Mosman, filled the beautiful
space with profound reminders of how and why this challenging work really matters. Notably,
Lone Star CASA celebrated volunteers who reached important milestones in their service and
announced its Board Member and Volunteer Advocate of the Year.

Volunteer A

dvocate of the Year was awarded to Pam LeTourneau. Beginning her service with

Lone Star CASA in 2019, she has advocated on five cases. In 2023, her level of commitment to
children who were stricken with physical and emotional tragedy cannot be understated. The
children needed s

omeone who could manage their own grief and focus on supporting them in

their healing journey. “Pam advocated on these kids’ behalf for almost two years, and out of
heartbreak came something good for these two children. Now in the care of a loving adoptive
family, they will always know their CASA was there and stood by them through the most
challenging time,” said Mosman.

Board Member of the Year was awarded to Zahnd Schlensker. Now Vice President, Zahnd
joined the Board of Directors in 2022. CASA is grateful for Zahnd’s contributions serving on the
Development Committee, Clays for CASA and Cheers for CASA. “As a Forney City Council
Member and supporter of the Forney Education Foundation, her involvement in the community
has raised awareness for our organization throughout the city of Forney and beyond,” said
Sandra Ownby, President of Lone Star CASA Board of Directors.

Lone Star CASA welcomes you to get involved in their mission of elevating the voices of
children experiencing abuse and neglect in your community. If you are interested in becoming a
volunteer, please sign up for an information session. You can also join their giving program, the
Foster of Hope Circle, by contributing on a recurring basis. When you join the Foster of Hope
Circle, you ensure that vulnerable children, like those served by Pam, receive consistent
advocacy and support as they heal from unspeakable trauma. Please visit lonestarcasa.org to
learn more.

About Lone Star CASA

Founded in 1992, Lone Star CASA — Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children — serves Rockwall and Kaufman Counties in Texas. Lone Star CASA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports volunteers who gather important information about abused and neglected children and offer recommendations to judges that help them decide what is the best interests of each child.

Learn more at https://www.lonestarcasa.org

Media Contact

Lauren Rowe
Executive Director
lauren@lonestarcasa.org
(972) 772-5858
Lone Star CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children
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