“You may not be able to fix all the craziness in the world but you can help one child at a time. Oftentimes, just changing the trajectory of their life in the slightest degree can land them in a much better place.” Pam Staub has been a CASA volunteer since the of fall of 2018,...
“My love of children and desire to help make a child's life safer and happier drives my passion.” Joellen Kulczyk has been a CASA for two years and is a Registered Nurse with MNS. In her spare time she enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her grandchildren. Joellen expressed that her mother believed...
“I have always believed that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. And because of the joy I get working with children and my CASA team, I plan on being a CASA for as long as possible.” Nancy Petruska has been involved with Porter County CASA for 18 months. Nancy has a background of victim...
“I believe it is a very important program for the kids so I am challenged to do my best.” Kathlynn Kinnear-Hewitt has been involved with Porter County CASA since May of 2020. She is a registered dietician and most of her career has been with Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC). She...
“There are still families who need our help and support, and volunteering is as helpful to me as it is to them.” Natalie Thorgren has been a CASA volunteer for one year and is an elementary school teacher. In her free time she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and...
“I enjoy getting to know the kids and making sure that their needs and wants are being represented.” Don Evans has been a CASA volunteer since September of 2019 and has been in the banking and insurance industry for 27 years. For the last ten years, he’s been a Collections Manager for a local bank. ...
“I want to be a CASA to make a positive difference, even a little one, in a child’s life. It is the best feeling knowing that I have a chance to do that.” Debbie Gorski completed her CASA Volunteer Training in the fall of 2019. Debbie expressed, “I’m the proud mother of two daughters...
“I remain a CASA volunteer because I know I can make a difference.” Michelle VanDrunen began volunteering with CASA in April of 2017. She is a Bus Driver for Boone Grove School and she enjoys attending storage auctions where she buys and sells. Regarding what drew her to CASA volunteering, Michelle expressed, “I decided to become...
“It was time to give back.” John McQuillan has been a CASA volunteer for almost four years. He retired in 2006 from a litigation law firm. Following his retirement, John took twenty semesters of college courses mostly as an auditing student; he studied biology, American literature, math, art history, and many branches of theology –...
"One of my personal guiding principles focuses on the importance of serving others and the belief that every person benefits from ‘having a person in their corner’." Deb Nelson became involved with Porter County CASA in the fall of 2019 and was assigned to her first case in late December, 2019. She retired in July, 2019 from 30 plus...
