By: Valerie Burchfield Rhodes 

Inside CASA is a series that provides an in-depth look at different aspects and programs of CASA OC and the child welfare system as a whole.

“It was like a giant game of Jenga with hundreds of handmade blankets stacked carefully so nothing would fall in my garage last December!”, says high school senior Ryan Clemons. She is describing the collaborative effort between her school, Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s (SMCHS) CASA Teens Club, and several other schools, along with a local National Charity League chapter. Together the youth groups provided hand-tied flannel blankets for youth in the foster care system attending CASA OC’s annual holiday party. 

Ryan has served as the co-founder and President of her school’s Kids For CASA club since its launch when she was a freshman. During that time, she, along with fellow co-founder and Vice President Grace Jackson, helped it grow from ten members to the current roster of 150 members. But Ryan’s involvement in CASA OC’s youth auxiliary group began long before she was a student at SMCHS. She first began volunteering with Kids For CASA ten years ago when her mom Erika Pedersen, who’s now on staff with CASA, was on the Friends of CASA board. Ryan says, “CASA has been such a big part of my life, I don’t even remember being me without being a part of CASA.”

Kids For CASA was first formed at Corona del Mar High School by students Garin Friedman and Zach St. Hilaire in 2016 as a way to encourage high school students to volunteer at CASA events. That effort now spans across ten high schools and an equal number of elementary schools throughout Orange County. Activities include making and donating items for the holiday party held each year for CASA youth, volunteering at various CASA events, stuffing newsletters, baking items to be sold or donated, and raising funds.

CASA volunteer, and former staff member, Nicole Joseph and her 14 year old daughter Ava have been involved since those early days. Nicole and her close friend Christy Flanagan were looking for ways to get their young daughters Ava and Bridget involved in supporting the work of CASA. Nicole explains, “Christy and I met in Junior League when we were both pregnant with our daughters. We did a lot of philanthropy work together including helping with CASA’s annual Holiday Luncheon. We had the idea of setting up a program to engage younger kids and calling it Junior Kids For CASA.”

The two brought their fundraising experience to layer onto the volunteering aspect of the program. Nicole’s daughter Ava said, “Our first project was to raise money selling baked goods. We got about 15 girls who each raised $200. We pooled that money and bought Timree hand-painted ornaments. We then sold those ornaments for a $100 donation. Our goal was to sell 300 of them which we did; raising $30,000 our first year.” Nicole laughs when she adds, “One of the great things about kids that age is they’re so hard to resist. When a sweet little 8 or 9 year old asks, you just can’t say no.”

In 2017, CASA launched an effort to expand community awareness by creating a public installation of thousands of pinwheels representing youth in foster care. Nicole says, “I thought, Ding Ding Ding!! - Let's make this a fundraiser as well!. That first year we held the event in Dana Point and charged $5 to sponsor a CASA Pinwheel.” The event was moved to Fashion Island the following year and the goal was to double the money raised. Pinwheels sponsorships were sold for $10 and corporate sponsors were brought on board. Now, the annual Pinwheel Project raises about $70,000 with the generous help of Subaru of America who matches everyone who contributes to this campaign dollar for dollar.

The Pinwheel Project has proven to be a great way to engage younger kids in a valuable community service effort. According to Ava, “A lot of kids set up booths like lemonade stands on street corners or in front of grocery stores to sell their pinwheels.” The high school clubs are part of the Pinwheel Project effort as well, arriving early in the morning to set up the pinwheels, staff the information booth, and break things down at the end of the day. Ryan is there every year from set up to closing. “I love it; I’m there all day long,” she says.

During the Covid shutdown, Kids For CASA had to change the way they approached fundraising and building awareness about the needs of CASA youth. With the help of Matthew Wadlinger, CASA’s Chief Strategy Officer, a virtual fundraiser was created with an assist by former NFL quarterback, Mark Sanchez. The video they created to keep the Pinwheel Project alive in 2020 was shared amongst the community and generated significant funds for the effort.

Kids For CASA also ran a Build-Your-Own stuffed animal event that allowed children to select an animal to design, stuff and dress for a $50 donation. The completed stuffed animal was later provided to a CASA youth as a holiday gift. Matthew shared, “These events are such an important, tangible way to help young children develop empathy for others and to understand it’s a privilege to be in a position to help others.”

Eventually, Junior Kids For CASA was merged with Kids For CASA so participating youth now range in age from 5-18. As Ava prepares to transition to high school and Ryan moves on to college, both girls reflect on their time with CASA. Ava shares, “After all these years, CASA has grown into a special place in my heart and I want people to know about kids who need our help. For Ryan, CASA has given her a perspective on all she has to be grateful for in her own life. “I realize how big of an impact just a little bit of effort can have in the life of another person.” She hopes to launch a club to support CASA when she starts college in the fall.

Nicole shares that volunteering with CASA is different from other philanthropic efforts she’s been a part of. “Many volunteer opportunities can feel rather exclusive. Kids For CASA is 100% open to anyone who wants to help. CASA really empowers their volunteers to be on the ground and make a real-world impact. We’re all about figuring out how to best help the organization.”

This year’s Pinwheel Project will take place on Saturday, May 20th at Fashion Island. The strategy is to engage teams at all the participating elementary schools and high schools to ensure all 3,530 pinwheels are sponsored. The number represents the number of youth currently in the Orange County foster care system. To learn more about volunteering with Kids For CASA, visit our website or reach out to Misty Webb, Community Partnership Coordinator, for additional information.