Lara Kilpatrick:
Making a Difference Through Monthly Giving

As a longtime supporter of California Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Lara Kilpatrick, a consultant in the Bay Area, understands the role philanthropy plays with nonprofit organizations. “ It’s important for me to invest in organizations that make an impact within our communities. I  appreciate the role CA CASA plays in supporting the 44 CASA programs throughout the state. Their support enables the network to increase capacity and resources which allows them to do their important work for children and youth. California CASA binds the network together, so they don’t have to operate as silos.“

Lara has been an advocate for foster children and their special needs from an early age. She recalls a time when she was in high school and had neighbors who couldn’t provide for their daughter. The young girl was going to become a ward of the state until Lara’s mother stepped up and took her in as part of their family. Lara‘s brothers and sisters didn’t think anything of it- it was who their mother was, and whose behavior they would model later on in their adult life. “Children and their welfare are deeply important to me,” says Lara. “They are our future. Their experiences as young children and teens growing up are how they become young adults and contributing members of society. We have to give them as many tools of support as possible to help them succeed. Foster children, in particular, are faced with so many challenges and degrees of upheaval and trauma. That is why the CASA model of giving them one adult that can stand for them, be their voice, is brilliant. It just takes that one. CASAs are phenomenal people.”

And donors, like Lara, are phenomenal people too!!  Lara is one of our many recurring donors who support our cause with her monthly donation. “I feel strongly about recurring donations-and they serve me well as a donor, too,” Lara continues, “it’s really so easy. You just plug it into your budget and don’t think about it. Small amounts add up to larger ones. By the end of the year, you will be surprised at how much you have given.”

California CASA is grateful to Lara Kilpatrick and all our donors who believe in our mission. Their generosity helps California CASA provide crucial training, resources, and support to our 44 local CASA programs statewide so that they, in turn, can serve more children with the unparalleled advocacy of a caring CASA volunteer.