Los Angeles, CA, January 2013 — CASA of Los Angeles is proud to announce that Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Downey, as part of the Catholic Schools Week celebration, has honored one of CASA’s most dedicated staff members, Louise Bieschke. The event took place at a Recognition Breakfast on Tuesday, January 29, and also honored OLPH volunteers Luz and Hector Perez and Father Ken Deasy of the Holy Childhood Association.
“I never expected to receive such an honor,” said Louise Bieschke. “We don’t do the work we do in order to get thanks, but when people come together and notice the help you’ve given, it’s always very rewarding.”
“Louise Bieschke is a talented and dedicated individual whose work with CASA has been instrumental to the growth of the organization,” said Dilys Tosteson Garcia, Executive Director of CASA of Los Angeles. “We simply could not be happier for her or prouder that she is a part of our organization.”
Bieschke is CASA’s Outreach Manager and oversees volunteer recruitment and public speaking engagements to nurture and expand CASA to provide more support to the foster children of Los Angeles. Bieschke worked for CASA of Lexington, Kentucky for 5 years as their Volunteer Coordinator, during which time she engaged in extensive outreach. She also conducted outreach for HOPE Center (a homeless shelter) as the Community Relations Manager for four years. In total, including assisting other non-profits including the National Marrow Donor Program in Santa Ana, CA for 5 years, Ms. Bieschke has spent approximately 17 years focusing on outreach, volunteer management, training, and marketing. She attended the University of Kentucky and has participated in continuing education and special training programs to enhance her skills.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School was founded on September 13, 1948, with an enrollment of 124 students in grades one through six. The school opened in temporary quarters and was staffed by three Sisters of Notre Dame. Located in Downey, Our Lady of Perpetual Help collaborates with parents to educate the whole child through academic excellence and challenges students to be lifelong learners and faith filled Catholics who are dedicated to service.
Photo: Louise Bieschke is pictured above with Downey Councilmember Alex Saab and Mario Guerra, Mayor of Downey.
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
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