CASA Honors Volunteers

Friday, Jun 16, 2017

Community Briefs
Helena Independent Record
6.16.17

CASA recently hosted the 6th Annual Light of Hope Benefit in April as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Light of Hope celebrates the service of CASA volunteers and partners working to give hope to abused and neglected children.

The 2016 CASA Advocate of the Year recipient is David Peretto. Peretto is a commercial lender at First Interstate Bank. Over the past two-plus years, David has advocated for the best interest of 10 abused/neglected children in court, mentored five new CASA volunteer advocates and has joined a committee in assisting with the new Peer Coordinator program.

Katie Lawler is the recipient of the 2016 Friend of CASA award. Lawler is a real estate loan officer at Stockman Bank. She has been a CASA Advocate since late 2011, advocating for five children in that time. She also serves with Friend of CASA volunteers providing outreach and hosting fundraising events. Lawler has worked on the annual Light of Hope banquet committee since its inception. The last two years she has been the committee chair, helping to bring in much needed resources for the program.

Roger Renville is the 2016 Light of Hope award winner. He is the assistant Helena public defender for dependent neglect cases. Renville’s compassion for the clients he serves, combined with his skilled legal advocacy and plain old elbow grease, make him outstanding. 

At CASA of Lewis & Clark and Broadwater Counties we help abused and neglected children heal so they can live happier, safer lives. Our CASA volunteers – court-appointed special advocates – make sure kids don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service systems or languish in unsupportive foster homes.

CASA volunteers are asked to meet with the child regularly and are authorized to interview people in the child’s life, such as social workers, attorneys, and teachers. They attend court hearings with the child and report their findings to the judge. Learn more at www.casaoflcbwc.org or by calling 457-0797.