Meet Doreen Manetta: CASA Cares Chairperson & Volunteer Extraordinaire

Doreen Manetta has been a long-standing volunteer, donor and friend to CASA. As the Regional Manager/SVP of Enterprise Bank, Doreen balances a busy professional career with volunteer positions at CASA and a number of other nonprofit organizations. She currently serves as the chairperson of CASA Cares, CASA’s largest annual fundraising event, which last year raised more than $300,000. Along with an active committee of 10 members, Doreen is in throes of planning the upcoming CASA Cares gala on May 3, which will celebrate CASA’s 30 years of transformative advocacy work.

Doreen attended her first CASA event nearly 10 years ago when CASA’ s major fundraiser had been a luncheon fashion show before becoming CASA Cares in 2016. At that time, Doreen had moved to Manchester from Nashua for her career, and subsequently became actively involved in several nonprofits, including CASA of NH.  She has been a tireless committee volunteer since then, assisting in all areas of event planning including securing sponsorship support and providing a number of introductions to new funders and businesses. Thanks in large part to Doreen’s efforts and her passion for CASA, CASA Cares has continued to grow every year in attendance and proceeds.

Doreen is deeply committed to giving back to the community. She provides her time and talent to several boards, including the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, Adult Learning Center and the YMCA of Greater Nashua, and feels an intrinsic responsibility to lend her support to various causes and encourages others to do so as well.

“There are so many organizations that need help,” Doreen says. “Everyone needs to pick one organization — it only takes a few hours of time to make a lasting impact on an organization.”

Doreen choose to help CASA of NH because she believes strongly in its mission. It wasn’t until she began volunteering that she really came to understand the scope of CASA’s ability to change lives.

“It is important for us to advocate for children that don’t have a voice and to ensure the safety of future generations of children,” Doreen says.

She credits Enterprise Bank, and its community-focused mission, with being a large supporter of her non-profit work, noting, “It is part of their core value to invest in the community.  Everyone at the bank is encouraged to engage in volunteer work — from the tellers to the managers.”

For example, Enterprise organizes nonprofit collaborative seminars, women’s networking events, and extensive charity drives and walks. Its “Belle of the Ball” initiative organizes cleaning and distribution of gently worn prom dresses to more than 800 girls, and its annual scarf drive provides donated handmade or purchased scarves to United Way shelters. The bank has also sponsored numerous events, including CASA Cares.

Doreen recognizes that not everyone has the time to serve as a volunteer advocate or on a committee, but she says that is OK.

“It is important for people to know that even if they can make a small donation, it could go a long way, especially with the opioid crisis,” Doreen says. “We could help so many more kids. We think nothing of buying a cup of coffee. If we gave that up for a week and donated to a nonprofit, it could make a big difference.”