Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Chris Mayol

Meet this month’s CASA spotlight, Chris Mayol. Chris joined our organization in 2022 as a volunteer advocate. He had recently retired when he was looking for new ways to get involved within the community. Since becoming a CASA, Chris has advocated for 10 children across three different families. He is always going above and beyond, ensuring his CASA children are being advocated for to the fullest extent.

His Supervisor Sena shares, “Chris brings a rare blend of determination and warmth to his work with CASA children and their families. He stands firm in his advocacy, never hesitating to be a strong voice when it is needed most. What truly sets him apart, though, is his natural ability to connect — he makes everyone feel seen and valued, no matter their background. With deep empathy, a genuine presence, and an open heart, Chris continues to be a powerful force for good. His presence is felt, his impact is lasting, and his commitment is nothing short of inspiring.”

Get to know more about our special advocate in the interview below.

Are you from the area?

Yes, I’ve always lived in this area. I was born in DC and started my life in Falls Church. I went to school in Maryland, and eventually moved to Arlington for work. Once I got married, we moved to Manassas, and a couple of years later we ended up in Fairfax.

Are you retired or currently working?

I retired shortly before starting CASA training. Prior to becoming a CASA, I worked as a computer contractor. I loved my work but was glad to be able to start doing things I’ve always wanted to do but never had the time to pursue.

What brought you to CASA?

In the early 2000s, my wife and I embarked on a very long journey of attempting a foreign adoption. We ended up adopting two young girls. Through the process, we were introduced to childhood trauma and the impact of it. We joined a support group of adoptive and foster care parents at our church–and realized we weren’t alone.

During that time, we met many foster parents from Fairfax County. One of them was a volunteer teacher and through his coursework materials, I learned about CASA. I couldn’t get involved at the time. I was working, navigating family life and other responsibilities. So I kept in the back of my mind as something I’d like to pursue someday.

When you are not volunteering as a CASA, what can we find you doing?

I do a lot of reading–and that doesn’t necessarily mean books. I enjoy learning and reading articles about subjects that interest me. Being a CASA, I’m interested in knowing how the brain functions.

I am active in church work and serve on the tech team, managing audio for events and activities. When I was a kid, I got my amateur radio license. It was a fun hobby for me growing up, and I recently upgraded my license. I am diving back into amateur radio again. Amateur radio is fun. Before cell phones were invented, it gave us a chance to shortwave radio talk to people around the world.

I sometimes pretend to do some gardening–but it doesn’t result in much output. We also like to travel and recently just got back from a cruise.

What has been your most memorable experience as a CASA?

I have a lot of memorable moments. The one engrained in my mind the most is from a young girl in a family of four kids. When I met her, she would not look at me and refused to talk to me. She avoided any interactions. After a couple of months of visits there was a breakthrough. I remember it clear as day.

It still took sometime after that before she was able to openly converse with me–but now she talks a lot! Eventually, she shared that her lack of interaction was because she felt shy meeting new faces. The kids have gone through a lot. You can’t expect them to engage in the first few interactions.

What is the best part of being a child advocate?

The best part are times when you feel like you’ve accomplished something that made a difference in the kid’s lives. There aren’t a lot of those moments, but when they do happen–it’s a special feeling. It makes everything worth the effort.

In one of my cases, the child was visually impaired and had been since birth. The family knew about it but never did anything to fix it. The school advocated for her to get glasses. The case worker didn’t know about the child’s genetic disorder that was causing her to go legally blind. Once I made her aware, we managed to get an IEP for her. Now she’s getting the help she needed all along. I was there at the right time to point them in the right direction and get things going.

What do you find most challenging about your role as a CASA?

I would say working with the paid workers in the system. I’ve struggled to gather information from various parties. Often times, some never answer emails or return calls. It’s frustrating and probably the hardest challenge.

But they’re not all that way. I had a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) who was absolutely fantastic. Sadly, he passed away. But when he was in the system, he was the ideal GAL. He loved the kids and was passionate about the work. He would call me after home visits and ask how it went. The kids he represented loved him and even showed up at his funeral to honor him. He was an amazing man and made a huge impact in the lives of many.

What advice would you give to someone considering become a CASA?

Be prepared to spend a lot of time feeling like you aren’t making a difference. Don’t expect to be rewarded with praise by those you are trying to help. Your supervisor and the staff at CASA are going to be the ones who help you see how important you are in the process.

If you’re a person who relies on affirmation, this is probably not the right volunteer role for you.

Thank you, Chris, for all that you do for the children you serve. Feeling called to make an impact in our community? Visit our volunteer page to learn more about the role of a CASA and upcoming virtual information sessions.