Mark Henry, General Manager of the Isabella Pearl Mine presents Lyon County CASA with a $20,000 donation for the children in Lyon County Foster care.

GRC Nevada Inc. (aka Walker Lane Minerals- Isabella Pearl Mine) DONATES $20,000 TO LYON COUNTY CASA

Christmas Presents for Foster Children and Foster placements, establishing a second CASA Closet in Fernley and replenishing the existing CASA Closet

YERINGTON, NEVADA (November 2022) – Lyon County CASA, Inc., announces the receipt of a generous $20,000 donation from GRC Nevada, Inc. (aka Walker Lane Minerals- Isabella Pearl Mine) funds that will provide Christmas gifts for over 60 children from Lyon County that are in the foster care system and their foster placements. The funds will also establish a CASA closet in Fernley to provide necessities including, clothing, hygiene products, shoes, diapers, and school supplies while also providing the opportunity to replenish the existing CASA closet located in Yerington.

Lyon County CASA (CASA is an acronym for court-appointed special advocate) matches children in foster care with a specially trained volunteer to help guide them through the family court system and advocate for whatever is in the child’s best interest, and ensure the children receive placement in a safe, permanent home. Children served by Lyon County CASA may be placed in foster and relative or fictive kin care across Northern Nevada, out of state placements including Hawthorne, Schurz, Lovelock, Utah and surrounding communities.

“We are again overwhelmingly grateful for this generous donation, which will enable us to provide much-needed items and Magic during the holidays to the children we serve,” said , executive director Mary Smith, Lyon County CASA. “We have a great need not only for these items, but also for more volunteers interested in becoming a CASA, so we can make sure every child in foster care has a voice and a caring adult in their corner until reunification with their caregiver or a safe and loving permanent placement can be achieved.”

Members of the community who would like more information about how to donate to Lyon County CASA or become a CASA volunteer, visit https://www.lyoncountycasa.org/become-a-volunteer/ or call (775) 344-1411.

ABOUT LYON COUNTY CASA
Lyon County CASA exists to give a voice to the most vulnerable children—its purpose is to recruit, train and support court-appointed special advocates so that every abused or neglected child can be safe, establish permanence and have the opportunity to thrive. Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA volunteers, are empowered directly by the courts. They offer the system critical information to ensure each child’s rights and needs are being addressed. CASA volunteers advocate in court for what is in the best interest of the child. Children become part of the child welfare system when Nevada’s Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has determined it is unsafe for the child to remain at home due to abuse or neglect. Lyon County CASA volunteers “speak up” for the children appearing in the Third Judicial District of Nevada child welfare cases. The CASA volunteer serves as a “guardian ad litem” under NRS 432B.500. For more information, visit www.LyonCountyCASA.org or call (775) 344-1411.

ABOUT FORTITUDE GOLD, GRC NEVADA INC. (WALKER LANE MINERALS-ISABELLA PEARL MINE)
Fortitude Gold is a US based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, strong returns on capital and high margins. Their strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Nevada Mining Unit consists of five high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt. Nevada is among the world’s premier mining friendly jurisdictions. For more information visit https://fortitudegold.com

LYON COUNTY CASA RECEIVES GIFT FROM THE PINE NEEDLERS!

On Monday, October 2^nd, Lyon County CASA received a wonderful gift from Pine Needlers quilt group of Smith Valley quilters Katherine Feaster and Lynda Boody.

Lyon County CASA volunteers work closely with children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. These children are placed in foster homes or homes of family members as the parents work to reunify with their children.

The Pine Needlers provided Lyon County CASA with a beautify array of handmade quilts which will be personalized with the name of the child receiving them.

The Pine Needlers is an informal group of individuals who love to quilt! They meet twice a month at the Smith Valley Methodist Church Hall where they share materials and work on making beautiful quilts to be shared with others. New participants are welcome.

They have shared their quilts in the past with Wounded Warriors and Fisher House as well as other non-profit groups. The quilts have been created with love and are being shared with others so they have something permanent to keep them warm.

Our sincere and heart felt THANK YOU goes out to all of the wonderful members!

The mission of the Lyon County CASA is to recruit, train and support court appointed special advocates so that every abused or neglected child can be safe, establish permanence and have the opportunity to thrive.  There is a continuing need for volunteers throughout Lyon County. If you would like more information about how to become a volunteer, check out our website at www.lyoncountycasa.org.

As a lasting contribution to at-risk youth nationwide, Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients and communities across the Americas, has intensified its philanthropic and pro bono legal efforts with a $1 million pledge to the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association. The donation, dedicated to benefit current and former foster youth, is the largest donation CASA has ever received from a law firm and one of the greatest sustained commitments it has received throughout its 38-year history.

Akerman’s $1 million pledge represents a commitment over six years to take on a substantial role in the lives of foster youth nationwide. A significant portion of the pledged funds will go to National CASA Association and its local CASA/guardian ad litem (GAL) programs to support the more than 600,000 abused and neglected children who enter the overburdened foster care system each year.

Funds also will be used to establish the “Akerman Academic Scholarship for Foster Youth.” This endowed fund will help minimize the financial burden of higher education for college-bound youth who have grown up in foster care or have spent time in the foster care system. Many students lack the resources to live an independent life once they age-out of the foster care system, and few can afford the necessities to attend school, including the essential books and supplies, registration fees and living expenses. The goal of the Akerman Scholarship is to address these needs and provide these students with increased opportunities to achieve success.

“It takes immense commitment and far-reaching acts if we are going to achieve quality advocacy for every abused and neglected child in the foster care system,” said Andrew Smulian, Akerman Chairman and CEO. “Our people have once again come together to take this huge step toward building an enduring program that will support foster youth in the years ahead. Akerman’s $1 million pledge is about improving the outcomes for at-risk youth by leveraging our firm’s resources while further aligning with our clients and other community partners who share our passion for making a difference.”

“Entering our third year of Akerman’s support of local CASA/GAL programs across the nation, we are so excited to see this partnership expand and grow,” said Bill Collins, President of National CASA. “We fully expect these efforts to have a tremendous impact on the lives of the children we serve.”