Events
3rd Annual Appreciation Awards Luncheon
Rookie of the Year: Chloe Bennett
Case Crusader of the Year: Julie Mason with 169.75 hours on cases
Advocate of the Year: Shelly Graff
Community Partner Award: Reeves Cattle Company
Suzan Tarwater Founders Award of Excellence: Kathleen Whitley
Road Warrior of the Year: Deanna Berry with 1908 miles driven for cases
Our keynote speaker this year was Breanna Perez. In her speech, Breanna shared her powerful story and praised CASA volunteers' work for foster children. Here are a few words of her beautiful speech.
"My name is Breanna, and I am honored to share a bit about my journey with you today. I'm 32 years old, originally from Scott City, but I consider Garden City my home, where I spent most of my upbringing. My experience with the foster care system has been a significant part of my life. I found myself in state custody not once but twice — first during my preschool years and again during my teenage adolescence. I aged out of state custody when I turned 18, after being in foster care from the ages of 14 to 18.
This is where my CASA volunteer played a pivotal role. I vividly remember our conversation leading up to my 18th birthday. She reassured me that she supported me and ensured my voice was heard in the courtroom. She presented me with options: I could stay in state custody after turning 18 to ease my transition into adulthood, or I could request to be released from state custody. For me, staying in state custody meant perpetuating feelings of punishment, abandonment, and loneliness. So, I clarified my wishes to my CASA volunteer: I just wanted it all to be over. I wanted to go home. A few days after my 18th birthday, I found myself in court. When Judge Sanders asked if my CASA had anything to say, she stood up and uttered the words that would change everything: Breanna requested to be released from state custody. In that moment, I felt seen, heard, and advocated for. It made me think profoundly significant, as if someone finally understood and championed my needs.
Volunteers, I cannot stress enough how crucial your role is in the lives of foster youth. My CASA volunteer's simple statement in court changed everything for me. It was a moment of validation, of feeling seen and heard in a system where I often felt invisible. It was a turning point when my CASA stood up and advocated for my wishes. Your support and advocacy can have that same impact on the children you serve. Your presence, dedication, and willingness to stand up for them can make all the difference.
Thank you for being that beacon of hope and support for foster youth like me."
Southwest Kansas Open Pro-Am
We were honored to be chosen as one of the three non-profit organizations to receive a generous grant of $15,000 from the Southwest Kansas Open Pro-Am Committee. Our task was simply to provide volunteers for the successful execution of the event!
Our CASA Cravings Event was a success! We met our goals for the first year and sold over 220 tasty lunches, with 70 bought by community members for first responders. Special thanks to our event sponsors!
Thank you, Wheatland Electric and to all who voted for us in the challenge!
Many thanks to those who donated to our mission on MatchDay! Your generosity and kindness will go to support training advocates to be a child’s voice while during their court case.
THANK YOU, Garden City Police Department for providing a educational training about drugs in our community! The training was eye opening for many of those attended. We appreciate your task force, keep fighting the war on drugs for our community!
THANK YOU, Garden City Police Department for providing a educational training about drugs in our community! The training was eye opening for many of those attended. We appreciate your task force, keep fighting the war on drugs for our community!
THANK YOU, Garden City Police Department for providing a educational training about drugs in our community! The training was eye opening for many of those attended. We appreciate your task force, keep fighting the war on drugs for our community!
CASA advocates, Julie and Joyce volunteering at the T-Mobile event.
A BIG thank you to all who help make our Match Day a success! Thank you, for your support during Giving Tuesday, you are truly appreciated. With your generosity, we raised over $23,000.00.
CASA Gumball Machine at Trunk or Treat. “Chews to be a CASA”!
Debbie, Joyce and Julie passed out candy tonight! Over 1000 kids!
Thank you, Secret Santa participants. This year we had over 100 children with their very own Santa!
Thank you, Secret Santa participants. This year we had over 100 children with their very own Santa!
Thank you, Secret Santa participants. This year we had over 100 children with their very own Santa!
Thank you, Secret Santa participants. This year we had over 100 children with their very own Santa!
Thank you, Secret Santa participants. This year we had over 100 children with their very own Santa!
Thank you, Western Kansas Community Foundation, for hosting the Non-Profit Fair. It was a sweltering but fun day spent with all the other non-profits!
Thank you to all the volunteers who worked alongside us during the Southwest Kansas Open Pro-Am. Your support to the organization and to the kids in Southwest Kansas shows by your donation of time to this week-long event!
Thank you to the Southwest Kansas Open Pro-Am committee, who chose us to participate along with Real Men, Real Leaders, and LiveWell Finney County Health Coalition.
Thanks to all of you who came out to support children in our community by donating school supplies at STUFF the BUS!
Ginger and Rosie are out today at the WKCF Non-Profit Fair! They are ready to discuss how to become a CASA advocate for children in our community
Thank you, Parker Fisher, for organizing your Eagle Scout project Trots for Totes, to benefit CASA children! Parker’s 5K and 1-mile fun run raised 2000.00 to purchase backpacks.
Executive Director, Debbie Reynolds graciously accepts a generous donation from the Navajo Taco fundraising event. A big Thank you to everyone who supported the event and who helped behind the scenes.
Spirit of the Plains, CASA took 3rd place at the Trunk N’ Treat at the United Methodist Church! Ginger and Rosie were the brains behind our wonderful design!! All the kiddos were so cute in their costumes!
Thank you, Southwest Kansas Pro-Am committee! Spirit of the Plains, CASA was honored to be chosen as one of the 3 organizations to benefit from this year's Southwest Kansas Pro-Am.
Toy Drive with Garden City Community College and Burtis Motors
Each child assigned to CASA had their very own Secret Santa in 2023
Each child assigned to CASA had their very own Secret Santa in 2023
Each child assigned to CASA had their very own Secret Santa in 2023
Each child assigned to CASA had their very own Secret Santa in 2023
We were the beneficiary of Tamales for Santa in 2023, a toy drive and benefit by the Gutierrez family.
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
July 30, 2022
Honoring and recognizing our CASA volunteers for the outstanding work they do in our community!
Jane Matteson Krug is this year's recipient of the Suzan Tarwater Founder's award.
This year’s award recognizes Jane as an outstanding volunteer whose unselfish and dedicated service has made a significant difference in their community and the lives of children. Jane Matteson Krug was a part of the Spirit of the Plains CASA team for twelve years, beginning in 2009 until she retired from the board of directors in 2021.
Jane was the advocate for 12 children on 6 cases; while serving those children, Jane drove 4,633 miles and spent 830 hours advocating and supporting the children with their court cases. Jane’s last case was a high-profile case that lasted over three years.
In 2011 Jane became a board member and later the Board President in 2015. During Jane’s term as President, Jane stepped in to be the Interim Executive Director for the organization for several months until an Executive Director was hired in 2018. During those months that Jane was the Interim Director, she was able to keep the organization viable and open in order to continue to serve children in our district. Jane’s commitment to the organization demonstrated motivation, dedication, and excellence through her service and has positively impacted those we serve.
Julie Mason from Scott City was this year's Rookie of the Year!
Thank you, Julie, for your dedication to the children in our communities. Your best interest advocacy can be measured in so many ways. One could measure your efforts by the hours you put in each month, the miles you have driven, to picking up food boxes at the food pantry. Your first year at CASA was definitely a grand slam! Congratulations Julie!
Congratulations Deb Travers for winning the Chris Fankhauser Advocate of the Year!
Your commitment and dedication to the children in our communities is exemplary for the last 16 years! Thank you for all you do!
Coffee with CASA
If you've ever considered becoming a CASA volunteer now is the time! CASA has been assigned to almost 100 children in our community, and more are still on the waiting list.
Join us at Coffee with CASA to ask questions and talk to current volunteers and learn more about what it is like to advocate for a child!
www.spiritoftheplainscasa.org
MatchDay
MatchDay on Tuesday, November 30, is an incredible opportunity for Spirit of the Plains, CASA. On that day, Western Kansas Community Foundation will match donations made to our organization and we could potentially receive 50% of the match pool.
We still face monthly expenses, so we still need your contribution to our annual campaign. However, building our endowment is critical to our future. MatchDay is a unique opportunity to benefit both of those needs, and to grow our endowment exponentially, so that we can enrich our people and programs for even greater impact, for years to come.
Donations will be excepted by checks or go to the Match Day site
Coffee with CASA
If you’ve ever considered becoming a CASA volunteer, now is the time! CASA has been assigned to almost 100 children in our community, and more are still on the waiting list. Join us at Coffee with CASA to ask questions and talk to current volunteers and learn more about what it’s like to advocate for a child.
Coffee with CASA
If you’ve ever considered becoming a CASA volunteer, now is the time! CASA has been assigned to almost 100 children in our community, and more are still on the waiting list. Join us at Coffee with CASA to ask questions and talk to current volunteers and learn more about what it’s like to advocate for a child.
Together We Care
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 50% of the proceeds from these menu items listed at Applebee's Grill + Bar in Garden City will be donated to us! Please add this to your calendar and we hope to see you out there!