Brodie's Day at the Ballpark

This past Sunday, boys served by CASA experienced the excitement of a baseball game, thanks to the generosity of Deb Brodie and her late husband Mike, who founded the event. The boys had a great time watching the game, meeting the players, and spending quality time with their Advocates during the annual Brodie's Day at the Ballpark event. 

Mike's legacy at CASA is one of compassion, caring and love. 
Mike Brodie
Mike and Deb started working with CASA as Volunteers in 2007. Together, they made the CASA difference Advocating over about seven cases for the children involved. Deb recalls how Mike "loved the kids and felt a sense of accomplishment when we could be helpful in getting the kids where they needed to be." She also told us how good he was with them and how they would "open up to him and really talk to him."

Mike passed away in 2015, but his legacy has continued, thanks to Deb's efforts. In honor of his love of all sports, especially Baseball, "Mike's Day at the Ballpark" was created. Through the event, Deb hopes to pass on Mike's love of the game and give the boys an opportunity to interact with the players. She hopes that a day at the ballpark is "really exciting for them during a not so exciting time in their lives."
Moments from the Ballpark
Thanks to the Brodie family, our CASA boys had an absolute blast! Here are a few moments from the event so you can see for yourself. At CASA, we believe that every child deserves happy moments like these and will continue to do everything we can to Advocate and Be the Difference in their lives. You can also join in our mission by donating or finding out more about becoming an Advocate. 

Story of Hope: Brennan Holland

By bfines • February 13, 2025
Brennan Holland was assigned to Sarah in December 2022. Sarah entered foster care with a history of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, yet she remains incredibly resilient. Throughout her time in care, she has experienced multiple placements. Brennan quickly learned that Sarah has a strong passion for neuroscience and dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. Determined to pursue her goal, she graduated early from high school and is now enrolled in the College Bound Docket program, attending her school of choice—UTSA. However, the path to achieving her dream has not been without challenges.\ Sarah received a discharge notice from her current placement and was denied Supervised Independent Living (SIL) until she turned 18. It felt as though no one was giving her a real chance. CASA stepped in to advocate for Sarah’s independence, pushing for her to live in a dorm on her own. Not everyone on her team supported this idea due to concerns about her age, limited independent living experience, and fears that she might run away, be influenced by older peers, or engage in risky behavior. CASA, however, continued to stand by Sarah, even offering financial assistance to help her move into a dorm until she became eligible for SIL.  At Sarah’s next court hearing on January 24, 2025, her attorney ad litem filed a motion for her to live in a dorm at UTSA. CASA once again advocated for the court to approve this plan. The judge, quoting Brennan’s court report, stated, “Brennan said it correctly: You are going to succeed or fail based on your decisions.” Ultimately, the judge authorized Sarah to live in the dorms on campus and ordered CPS to cover the cost of SIL. CASA recently assisted Sarah in moving into her very first dorm room, and we are excited to see what the future holds for her. Since being placed on campus, she has built a strong network of supportive adults to help her thrive. The impact of CASA facilitating these vital connections is crucial in ensuring that young adults like Sarah have the support they need to successfully transition into adulthood.

February Advocate Spotlight

By bfines • February 13, 2025
Emily White
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