Over 100 needy children are on our wait list for an Advocate
SPOTLIGHT
7th Annual Child Advocates Golf Classic Raises Over $120K
Los Altos, CA--- "Every foster child deserves an Advocate volunteer." -- Leonard Edwards, Former Judge Dependency Court, Co-Founder of Child Advocates, and 2011 Los Altan of the Year
On September 10, 2012, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley raised over $120K for the 7th Annual Golf Classic. The tournament, presented by Racklive, was held at the Los Altos Golf and Country Club. Approximately 100 golfers participated in the fundraiser benefiting foster children in Santa Clara County. Tournament highlights included - hole in one contest, longest drive winner Jason Green and closest to the pin winner Cheryl Vicary to name a few. The evening concluded with an intimate dinner and remarks by, guest speaker the Honorable Judge Leonard Edwards. "Child Advocates of Silicon Valley has one of the most innovative and leading CASA programs in the United States," said the Honorable Judge Leonard Edwards.
About Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley recruits, trains and supports Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) who serve the needs of children in the foster care system by providing a powerful, independent voice for the child. These dedicated community volunteers spend time with a child and become a trusted friend, mentor, and consistent adult presence. They work with foster parents, teachers, social workers, counselors, and others to build a complete picture of the child's life and needs. Advocates attend hearings in dependency court to advise the judge on the child's best interests when key decisions are being made. The volunteer Advocates stay with their case until their child has a safe, loving home.
Founded in 1986 by Judge Leonard Edwards and a community volunteer, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley works in partnership with the Santa Clara County Juvenile Dependency Court, one of only a few recognized model courts in the United States. Child Advocates and our community partners work with the Court to change the way the child dependency system has traditionally worked, thereby improving outcomes for children and families. In 2012, sixty-one percent of our Advocate volunteers reported that the children with whom they worked improved their academic progress. Eighty-five percent of the advocate children who were high school seniors earned their high school diploma, or equivalent. This compares with fewer than 50% of all foster youth completing high school. Our Advocates and programs help foster children create a more positive personal future.