Firm Chair of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Succeeds Outgoing Chair Bruce Herron

Los Angeles, CA, July 17, 2013 — CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Los Angeles has named current Board Member Jim Rishwain as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. Rishwain has been a CASA Board Member for two years, and also chaired the highly successful inaugural “Evening of Dreams Gala,” which was held on May 1st and raised over $800,000 for the organization. Mr. Rishwain will replace retired executive Bruce Herron, who is stepping down after three years of leadership. Mr. Herron will remain on the CASA/LA Board, and will continue his role as a CASA volunteer as well.

“Under Bruce’s guidance, CASA has successfully undergone a rebirth as a 100% community-supported nonprofit and seen the ranks of its volunteers expand,” said Mr. Rishwain. “I will look to bring the same level of passion, innovation and dedication in my role as the new Chair of CASA’s Board, and to heighten the community’s awareness of the extraordinary work that CASA/LA does for its foster youth.”

“As an organization, we are thrilled to have Jim step into the role vacated by Bruce,” said CASA/LA Executive Director Dilys Garcia. “With our 2014 fiscal year set to begin, we have set our sights on helping more foster children than ever before. I can think of no one better to serve as our new Chair and assure this goal becomes a reality.”

Mr. Rishwain became involved with CASA many years ago, when he was brought into the organization by Pillsbury lawyer-turned-teacher and CASA volunteer, Robert Morrison.  Mr. Morrison’s unexpected death led Mr. Rishwain to deepen his ties to CASA as a way to build on Mr. Morrison’s legacy of dedication to the disadvantaged youth of Los Angeles.

“Rob was a force of good and a true inspiration,” Mr. Rishwain said. “He stepped away from his career as a highly accomplished attorney serving the nation’s top financial institutions to dedicate himself to serving underprivileged children, and I am grateful to him for his example.”

Mr. Rishwain brings a legacy of leadership to the position of Chair. In his current role as Pillsbury’s Firm Chair, he is responsible for developing and executing Pillsbury’s strategic plan and policies as adopted by the Pillsbury Board. He is also the board’s key advisor, the top executive, and its chief visionary, decision maker, and communicator.  He previously served as Chair of Pillsbury’s Global Real Estate practice, and as Managing Partner of the firm’s Los Angeles offices.

Mr. Rishwain holds leadership roles with several other community organizations. He is a board member on the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission and of Common Sense Media.

 

ABOUT CASA/LA
Founded in 1978, CASA of Los Angeles is a community-supported 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to mobilize community volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in the highly-overburdened foster care system of Los Angeles County. CASA’s vision is of a Los Angeles where every foster child has an advocate and the opportunity to thrive. Through committed, highly trained everyday citizen volunteers, CASA brings the voice of a concerned community into the child welfare system which is often overly bureaucratic and legalistic. Studies have shown that children with CASAs receive more assistance and support than children without, and are more likely to be adopted or returned to their families and less likely to reenter the child welfare system. For more information, please visit the CASA of Los Angeles website: www.casala.org.