Councilmember Sandra Johnson Will Host Event

Lancaster, CA, Feb 27, 2013 — CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a non-profit organization that improves the lives of foster children through trained volunteer advocates, will be hosting a reception and benefit dinner on Friday, March 8th at the John P. Eliopulos Hellenic Center in Lancaster. Two of the area’s leaders will be assisting with the event: Councilmember Sandra Johnson (Lancaster City Council), who will serve as Emcee, and Guest of Honor Michael D. Antonovich (Los Angeles County Supervisor), who will be speaking at the event.

The event is titled “Helping Children Blossom,” and is an evening to benefit CASA’s services of support and advocacy for foster children in the Antelope Valley. Individual tickets are $50, with sponsorship packages ranging from $125 through to $5,000. Tickets are available through the CASA/LA website: https://www.casala.org or by calling CASA at 661-723-2272.

“CASA provides services of incomparable importance to the children of the Antelope Valley and through them, to our community,” said retired educator and current CASA Board Member, Jean Youngquist. “This wonderful evening will allow residents to learn more about a vital organization while also assuring that even more children will receive the help and advocacy that they deserve.”

In addition to Ms. Youngquist, committee members include Diane Grooms, Judi Olson, Sandra Price, Daniel Silva, and Katalina Whitman.

WHAT: Helping Children Blossom” Dinner Benefitting CASA

WHEN: Friday, March 8, 2013. 6:00pm Reception; 7:00pm Dinner

WHERE: John P. Eliopulos Hellenic Center, 43404 30th Street, Lancaster, CA 93536 (Map)

Any media interested in attending the event can contact Brian McWilliams at 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 that trains and supports volunteers from the community to serve as advocates for children in the highly-overburdened foster care system of Los Angeles County. CASA has offices at the Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center in Lancaster, and in Monterey Park. A CASA volunteer is a committed, highly-trained everyday citizen volunteer assigned by a judge to a foster child in the Juvenile Dependency Court system who advocates for the best interests of the child. CASA volunteers bring the voice of the community into a child welfare system that is often overly-bureaucratic and legalistic. Studies have shown that children with CASAs receive more assistance and support than children without, are more likely to be adopted, and are less likely to reenter the child welfare system. For more information, please visit the CASA website: www.casala.org.

About Michael D. Antonovich

Michael D. Antonovich, a native of Los Angeles County, has served the two million residents of the County’s Fifth Supervisorial District since 1980. In 1969, he was elected to the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees. In 1972, he was elected to serve in the California State Assembly. He served three terms in the Assembly and rose to the rank of Republican Whip from 1976 to 1978. His 33 years as County Supervisor have been characterized by his commitment to public safety, effective and responsive representation, support for small business, our County’s foster children, seniors, and veterans.

About Sandra Johnson

Sandra Volta-Johnson was elected to the Lancaster City Council in April 2012, after having been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Council in September 2011.  She is the CEO and co-founder of the University of Antelope Valley (UAV), has dedicated much of her life to the education of others. Immigrating to Lancaster, California from Chile in 1970, Sandra attributes her success to her parents, who continually challenged her to overcome any obstacles. Arriving to the United States in the first grade, while speaking very little English, Sandra soon found herself as the school’s translator, bridging the language gap between administrators and other Spanish speaking students. Growing up in a tough neighborhood, and at times receiving government assistance, Sandra’s childhood experience set the foundation of her passion; changing lives through education.