Los Angeles, CA, January 15, 2012 — CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Los Angeles (CASA/LA), a non-profit organization whose volunteers serve the best interests of foster children in the courts and in the community, is excited to announce the naming of AJ Safavi to its Board of Directors.

AJ Safavi has over 25 years of experience in finance. He began his career in 1985 working in real estate finance, where he advised his clients on suitability and effective lending instruments for residential and commercial projects. Safavi then transitioned into personal wealth planning, taking a position at Merrill Lynch in 1996 as a financial advisor. Over the course of his tenure at Merrill, he attained the position of Vice President and Senior Wealth Management Advisor. Then, in April of 2009, he joined Morgan Stanley where he continues to provide sophisticated wealth planning services for his clients as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. Additionally, Los Angeles Magazine recognized AJ as a “Five Star Wealth Management Advisor” for 2011.

AJ will provide valuable counsel and insight into CASA/LA’s financial health and budgetary management. With the assistance of Safavi, the organization will seek ways to raise additional philanthropic funds and to capitalize on opportunities to expand its bottom line in order to service more children in the Los Angeles foster system.

“I’m very, very proud to have been named to the CASA/LA Board,” said Safavi. “In our current economic and political climate, charitable organizations find themselves vulnerable. It will be my duty to assure that CASA/LA maintains and grows its current level of financial stability so that this important nonprofit can continue to thrive.”

In addition to his work with CASA/LA, Safavi is a committee member of the Farhang Foundation, an Iranian/Persian cultural organization. The Foundation is dedicated to celebrating Iranian art, culture and history for the benefit of the community at large. Safavi works with the organization as a member of the Patron Committee, helping the Farhang Foundation to raise funding for its community activities.

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. A CASA volunteer is a committed, highly-trained everyday citizen volunteerassigned by a judge to a foster child in Los Angeles County’s 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 of Los Angeles website: www.casala.org