Celebrating Our 20-Year Advocates in 2021

This year, three CASA volunteer advocates celebrate 20 years providing a voice for New Hampshire’s children. As part of our upcoming annual celebration, we would like to recognize them for their compassion and dedication to our children who need a strong advocate for their futures.

Patrick Duffy

Coming into the role as a Program manager, I was excited to have to opportunity to work with Pat. During my training, I heard what an exemplary CASA he is. I remember my first phone call with him. He stated that he has been doing this for a long time, but was happy to work with me and looked forward to continuing this work. Pat has never missed a beat. He has advocated for 35 Children in his 20 years as a CASA. He is like a freight train- steady and powerful! Even when things have become difficult during a case, where other agencies have not been able to land in the same place as Pat, he never waivers. He has a strong passion for children’s best interests, and will continue to fight for that until the closer of a case. There have been a few times that I have had to send out a mass email, asking for an advocate for a child. Each time I have done that, Pat has been the first to respond, saying that he would be happy to help if someone hasn’t already stepped in. Pat is good, right to his core, and I have been honored and humbled to work along side him. Thank you, Pat. – Jenn Hollinrake, program manager

 

Pam McKinney

Pam has advocated for 15 children, and has served as a peer coordinator for 18 kids in her 20 years here at CASA. Pam was born to do this work! She has been such an amazingly strong advocate for the children she has served.  Pam is always willing to take a complicated case, and has made a huge difference in many children’s lives during her 20 years with CASA.  Pam is always willing to help with anything at CASA and has even assisted Program Staff with cleaning up files many afternoons in the Manchester office.  We are so thankful that we can always count on Pam. – Jenn Hollinrake & Erin Boylan, program managers

 

Geoffrey Wilson

Jeff was one of the first CASA’s I supervised when I came on staff at CASA. So many wonderful things to say about Jeff he is a very committed humble and passionate advocate. In the twenty years that Jeff has been with us he has spent 1,043 weeks working on CASA cases, attending meetings, advocating strongly for our Youth traveling an incredible number of miles to visit with his youth who were all over New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Jeff has a great sense of humor and is able to relate so well to the Youth he works with. Jeff has a knack for working with challenging people and uses his conflict resolution skills very appropriately. Jeff is well respected by all of the service providers and often DCYF will ask him to take a specific case as they feel he would be a good match. I feel extremely fortunate to have worked with Jeff over these last 20 years and look forward to working with him on other cases. A huge thank you from all of the CASA staff. – Bernadette Melton-Plante, program director