Wyonne Hegland and her husband Jim. Wyonne was honored as the 2009 Volunteer of the Year.
Judge Boles presided over the swearing in of 12 new CASA volunteers.
Lynn & Steve Stephens lit the ceremonial "Light of Hope" for abused and neglected children.
CASA volunteer Rick Poulton provided the evening's View From a CASA.
Attorney Gary Hurt was honored as the 2009 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.
Case Manager Candy Miller, Judge Susan Clancy Boles, and Case Management Coordinator Kathy Furgason.
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
CASA Kane County's annual
Volunteer Recognition Evening takes place every April to honor the hard work and
dedication of over 200 CASA/GAL volunteers.
This year's event was held at the St. Charles Country Club, and was once
again generously underwritten by Doris Hunt.
The Volunteer Recognition Evening is always an inspiring night.
At this year's event, outgoing Board Chair Michael Fratamico asked
everyone in the audience to try and leave the organization a little bit better
than when they found it. Sheriff Pat
Perez provided the key note address, Rick Poulton gave an emotional View From a
CASA, and Juvenile Court Judge Susan Clancy Boles provided her View From the
Bench before swearing in twelve new advocates.
Wyonne Hegland was honored with the Doris Hunt Volunteer of the Year Award.
This award has been given to outstanding volunteers since 1995 when it
was awarded to the program's long-time supporter, Doris Hunt. Wyonne has served
as a CASA/GAL volunteer for nearly 8 years.
A retired educator with a background in special education and
speech/language therapy, Wyonne has been a superb match for the two children on
her case, both with significant emotional, educational, and medical issues.
Last year, Wyonne accepted a new case involving four children. Wyonne has
served as a mentor to new CASA volunteers and has helped with the agency's
special events. Wyonne was a past nominee for the Illinois CASA Advocate
of the Year Award.
The annual Pro Bono Attorney Award was given to Gary Hurt of Aurora's Law
Offices of Gary Hurt. Gary has been
representing CASA Kane County on one case in involving eight children since
2001. Gary has always been very
accessible to the CASA volunteers appointed to the case and is passionate in his
courtroom representation. Mr. Hurt
served on the CASA Kane County Board of Directors in 1996 and 1997.
Thank you to all of our outstanding volunteers!
You are the light of hope for abused and neglected children.
