Suzanne Ordas Curry of Mahwah was recently named the President of the Board of Trustees for Bergen County CASA for Children. Bergen CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is part of a national non-profit organization that provides volunteer advocates to children in foster care. In essence, these volunteers are the voice of the children that have no voice. Each one-on-one adult that stays with the child from when he/she enters the foster care system until they find a permanent placement.
Suzanne Curry states, "We are a little-known organization that does big things." She continues, "Right now, we handle about one third of the available children in Bergen County, but we can do better. Our goal is to increase that number. We need more recognition, more advocates, and donations are always helpful. The more advocates we have the more children we can serve."
Volunteeer advocates, the heart of the organization, receive training prior to taking on a child. It is a very rewarding job, as the CASA is helping a child that often doesn't know who to turn to, has no one to turn to, or is unable to seek help on its own. Most of the children in foster care are there due to some level of abuse.
Suzanne Curry has many years experience in working with non-profits as a volunteer on the local and national level. Professionally, she is the owner of Write Ideas Public Relations for over 25 years and has been on the Mahwah Board of Education for seven years. She adds, "I never realized starting in PR many years ago that it is one of the most powerful tools of a charity. At CASA I have found my home."
The next Bergen CASA event is Casino Night at Seasons on April 30th. For information on becoming an advocate, a volunteer, donating, or about Casino Night visit the website at www.BergenCASA.org.
