CASA of NJ Wins NJBIZ Innovation Award
NJBIZ recently recognized Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Jersey by awarding CASA of NJ with its inaugural Non-Profit Innovation Award for creating and implementing the
Pack with Pride
Program. Specifically the award was given to CASA of NJ for creating a program which increased the effectiveness of its mission.
The
Pack with Pride
initiative grew out of discussions between child welfare and family court leaders and CASA of NJ. Those leaders recognized that something as simple as giving a suitcase to a child to put their belongings into instead of a ubiquitous and convenient trash bag, could minimize the negative effects of being removed from their homes. Responding to this situation, Rita Gulden, CASA of NJ Executive Director, reached out to Hans Dekker, President of the Community Foundation of New Jersey, who quickly mobilized a number of caring philanthropic organizations to help. In just over a month after the Program launched, enough money was raised to purchase duffel bags for each child anticipated to be moving that year.
CASA of New Jersey is proud to be the first recipient of the NJ Biz Non-Profit Innovation Award in its category. Specifically the award was given to CASA for creating a program which increased the effectiveness of their organization’s mission. Said Rita Gulden, “The goal of CASA volunteers is to get children in out-of-home placement into a safe and secure permanent home as quickly as possible and Pack with Pride helps them achieve this with much more dignity.”
CASA of New Jersey would also like to congratulate Ellyn Schoenfeld, a CASA volunteer with CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties, who was nominated and a finalist in the Volunteer Excellence Category.