CASA of NH Welcomes 22 New Volunteer Advocates

The second training session of 2024 was completed in early April, and CASA of New Hampshire is excited to welcome 22 new volunteer advocates from across the state. The training, which took place in March and April, was held virtually. Please join us in congratulating Marsha, Julie, Kathleen, John G., Brian, Suzie, Ellen, Sheree, Marianne, Bonnie, Bob, John M., Cathy, Al, Justice, Chera, Cory, Megan, Buffi, Colleen, Tom and Julianne!

CASA of NH has achieved great success with our interactive and comprehensive virtual training format. However, recognizing the desire for in-person options, two live trainings are scheduled in Concord for this spring and summer. We are currently accepting applications for those sessions beginning on April 30 and July 10.

Those interested in applying can do so here, or please join us for a virtual information session to learn more about what it means to become an advocate. Information sessions are held twice a month and offer a chance to ask questions of both CASA of NH staff members and advocates.

 

CASA of New Hampshire Raises More Than $51,000 at the 5th On Tap for CASA Event

 

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire is happy to announce another successful On Tap for CASA event held at New England’s Tap House Grille in Hooksett. Begun in 2017, On Tap for CASA is a 10-hour barstool marathon where teams of 5-10 compete in games and friendly competition to be crowned either the top point-getter and/or top fundraising team. Prizes were given out to this year’s winners – first-time event sponsor Gosselin Insurance (most points) and Boardroom Brews (top fundraiser).

Additional sponsors include New England’s Tap House Grille, which has supported and hosted this event each year, New Hampshire Magazine, Gosselin Insurance, Amoskeag Beverages and New Hampshire Distributors.

This is the fifth On Tap for CASA event – the event did not occur in 2020-2022 due to the pandemic.

CASA of NH Graduates 26 New Advocates

The first training of the new year is complete, and CASA of New Hampshire is thrilled to welcome 26 new volunteer advocates from across the state. The training, which took place in January and February, was held virtually. Please join us in congratulating Nadine, Dale, Mila, Kayla, Amy, Andrea, Kari, Sarah, Janet, Rob, Debbie, Jill, Jay, Debbie (there are two Debbies in this class), Porsche, Shannon, Sue, Ken, Jane, Danielle, Heidi, Frumie, Brenda, Annette, Maggie and Tara.

CASA of NH has achieved great success with our interactive and comprehensive virtual training format. However, recognizing the desire for in-person options, two live trainings are scheduled in Concord for this spring and summer. We are currently accepting applications for those sessions beginning on April 30 and July 10.

Those interested in applying can do so here, or please join us for a virtual information session to learn more about what it means to become an advocate. Information sessions are held twice a month and offer a chance to ask questions of both CASA of NH staff members and advocates.

Bank of New Hampshire Selects CASA of NH to Receive $12,500 from Elan Charitable Giving Program

The Elan Charitable Giving program recently announced the distribution of $375,000 in donations, benefiting 30 communities nationwide. Each $12,500 gift was given to a charity selected by an Elan Credit Card partner. Bank of New Hampshire, recognized for its unwavering commitment to community support, was selected as an Elan partner for the program. This contribution was designated to support Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire, aligning with BNH’s mission to build brighter futures.

CASA provides a voice for children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect by empowering a statewide network of trained volunteers to advocate on their behalf so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

“We’re excited that a financial institution in New Hampshire was selected to facilitate awarding these funds to a worthy organization like CASA”, said Eric Carter, Senior Vice President – Digital Solutions & Innovation Officer. “BNH aligns itself with partners who have the same philanthropic values as we do and as a result, this contribution will help provide for a brighter future for New Hampshire’s youth.”

Since the launch of the Elan Charitable Giving program in 2022, $1.7 million has been distributed to 122 charities. Elan employees have also volunteered 225 hours of their time to further the impact of these gifts. Additional volunteer events with the selected partners and charities will take place in 2024.

“We’re delighted to expand our reach this year to the communities of 15 credit union and 15 community bank partners,” said John Owens, Elan Credit Card General Manager. “From food insecurity and housing to animal shelters and youth arts programming, the Elan Charitable Giving program continues to support the needs of our partner’s communities.”

To learn more about each organization and the impact Elan is making in communities through its charitable giving initiative, visit www.elancharitablegiving.com.

Bank of New Hampshire, founded in 1831 provides deposit, lending and wealth management products and services to families and businesses throughout New Hampshire and southern Maine. With 21 banking offices and assets exceeding $2 billion, Bank of New Hampshire is the oldest and one of the largest independent banks in the state. Bank of New Hampshire is a mutual organization, focused on the success of the bank’s customers, communities and employees, rather than stockholders. For more information, call 1.800.832.0912 or visit BNH.Bank.

About Elan Credit Card

Elan Credit Card partners with financial institutions to grow their business through our outsourced credit card program, mortgage solutions, and all-in-one merchant processing platform, talech®. Our dedication to our partners, growth philosophy, and investment in technology has made us a leader in the industry since 1968. Learn more about our innovative solutions for consumer and business accounts of all sizes. For more information, visit www.elanfinancialservices.com/credit-card.

CASA of New Hampshire Graduated 144 New Advocates in 2023

CASA of New Hampshire, a nonprofit that trains volunteer guardians ad litem to advocate for children experiencing abuse and neglect, graduated 144 new advocates in calendar year 2023.

Last year, CASA of NH held virtual, in-person and debuted a new format of training that combined a virtual class with guided study on participants’ own time.

Recruitment remains strong entering 2024, with a full virtual training class of 40 running from January 17 through February 21. Future trainings include a virtual class beginning March 6, and two live, in-person classes in Concord beginning on April 30 and July 10 respectively.

Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to attend a virtual information session, but are welcome to apply at any time. Information sessions are a great way for people to learn more about CASA of NH and what it means to be an advocate, with the chance to ask both staff and a current advocate their questions. Sign up for an information session at https://casanh.org/virtual-info-sessions or apply at https://casanh.org/apply.

Seth Meyers Performs a Special Fundraiser for CASA of NH and the Granite State Children’s Alliance

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New Hampshire’s own Seth Meyers returned home on November 4 for a special stand-up performance at the SNHU Arena in support of our state’s children. Seth’s first appearance in 2018 for CASA of NH and the Granite State Children’s Alliance was a huge success, and this recent show was just as impactful. More than 100 VIP guests were treated to a special pre-show reception and meet-and-greet with Seth, and a total of 2,120 people attended the show, all of whom who enjoyed a night of laughter and fun in support of vulnerable children throughout the state. Proceeds from the event will aid both organizations in their missions to help more children heal and thrive.

About CASA of New Hampshire

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire provides a voice for New Hampshire children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect by empowering a statewide network of trained volunteers to advocate on their behalf so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes. Since its founding in 1989, CASA of NH has advocated for nearly 12,000 children in court, giving them a chance at a better future.

In fiscal year 2023, CASA of NH volunteers served 1,549 children throughout the state, collectively donating 87,585 hours and making more than 13,000 visits to children. These volunteers are everyday people who come from all backgrounds – experience in law or social work is not required. If you have the heart to help, we can teach you the rest. For anyone interested in learning more about volunteering, CASA of NH offers virtual information sessions twice a month. These are a wonderful opportunity to listen to or talk with both staff and current volunteers. Visit www.casanh.org to register for an information session or to learn more about CASA of NH.

About the Granite State Children’s Alliance

The Granite State Children’s Alliance and The Network of New Hampshire’s Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) served 1,999 child abuse survivors last year. For many of those children and their families, their forensic interview at the CAC is the incredibly challenging but crucial first step in healing. The CAC model, is a data-driven, evidence-supported approach, defensible in court and deemed best practice for child abuse investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and New Hampshire’s Attorney General’s Office. CACs have been at the forefront in intervening and preventing child abuse and child exploitation for over 20 years in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire CACs also lay the groundwork for next steps in the healing process, making referrals for specialized behavioral health and medical services, and following up with families to offer support and ensure child victims are receiving the care they need. The network is working collaboratively to develop and expand its service model to include trauma-informed mental health and specialized medical services onsite, reducing barriers to treatment that many families experience. Children who report abuse in New Hampshire have more access to support services than ever, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Visit www.cac-nh.org to learn more.

CASA of New Hampshire Appoints Corrine Rober as a Board Member

CASA of New Hampshire is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Corrine Rober, president of Bear Rock Adventures Inc. in Pittsburg, New Hampshire.

Corrine Rober has been in the entrepreneurial arena for over three decades, working together with her husband to lead the way in innovative ideas and initiatives. They started with a logging business that operated from 1981-2022, then expanded into land development and excavation. Together they owned and operated Margarita Grill Ltd. in Glen, NH, for 17 years, from 1999 to 2015. During their ownership, the restaurant was recognized as the “Business of the Year” by the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and facilitated the growth of the Farm-to-Table Initiative with the Mount Washington Valley Originals organization.

In 2013, they opened Bear Rock Adventures Inc. They grew the establishment from 10 OHRV rental units to over 50 units annually, and added a glamping campground, lodging facility, an extensive retail space, and an E-commerce site. Bear Rock Adventures has consistently been recognized as a leader for operations, business practice, and community involvement. The operation has been recognized as “The Best of Outdoor Recreation” by New Hampshire Magazine for five consecutive years. In 2019, they were honored by the New Hampshire Business Review as a recipient of the BOB awards for serving as a model for business leaders across the state.

Bear Rock partnered with Polaris industries in 2015 as one of the first Polaris Adventures Outfitters in the nation, and now upholds a consistent status of certificate of excellence within the organization as one of the top 10 outfitters in the country, now topping out at over 125 agents.

Corrine has been recognized by the New Hampshire Business Review in the “NH Top 200” for 2020 and 2021, and was the North Country Chamber of Commerce’s “Director of the Year” in 2019. Corrine lives in Colebrook, NH, with her husband Steve Baillargeon. She has three boys Partik, Erik and Tanner, and a granddaughter Hazel. In her free time, she loves to hike and ride the trails in the Great North Woods.

CASA of NH Awarded Nonprofit of the Year by Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce

CASA of New Hampshire was honored to receive the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit of the Year Award at the 20th annual Eminence Awards. The awards luncheon was held on May 24 at Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua.

For over three decades, CASA of NH has recruited, trained, and supervised volunteers to advocate for children in New Hampshire who have experienced abuse and neglect. Having a dedicated CASA/GAL means that a child’s best interest in represented in court.

CASA volunteer advocates are typically assigned one case at a time and generally give 10-15 hours a month to help ensure judges have the information they need to make decisions that are best for the child’s future. They play a critical role in breaking the cycle of abuse and trauma.

In the greater Nashua area, 126 CASA advocates were active on cases in the past year. In fiscal year 2022, these volunteers contributed 11,638 hours of service to Nashua’s children.

Statewide in fiscal year 2022, CASA advocates were active on a total of 946 cases, served 1,538 children, and donated nearly 90,000 hours.

CASA Cares Raises Record $550,000 for New Hampshire’s Children Experiencing Abuse and Neglect

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CASA of New Hampshire, a nonprofit that trains volunteers to advocate for children experiencing abuse and neglect, raised a record-breaking $550,000 at its annual fundraising gala, CASA Cares: An Evening of Giving for New Hampshire’s Children, held on Friday, May 5.

Presented by Novocure, the event was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. This year, CASA Cares featured a live auction, wine-and-spirits grab, and jewelry raffle courtesy of Day’s Jewelers.

“The incredible support and generosity that were on display at CASA Cares demonstrates that so many folks from all over the state truly understand and value CASA’s life-changing work,” said Sink.

The evening’s speakers included Sink, Amy Coveno of WMUR, and Mike Ambrogi, CASA of New Hampshire board member and senior technology fellow at Novocure. Guests also heard from U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, who shared powerful remarks about the valuable impact CASA has on children and youth throughout the Granite State.

Auctioneer John Terrio entertained the crowd as they bid on live auction items, including vacation packages, tickets and air travel to a taping of “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” and camping equipment from NEMO.

Audience members also heard from CASA of NH Board member Madison Dragon, who is a regulatory compliance specialist at Service Credit Union in Portsmouth. Prior to beginning his professional career, Dragon had a CASA advocate until he was adopted in 2015. Dragon shared his personal journey and relationship with his former advocate in a deeply moving portion of the evening.

The money raised during the event helps CASA reach its goal of having a trained advocate available for every child New Hampshire who is involved in the child protection system.

CASA of New Hampshire Appoints Three New Members to Board of Directors

CASA of New Hampshire is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Evan Lowry, Dr. Charles T. Cappetta, and Madison Dragon. Evan Lowry is associate general counsel in the Office of General Council and Compliance at Sothern New Hampshire University. Dr. Charles T. Cappetta is an award-winning pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Nashua. Madison Dragon is a regulatory compliance specialist at Service Credit Union in Portsmouth. Madison, who had a CASA volunteer advocate until he was adopted in 2015, also brings lived experience to CASA of NH’s board of directors.

Evan Lowry is associate general counsel in the Office of General Council and Compliance at Sothern New Hampshire University. At SNHU, Evan is a generalist attorney, practicing in wide-ranging areas of the law, including student affairs, regulatory compliance, business transactions and contracts, real estate, construction, privacy and data security, and more.

Prior to joining SNHU, Evan served as a Justice AmeriCorps legal fellow, representing unaccompanied immigrant children in their removal proceedings before Boston Immigration Court, as part of a joint program sponsored by the Department of Justice and Corporation for National and Community Service.

Outside of the law, Evan is passionate about volunteering with impactful nonprofits, with a particular focus on youth mentoring. A graduate of the Hoffman-Haas fellowship through the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, Evan also serves on the board of directors for Nashua PAL, and was a longtime mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. He currently serves as the president of the Souhegan Valley Rotary Club. He lives in Nashua with his wife and daughter.

 

Charles T. Cappetta, M.D., is a general pediatrician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Nashua. He received his AB biology undergraduate degree from Harvard University in 1982, and his medical degree from University College and Middlesex School of Medicine in London, U.K., in 1988. He then completed his pediatric residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., in 1993, and has been a full-time practicing pediatrician in Nashua ever since.

His interests include school and community health, which led him to create the award-winning Granite State FitKids (GSFK), which has helped teach more than 45,000 4th grade students about their bodies and how to take care of them since the program’s inception in 1997. In 2005, the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas, named GSFK on of the top 150 programs in the country in the fight against childhood obesity. He is the official school physician for two SAUs in the Nashua area, and sits on both the NH Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) Review Committee and the NH Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA). He sees incarcerated youth from ages 13-17 twice weekly at the Sununu Youth Service Center in Manchester.

In 2013, Dr. Cappetta was the winner of both the Healthy Heroes Award at Nashua’s inaugural “Walk a Mile with Our Mayor” event and the National AAP Council on Community Pediatrics Local Heroes Award, which each year recognizes two pediatricians in the country who epitomize the community pediatrician. He was also awarded the Sandi Van Scoyoc Legacy Award from the NH Children’s Health Foundation in 2022. Dr. Cappetta has been on the Nashua Board of Health since 2015, and is honored to be a part of such a wonderful team of professionals that makes the lives around us better and healthier.

 

Madison Dragon is a regulatory compliance specialist at Service Credit Union in Portsmouth. He is a member of their Culture Committee, which focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is passionate about improving the financial literacy of New Hampshire’s youth. During his time at Service Credit Union, he has supported communities through numerous volunteer initiatives and is a proud graduate of the Green Path Super Use program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people build financial health and resiliency. He was a consumer loan underwriter before transitioning to regulatory compliance in 2021. Prior to beginning his professional career, Madison had a CASA of New Hampshire advocate until he was adopted in 2015. Madison has lived in Manchester with his boyfriend for the past two years, and he enjoys hiking, traveling, history, and design.

“CASA was there for me when I needed them most, and I’m honored to now pass on the support to children of today who need them most,” says Madison. “I’m excited to use my unique perspective to ensure New Hampshire’s abused and neglected youth are receiving the advocacy they deserve. My CASA advocate made an immeasurable positive impact on my life, and I’m thrilled to be involved in making sure that keeps happening for future CASA kids.”