Dedicated Volunteer Advocate Honored At CASA/LA’s Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Held At California Endowment

Los Angeles, CA, June 7th, 2013 — CASA of Los Angeles is very proud to announce that one of its most dedicated volunteers, Taryn Rudow, has been named “Volunteer of the Year.” The award was presented at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, which took place Wednesday at the California Endowment in Downtown Los Angeles. Superior Court Commissioner Jacqueline Lewis, who nominated Ms. Rudow, was on hand to present the award.

Taryn Rudow has worked with CASA for 9 years, taking on some of the toughest cases in the system. The 2013 Volunteer of the Year recipient has worked with three siblings during her time with the organization, and continues to provide support to them, despite one of the youths having “aged out” of the system at 21.

“Taryn is a noteworthy example of what it means to be a CASA,” said CASA Executive Director Dilys Garcia. “What all of our volunteers do is not easy and there isn’t always a happy ending. It is the daily dedication to making the life of a child better that defines a CASA, and Taryn Rudow has proven to be a pillar of that dedication in our organization.”

“I’m honored to receive this accolade, which I share with every CASA volunteer for what we all do, every day,” said Taryn Rudow. “Saying CASA is important is an understatement. There is a whole section of lost children that society ignores, and they need our support. I know that I feel as many of us do; that even though these aren’t our children, we still care deeply for them and we will do everything in our power to chase that happy ending and ensure them a bright future.”

Ms. Rudow is the mother of two children, one of which, Kyle, tragically died at the age of 20 in an automobile accident. Turning tragedy into charity, Taryn Rudow and her family established the KP Memorial Fund, which hosts an annual golf tournament in Calabasas, CA, raising over $300,000 to date for regional nonprofits. CASA/LA is one of the organizations to receive proceeds from the tournament, totaling over $80,000 over the past 10 years. The tenth annual Kyle Rudow Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, June 17.

Pictures from the event are available upon request. Contact Brian McWilliams of Spelling Communications – bmcwilliams@spellcom.com / 310-838-4010

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.