Marge's Story

As a result of her unyielding advocacy for abused and neglected children, CASA volunteer Marge received the Governor’s Award one year, was voted Woman of the Year in Pullman another year, and has been the recipient of various other honors. Marge has been a CASA volunteer since 1980, attending the first training class of her county’s CASA volunteer program! Since then, she has taken on a number of long term cases. Marge speaks highly of the CASA volunteer program, and feels that in her role as a CASA volunteer, the quality of the time the children spend in the system is improved.

The role a CASA volunteer plays is that of a listener. Marge feels families are often more open to CASA volunteers than they are with other people involved with their case because CASAs are volunteers. She said that CASA volunteers often know much more then most about the services in their particular community.

Marge notes that the amount of money CASA volunteers save the state and the county is immeasurable. Many trials were avoided because of her involvement, and often solutions come about in the hallway before a trial. Parents often decide at this time that it is better from them to make the decision themselves, for example, to relinquish parental rights, rather than have the judge order it.

Marge related a case of three children where all the fathers, plus the mother’s boyfriends, had sexually abused them. She was told there was "no hope for these kids." One of the girls had special needs, and there was not really a place for her to live that "fits" for her. She is now in a special school, and she knows that there are people who care. This second sister is back home, which is not ideal, but she knows she can reach out if she needs to. The youngest is in a long-term guardianship with a stable family. Marge feels that without her involvement as a CASA volunteer, "we would have lost them all."

In addition to her role as a CASA volunteer, Marge was responsible for helping establish the Friends of CASA, a non-profit corporation that raises money for the county’s CASA volunteer program. She has also been involved as an advisor working with the Kappa Alpha Thetas at the local University. The Thetas have put on many creative fundraising events.

The CASA Program Administrator refers to Marge as a "wealth of energy" and the foundation of our program." He says she is truly an advocate for ALL children, and in her work as a CASA volunteer she is always looking for resources, creative solutions, and new options to benefit kids. He said she works wonders, and spoke of the many "Marge miracles."