Steve Friedman: CASA’s Energizing Committee Member, Friend and Donor!

Steve Friedman is a passionate, committed volunteer and friend to CASA. Between serving on the Snowfest committee, providing marketing opportunities through his position at The River 92.5 radio station, and networking on behalf of CASA near and far, he is truly a gift to the organization.

Steve’s energy and dedication are quickly apparent. He readily engages others in CASA’s work and provides community connections to help promote the organization’s mission. He understands the importance of our volunteer advocates’ service throughout the state, and knows that their work is critical because “It is potentially life-changing.”

“Without a CASA to represent a child’s best interests and ensure their safety and security, many of these at-risk children could face tragic outcomes,” Steve says, noting that through CASA’s involvement, “they are given a second chance. What could be more important than that?”

Steve was introduced to CASA several years ago through his work as Senior Account Executive at The River radio station. The station launched a partnership with CASA through their media sponsorship of Snowfest, CASA’s annual volunteer recognition event at Loon Mountain, and as Steve notes, “What a great partnership it has become!”

Both Steve and The River radio station have been very generous donors to CASA, supporting Snowfest and CASA Cares, CASA’s largest fundraising event. The River promotes active outreach and engagement in the communities, and they are committed to making a difference through their involvement. They continue to donate to a variety of causes, including Families in Transition, Child and Family Services and the Food Bank.

“I am so proud of our radio station,” Steve says. “We are locally owned and operated. Our owner has always been very supportive during my 18 year tenure there, allowing me and our station to help local charities like CASA by encouraging staff volunteerism, through airing PSAs, highlighting and posting events on our website, sending street teams to support events like Snowfest, and donating auction items to help raise funds.”

It also provides CASA with a non-profit rate to air ads recruiting CASA volunteers, and Steve has assisted the organization with the production of radio ads to help spread the message about our mission.

In addition to his volunteer work, Steve and his family have been generous donors to CASA, a trait he learned from his own family growing up, which he now shares with his 28-year old daughter.

“We always believed in guiding positive behaviors when she was young so she would become a contributing member of the community as an adult.”

His father had a list of charities which he supported, he said. Their family foundation, The Leopold and Ruth Friedman Foundation, managed by Steve’s brother who is an attorney, was originally started by Steve’s uncle, an original founder of Lowe’s Cinemas.

“He wanted to set an example for the family and make sure we were doing our part in donating to worthy organizations like CASA,” Steve says. “We want to inspire generations to come by providing the tools needed to overcome obstacles.”

Right now, those obstacles include the enduring opioid epidemic, which further propels Steve’s passion for CASA’s mission.

“The need for CASAs has never been greater. Opioid addiction is rampant and kids in households dealing with drug/alcohol addiction are at great risk. More volunteers are needed to stem the tide of this current epidemic that NH faces,” Steve says.

We are deeply grateful for volunteers and donors like Steve who help us address these critical issues.

Donor Spotlight: Jaye and Charlie Goodwin

Charlie and Jaye Goodwin have been part of CASA’s community of friends and supporters for more than 15 years. Their commitment to transforming the lives of vulnerable children stems from an empathic understanding that there are those who have not benefitted from the same support system they experienced as children. They also recognize the importance of providing hope for a successful future for NH’s children. Charlie notes, “These children have lived difficult lives. We are ensuring there is enough interest and support to give them much more of a chance than they would have otherwise.”

For many years, members of the Goodwin family have served as esteemed community and business leaders in Greater Manchester. Before his retirement in 2005, Charlie operated his family’s long-standing funeral home, Goodwin Funeral Home, carrying forward its legacy of personal and professional philanthropy and volunteer support. Charlie became more familiar with CASA during his tenure in funeral service when he served a family who had adopted a CASA child who later passed away. This experience was, according to Charlie, “moving and informative.”

“They were an incredible, supportive family; CASA advocates who had adopted three children,” he says.

His introduction to CASA also reinforced the thought that not everyone had the same access to a loving, stable home life.

“Both Jaye and I had safe and secure upbringings and we were also able to provide that same environment for our children,” Charlie says.

Charlie and Jaye’s parents were both involved in a variety of causes. According to Charlie, his own parents, Dorothy and David Goodwin, “Instilled in my sisters and I that our business relied on the community and we should be supportive of that community.”

In 2005, when he retired, CASA CEO and President Marty Sink approached Charlie about serving on the board. The timing was right, says Charlie and he served on the board for eight years and continues to serve on the Finance Committee.

Charlie and Jaye understand the value and impact that CASA volunteer advocates provide during these challenging times, and their generosity speaks to their passion.

“We care about the community,” Charlie says. “We care about providing a good future for children. It’s what everyone wants. We are deeply concerned about the impact of the opioid crisis on the children of New Hampshire.”

He and Jaye also know that many of the children served by our volunteer advocates may not have role models in their lives, and they appreciate the consistent example that CASA volunteer advocates set.

The Goodwins have great regard for CASA’s mission and the depth of support services the organization provides, Charlie says, noting that CASA meets a unique need unlike any other non-profit in New Hampshire.

“When we see a child being abused, everyone thinks someone should do something — and CASA does do something. CASA has so many success stories. We have saved hundreds of children from horrible situations,” Charlie says.

The Gift of Giving: Gloria Proulx and GYK Antler

 

Throughout her 33-year career at GYK Antler, Gloria Proulx has been dedicated to making a difference in her career and in the community. She has deftly balanced her professional life while also raising a family and volunteering for numerous causes. Throughout her career at GYK, she has worked as a production manager in various vertical markets including finance, healthcare, high tech, retail, education and tourism, and now serves as Culture and Operations Manager. As a key volunteer on the CASA Cares committee, Gloria collaborates with top notch GYK designer JoAnn Trahan to produce printed materials, from the invitation and signage to the evening’s beautiful program, for CASA’s largest fundraising event, CASA Cares.

Gloria is truly a gift to CASA of New Hampshire. She first learned about CASA 10 years ago, recalling when GYK’s creative director Elaine Krause provided design assistance for CASA’s 20th Anniversary celebration at the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium.

“We pulled out all the stops and broke some rules in the process, but the end result was an inviting experience for CASA’s guests,” Gloria says.

The following spring, they were invited to attend the annual Fashion Show fundraiser, and Gloria was drawn into CASA’s dedicated team and mission — beginning her involvement on the program book committee with the support of GYK Antler. Today, Gloria lends her hand to committee-wide projects, serving as the program book chairman while assisting with event and printing logistics, ad sales, and wine donations.

Gloria’s commitment to giving back comes from her tremendous conviction that “we were put on this earth to serve.” She believes strongly in CASA’s mission.

“The CASA organization has a greater focus on the child – giving them a voice and reassurance in a complicated and sometimes long-enduring process,” Gloria says. “The fact that each child is assigned an advocate is even more admirable and critical in their well-being and safety.”

Gloria appreciates CASA’s unique ability to seek out passionate volunteers and train them to be effective advocates – something she feels is important to all non-profits.

“We all have passions and gifts that are just waiting to be put to good use – within or outside of our work environments,” Gloria says. “If more organizations were set up to identify and train willing community members to help execute their missions, the load would be lighter, more affordable, and more focused on the need.”

She also greatly respects CASA’s successful management of funds, noting the organization’s financial accountability and transparency.

In addition to her volunteer work with CASA, Gloria gives her time and passion to several other organizations. She is president of the Pinardville Lions Club; coordinator of the Children’s Lectionary Program at Ste. Marie Parish in Manchester, co-chairs the annual Easter Bunny Breakfast in her community and supports as many non-profit efforts as she is able – a favorite being “The Ginormous Climb” to benefit the Suffolk County Children’s Advocacy Center, with her daughter Halie, who just received her Master of Social Work from Boston College. Halie will begin her full-time career at the CAC in Boston – a choice that Gloria is extremely proud of.

CASA Cares programs

Gloria attributes her volunteer “bug” to both her dad who served as an active volunteer with various organizations throughout his life, and to her own experiences participating in community-engaging events when Halie was a toddler. She recalls “crashing the PTA’s board meeting before they even began recruiting 1st grade parents,” so she could get involved and help ensure those community traditions continued.

Gloria recently transitioned to a new position at GYK Antler as Culture and Operations Manager – a role that allows her to give back to her professional community and engage her colleagues in values critical to the mission of the company. GYK Antler President and CEO Travis York is deeply committed to retaining and supporting GYK employees, providing thoughtful opportunities for professional growth and community engagement. Travis encourages staff to become involved in any cause that inspires them.

“When CASA was brought to the forefront, Travis understood their need and our team’s passion for what CASA does and welcomed the opportunity to stay part of such a worthy organization,” Gloria says.

In fact, GYK Antler has supported numerous non-profit organizations over the years, more recently: Rock On Foundation, Special Olympics, Stay Work Play New Hampshire, NH Food Bank, CHaD, Manchester Historic Association, DCYF, NH Institute of Art, Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Salvation Army.

Both Gloria and GYK Antler continue to pay it forward through their philanthropic and service efforts to CASA.

“As much as CASA’s existence relies on great leadership, staff, and volunteer advocates, it is the broader community’s generosity, participation, awareness and prioritization of CASA’s unique mission that will help them continue to meet the need, especially with the current opioid crisis,” Gloria says. “I once heard someone say: ‘If you see it, you are responsible for it.’ That is the motto I try to I live by.”

 

Paying Back in Ways Beyond Imagination: Tom and Barb Sedoric

Tom and Barb Sedoric have been dear friends to CASA for decades. Their commitment to sharing CASA’s mission with others while providing thoughtful and generous financial support to CASA is truly a gift. Often referring to CASA volunteer advocates as “angels on earth,” Tom and Barb fully understand the importance of CASA’s impact on those children who are the innocent victims of substance abuse, poverty, homelessness and mental illness.

Tom first heard CASA-NH CEO and President Marty Sink speak during CASA’s early years while he was serving on the board of another nonprofit aligned with children and their needs. The critical need for the advocacy of neglected and abused children resonated with Tom. He knew “this need would never go away.”

Barb also became interested in CASA’s mission. Her early career path as an estates and trusts paralegal and her personal experience of divorce with two young children, Barb understood the complexities of the legal system.

“The words ‘best interest for the child’ always stuck in my head. I always wanted to do something in the legal realm to help children,” Barb said.

Thus, Barb became a CASA volunteer advocate for three years representing the voice of young children in court cases and found the work “very hard and rewarding, but very important.”

Philanthropy and service are ingrained in Tom and Barb’s DNA. Both of their parents were very active volunteers and supporters in their communities in Beloit, WI, and Rochester, NY. With respect to his father, Tom remarked that “there wasn’t a piece of the community that he didn’t touch—from serving on the YMCA board to volunteering for the community fund.”  The same is true of Barb’s two parents, Bruce and Nancy Bates.

Both Barb and Tom feel blessed and fortunate to be able to give back to the community, both personally and professionally. As a nationally recognized fiduciary  at The Sedoric Group in Portsmouth, Tom takes great care and pleasure in helping people with their charitable wishes and planning. Barb turned her training and expertise as an estates and trusts professional, together with her personal experiences, to found LastingMatters.com. The LastingMatters Organizer is a resource, guide and practical planning tool to assist all adults with the process of planning ahead for incapacity and death.

Barb and Tom believe deeply in CASA’s “competence, efficiency and advocacy.”

“We continue to be impressed with the service they provide and how they provide it,” Tom says, adding they will never forget a family court judge stating openly that, after doing the math, he “believes CASA saves the taxpayers millions of dollars annually due to their volunteer-driven business model and efficiency.” Tom and Barb say they recognize CASA provides services in an incredibly efficient and caring manner in a legal system that is already strained.

With the growing implications of the opioid crisis on families and children, the impact of this epidemic on CASA’s resources has been significant. Without CASA’s volunteer advocates, there would not be enough people to speak on behalf of victimized children.  Barb knows how critical this advocacy is.

“I tell people all the time, if you are retired or have free time, volunteering as a CASA  is something you can do to make a significant difference in the lives of children,” Barb says.

Barb also suggests the importance of spreading the word regarding CASA’s mission by recruiting others to support CASA financially and by hosting an event to share CASA’s mission with others.

“Giving back to our community pays us back in ways beyond imagination,” Tom says.

We are deeply grateful to all our “angels on earth”— from donors like Tom and Barb, and all our donors, to you and your support! THANK YOU!

 

The Sedoric Group of Steward Partners – 29 Maplewood Ave. Suite C, Portsmouth, NH 03870 603 427 8870. Steward Partners Global Advisory, LLC and The Sedoric Group maintain a separate professional business relationship with, and our professionals offer securities through, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not offer opinions or services of CASA.

Setting an Example for NH Business Leaders

“Joining forces with CASA is a company-wide decision—because when we ask our employees which organizations we should work with, CASA is always number one. We appreciate the constant efforts their team puts in, and we know it is for the kids—and it makes us all a little more humble. We at CruCon believe children are one of our most valuable resources. CASA is committed to serving 100% of the children who need their advocacy, and we are just as committed to ensuring their fundraising continues to grow. Our goal is to bring more awareness of this organization to the surrounding communities, and to show all children that they are never forgotten, their words do matter, and they are never alone.”

We are deeply grateful to Sandy Cleary and her team at CruCon Cruise Outlet for their extraordinary generosity to CASA. In the past four years, CruCon has donated more than $150,000 to support our mission to protect New Hampshire’s most vulnerable children. Last year, our annual CASA Cares fundraising event was the most successful ever, due in large part to CruCon’s renewed commitment as the Presenting Sponsor, as well as their in-kind contributions and encouragement of other funders.

As CruCon’s founder, Sandy stands behind CASA and other organizations, many of which directly impact children, with the same unrelenting passion that she dedicates to her business. She launched CruCon in 1995 and the business has grown exponentially under her leadership, now generating $130 million in sales and serving more than 100,000 clients a year across North America. This tremendous success is the result of Sandy’s deep commitment to building authentic and lasting relationships with employees, affiliate business partners, cruise clients, and nonprofit and civic organizations. Her philanthropic and community involvement extends to numerous organizations in New Hampshire. As the Presenting Sponsor for the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, CruCon is a key supporter and promoter of an organization that now raises $4.5 million for local NH charities. She encourages her staff to “pay it forward,” often matching their donations and providing other incentives to give financially and volunteer.

CruCon has won a variety of awards as a result of its focus on forging strong partnerships and exceptional customer service. Sandy and the CruCon team have received such prestigious awards as the Celebrity Cruises’ Chairman’s Award—the cruise line’s highest honor—Vacation.com’s Chairman’s Award, Royal Caribbean Cruise’s Chairman’s Award, and Norwegian Cruise Line President’s Club Elite Agency of the Year. Sandy herself won the 2017 Business Leader of the Year Award and the 2014 Outstanding Women in Business Awards (along with our own Marty Sink!) by NH Business Review.

We are tremendously proud and deeply honored to count Sandy Cleary and CruCon Cruise Outlet among our committed funders.

Giving Back: Spotlight On Josh Auger, CASA Committee Member and Volunteer

There are many ways to support CASA’s mission, and each is equally important and worthy. For Josh Auger, this has meant reaching out to friends, colleagues and businesses to make connections and introductions. Josh, a business marketing consultant for New Hampshire Magazine, was first introduced to CASA through his wife, a first grade teacher who worked in Manchester and often interacted with both DCYF and volunteer advocates on behalf of her students.

Having been a junior high English teacher for years, Josh had always “been involved with kids” and knew it was important to volunteer for a cause that was critical to the well-being of children. “I knew there was a great need for people to help out at CASA,” he said.

While he intended to become a volunteer advocate, he realized that his current profession would take him all over the state and he would have limited availability. He subsequently decided to join the resource development committee to “build relationships” and bring in other key players. Josh’s decision has been tremendously beneficial to CASA, launching long-term partnerships with businesses and individuals.  “It takes little to make connections. Small influences add up quickly. We all have friends and colleagues who can help this organization.”

Josh’s reaching out to others has been instrumental in garnering financial and in-kind support. His connections have helped launched the first “On Tap for CASA,” a 12-hour barstool challenge at New England’s Tap House Grille in Hooksett, which last year generated approximately $28,000. As a member of CASA’s Snowfest Committee, Josh has spearheaded partnerships with businesses throughout the Mount Washington Valley. This year, thanks to introductions to business friends Mark LaClair of Seven Birches Winery and Renee Blood of RiverWalk Resort, CASA will be the recipient of funds raised from the first “Wine and Ice” event sponsored by Riverwalk, Seven Birches Winery and LaVista restaurant in Lincoln immediately following Snowfest on February 2nd.  Given CASA’s mission to help victimized children, many individuals and businesses see the importance and are quick to ask “what can we do for CASA?” Josh said adding “it behooves businesses to get involved. It’s good for the business, and good for CASA.”

Josh also believes that there are many opportunities for businesses and organizations throughout the state to host third party events that benefit CASA. As the director of the annual Celtic Festival in Manchester, Josh recommended that CASA receive a portion of the funds raised. His community outreach has extended far and wide; he is currently a volunteer coach and serves on the board of directors for Manchester North Soccer League, NHSCOT – The New Hampshire Highland Games, and Manchester Crime Line. A strong proponent of giving back, he believes that “these are the kind of things we want our kids to see as they are growing up.”

We are deeply grateful to Josh and all our volunteers for their commitment and support of our mission.

Longtime Donor Encourages ‘Leading by Example’

Dennis (Denny) Ryan believes strongly in the importance of giving back to the community. Whether through volunteer work or financial support, he says the best way to lead is “to lead by example.”

Denny has been a contributor to CASA of New Hampshire since 1995 and has volunteered for a number of non-profit organizations over the years. He first heard about CASA through a talk by Marty Sink, and was truly taken aback by the need for such an organization.

“I was surprised that there really are situations like that out there and that these kids have absolutely no control over their circumstances.”

Since that time, he has been a loyal friend to CASA, supporting the organization annually and during its first capital campaign in 2008.

Denny is truly a community leader “by example,” balancing a successful professional career and family while serving a variety of civic organizations. He joined Howe Riley Howe, a public accounting firm, in 1975 and was a partner with the firm for 33 years. He now serves the firm in an advisory capacity. He has been involved on numerous boards and committees, including the Manchester Region Advisory Board for the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the board for the Manchester Oval Society, the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund, the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Neighborworks, and New Horizons, among others. His reason for serving has never been about publicity; rather, he says it is important for people to educate themselves about their community and the causes that are critical to the people who live there, and then to help however you can.

His gift of giving back was learned early in life. Denny grew up in the working class town of Pittsfield Massachusetts to a family that was “generous in spirit,” often helping out others unconditionally.

“If someone has a need, help them out and don’t expect anything in return.”

He believes that his firm, Howe Riley and Howe, should be, and is, an integral part of the fabric of the community. The firm’s leadership has fostered an environment where colleagues and staff are encouraged to give back, in part by, allowing them the time for volunteer work.

“It is important to think about others,” Denny says. The firm itself has been a generous supporter to CASA and other area organizations.

To Denny, giving back is not an afterthought.

“Don’t talk about it, just do it. It’s really not complicated. And it often makes you feel as good as, or sometimes better than, the recipient of your kindness.”

We are deeply grateful to Denny and to all our loyal donors for your ongoing, committed support.

Advocate and Donor Continues Lifetime of Philanthropy

Mary Atwell is a woman on the move, balancing her well-deserved life of retirement travel while serving as a CASA volunteer advocate to neglected and abused children. Mary has been a CASA for 17 years, providing a strong and consistent voice for children of all ages.

Prior to retirement, Mary worked in community mental health with chronically mentally ill adults and in human resources. She chose to volunteer for CASA after looking at several other organizations serving children and deciding that CASA was the best fit.

She remains dedicated to the organization because of the commitment of the program managers and directors, “who are very supportive of the volunteers.”

Mary’s reason for volunteering is the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and the fact that “CASA is a very well-run organization.” She also underscores her finding that, as a donor, her contributions to CASA are “well-spent and well-managed.”

In addition to volunteering as an advocate, Mary also serves as a peer coordinator, providing mentorship to new volunteers. Mary’s interest in serving others was born out of her experience growing up in a community-engaged family in Grand Rapids, Mich. Her mother was a social worker and her dad worked for the United Way. As a member of the Bedford Democrats, she has also provided supporter housing to presidential campaign volunteers.

Thank you so much to Mary and all our wonderful CASA volunteers!