Lynda Alston Joins Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) as Vice President

Noted local executive brings fundraising, finance and marketing expertise to CASA and will help the effort to address the need of Bexar County’s children at-risk

SAN ANTONIO, May 18, 2010 – Local San Antonio nonprofit executive Lynda Alston has joined Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) as the organization’s new vice president. Ms. Alston, who had most recently been Executive Director at ChildSafe, brings a wealth of experience to CASA. She had previously been a senior vice president at The Trust Company in San Antonio.

 “We’re so excited to have Lynda join CASA. She was an incredible leader at ChildSafe and will continue to work with their Board of Directors in their search for her replacement,” said Janet Ketcham, CEO/ President of CASA; “Lynda’s area of expertise are exactly what CASA needs to grow our agency to the next level, allowing us to serve more abused and neglected children.”

 Ms. Alston is joining CASA at a time when more than half of the children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect in Bexar County do not have an advocate to speak for them in court. CASA’s volunteer child advocates serve as an independent voice in court for these abused and neglected children.

 CASA’s all-volunteer advocates get to know everyone involved in the lives of these children, most of whom are in foster care, in order to make recommendations, provide information and relay their concerns to the judges of the Bexar County Children’s Court. Judges consider CASA volunteers the “eyes and ears” of the court and rely on the information they provide to make sound, informed decisions for children.

“My new position with CASA will allow me to continue my passion to serve as an advocate for Bexar County’s abused and neglected children,” said Alston. “And since CASA relies heavily on grants and donations from corporations, foundations and individuals, I’m also looking forward to utilizing my network of relationships in the community and expertise in the areas of fundraising, finance and marketing to further the mission of CASA. Overall, I’m very enthusiastic about the opportunity to help CASA in all of these areas, as we continue to recruit and train volunteers that serve to break the cycle of abuse so prevalent in our community,” added Alston.