Montclair Resident Honored by CASA

Posted on 3/4/2011

For Immediate Release
March 4, 2011
Contact: Nancy Parello,
(973) 643-3876 or (908) 399-6031

Montclair Resident Honored by CASA

Cecilia Zalkind, executive director of Advocates for Children of New Jersey, was honored Thursday by the Court-Appointed Special Advocates during the organization’s 10th anniversary celebration in Basking Ridge.

The Montclair resident was recognized for her many years of dedicated service to helping New Jersey children, both in her role as ACNJ executive director and as a volunteer who helped establish one of the earliest CASA programs in Essex County.

CASA is a statewide organization that trains and guides 1,800 volunteers who assist children in foster care by providing judges with information about the child’s needs and situation. These volunteers act as a voice for children in court proceedings.

“While I am humbled by this honor, the true heroes are the hundreds of CASA volunteers who labor each day to help children in foster care,” Zalkind said. “Not only do they equip judges with accurate information to make wiser decisions on behalf of these vulnerable children, they also often establish lifelong relationships that change children’s lives for the better.”

“It has been exciting to watch CASA grow from a few county-based programs to one that has 1,800 volunteers serving thousands of children in nearly every New Jersey county,” Zalkind added.

“Ceil has been a staunch supporter of CASA and advocate for children in the child protection system for many years,” said Rita Gulden, executive director of CASA of New Jersey. “We are proud to honor her efforts as we celebrate our 10th anniversary of helping children in foster care.”

To learn more about CASA, go to casaofnj.org.

To learn more about ACNJ, go to acnj.org.