Help Us Reach Our Fundraising Goal

Dear Friends,

Every holiday season, amid the lists and the noise and the hustle, I find myself returning
to the same thought: What truly matters? For many of us, it’s the presence of family and
those we hold dear—those familiar faces and warm spaces that make us feel safe and
loved. But for the children served by Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA),
these simple anchors of childhood are often fragile—or missing entirely. Fairfax CASA
works to change that.

This year, more than 385 children in Fairfax County had the benefit of a CASA volunteer
walking beside them as they navigated the chaotic child welfare and court systems.
These children have experienced abuse or neglect, been moved from home to home, and
sat in courtrooms and meetings where decisions about their lives were made. During
these moments, their CASA volunteer was the one steady, reliable adult focused solely
on their safety, their needs, and their voice.

Children like Addie, who came to the Court’s attention in 2016. She was immediately
assigned a CASA—someone who would stand by her side for more than nine years.
Addie’s life was shaped by challenges no child should face: her mother fled Virginia and
left her behind, and she moved through eight different foster placements. Yet through
every upheaval, her CASA remained a steady, unwavering presence—an adult she could
count on. Over the last nine years, Addie’s CASA visited with her more than 370 times,
wrote eleven detailed court reports, and dedicated more than 550 hours to advocating on
her behalf.

Today, Addie is a soon-to-be high school graduate. She is in a stable, supportive foster
home, and her foster mother has committed to allowing her to remain in the home until
age 21 through Virginia’s Fostering Futures program—giving her the stability, support,
and a sense of belonging she deserves as she prepares for adulthood. Her CASA will be
there in May to cheer her across the graduation stage, and she will continue to be a
source of support, stability, and guidance in whatever ways Addie needs in the future.

Less than a year ago, Nina came to the Court’s attention when her parents were unable
to provide the level of care she required for her complex medical and psychiatric needs.
When she was assigned a CASA, Nina was completely mute and experiencing profound
mental health challenges. She could not communicate in any capacity—not with
caregivers, not with professionals, and not even with gestures.

But her CASA showed up consistently, visiting her more than 20 times this year in hospital settings and in her home, advocating passionately with her treatment team, and attending seven hearings in
just one year—hearings in which 100% of her recommendations were adopted and
ordered by the Court.

Nina’s CASA advocated not only for Nina, but for her parents to receive the support they
needed to care for Nina safely at home. Today, Nina is back in her home with her
parents, slowly regaining her verbal skills. During a recent visit, she looked at her CASA
and said, “I want to say something to you… I love you.” She now knows her CASA’s
name, is able to share her thoughts and feelings, and according to her CASA, she has “a
lot to say!

Addie’s and Nina’s stories remind us that every child who enters the child welfare
system deserves a dedicated advocate—someone who champions their needs, lifts their
voice, and keeps their path to safety, stability, and permanence lit. When a child cannot
return home, helping them find a safe, stable, and family-like setting becomes essential.
And when a child can return home, supporting their parents and reinforcing the family’s
ability to keep them safe is equally vital.

This level of advocacy and these outcomes are only possible because of people like
you. This year’s report from Virginia’s Office of the Children’s Ombudsman underscores an
urgent truth: our child welfare system is strained, and children need stronger
advocacy now more than ever. CASAs help fill that gap by advocating across systems
and giving judges a fuller, clearer picture of each child’s life—something no other part of
the system is structured to provide.

Thanks to the dedication of more than 170 trained volunteer advocates, Fairfax CASA
provided over 23,000 hours of direct advocacy this year. They visited their children more
than 8,250 times and drove more than 152,000 miles in doing so. Our volunteers wrote
over 320 detailed court reports, attended more than 550 hearings, and ensured that
our judges had the information they needed to make informed decisions for children.
Despite these impressive statistics, we continue to run a waitlist of children in need of a
CASA. Our ability to recruit, train, and supervise these exceptional volunteers depends
on community support.

This holiday season, we have set an important goal: to raise $80,000 by December 31
so that every child referred to us by the Court can be assigned a CASA volunteer, ending
our waitlist.

Your gift today will: Ensure children like Addie and Nina are visited regularly by a trained advocate
who listens, observes, and speaks up for their needs. Provide the ongoing training and professional supervision that keeps CASA volunteers informed, supported, and effective. Help us respond immediately when the Court appoints Fairfax CASA to a newly abused or neglected child’s case.

Would you consider making a special year-end gift of $100, $250, $500, or another
meaningful amount? Whether you give $35 or $3,500, your generosity will be put to
work right away to ensure that vulnerable children in our community have a dedicated
advocate by their side.

You can make your tax-deductible contribution using the enclosed envelope or by giving
securely online at www.fairfaxcasa.org/donate. If your employer offers a matching gift
program, you may be able to double—or even triple—the impact of your support.
At a time of year when we celebrate home, family, and hope, I am deeply grateful for your
partnership. Because of your generosity, youth like Addie and Nina do not have to face
the system alone.

Thank you for standing with Fairfax CASA, and for standing with our children.

With gratitude,
Darcy Hubbard
Executive Director