Harvey E. Najim Donates $1M towards CASA's Capital Campaign
With an 18% rise in cases of child abuse and neglect in Bexar County, Harvey E. Najim Commits $1,000,000 to Child Advocates San Antonio - Largest Gift in CASA’s History
San Antonio, TX--March 29, 2021 –As child abuse and neglect numbers rose 18% in 2020 compared to 2019 in Bexar County, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) is excited to announce that CASA has received a commitment for its largest ever single financial gift. Mr. Harvey E. Najim, whose name is synonymous with generous philanthropic giving and his heart for children, has committed a $1 million gift toward the purchase of CASA’s new headquarters located at 1956 S. WW White Road, on the far East side. The new building will be named after Mr. Najim. The announcement comes in conjunction with the start of April's National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to bring awareness to our community’s concerning statistics.
“Mr. Najim truly cares about the children in our community. Harvey’s reputation, as a deeply compassionate man who seriously wants to improve the lives of children, meant that the Najim name was the one we wanted for the CASA home. Mr. Najim has supported CASA operationally for many years. The Board and team are simply delighted that he has chosen to partner with us in this endeavor. The building ensures we have room to grow, and ultimately give all children in Bexar County foster care the opportunity to have a dedicated and caring Advocate to amplify their voices and walk beside them,” said Angela White, President and CEO of CASA. “This gift is transformational for CASA. I personally know how important it is for a child to have someone who listens and believes in them, as our CASA Advocates do. It can change their lives forever. Mr. Najim’s support puts us another huge stride down the path to achieving the goal of serving all the children who need us. We cannot thank him enough.”
Founded in 1984, CASA works to recruit, train, and support volunteer Advocates for children in foster care who have experienced abuse and neglect. Last year 5,499 children in Bexar County were removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. At the Courts request, nearly 2,000 of those traumatized and lonely children were connected with a Volunteer Advocate, recruited, trained, and supported by CASA.
As CASA served more children, the organization had completely outgrown their previous San Pedro location. Formally a Holt Texas LLC training building, is now the new 22,382 square foot CASA headquarters. Holt Texas LLC has made the transition possible with a reduction in the building price, gifting furniture and technology, and a generous lease-to-purchase partnership. CASA moved into the office in September 2019.
"As a longtime supporter of CASA, their new headquarter building will accommodate the growth and expansion of CASA to meet the needs of 100% of the children in foster care in our community. CASA ensures each foster child has an advocate to be a mentor and amplify their voices in the court system. I am proud to support this wonderful agency" said Harvey E. Najim, President of the Najim Charitable Foundation.
The increased space includes enough office and training space to accommodate future growth. The building and grounds provide space for Volunteer Advocates to bring their CASA kids and spend time with them in a safe and secure environment. A library and dedicated indoor spaces for art programs are being created. The space will also allow for community events and for wider and continued collaboration with other local child welfare and community agencies. To finalize the procurement of the building to be able to serve more children, CASA has $420,000 left to raise.
CASA’s goal is to serve every foster child in Bexar County, to stand for them, amplify their voices, and walk beside them through a traumatic and lonely time. If you are interested in supporting vulnerable children and helping CASA finish our Campaign, please contact President & CEO Angela White at awhite@casa-satx.org or VP of Development Blair Ortmann at bortmann@casa-satx.org.
About Child Advocates San Antonio
The mission of Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA) is to recruit, train, and supervise court-appointed volunteer Advocates who provide constancy for abused and neglected children and youth while advocating for services and placement in safe and permanent homes. In FY2020, 751 CASA volunteers advocated on behalf of 1,883 children in foster care.
Link to Photos of CASA's New Building
In April 2023, Child Protective Services received a referral reporting that two sisters, ages 15 and 16, were being held at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center following a family altercation. Mother informed the department that she did not have a place for the girls to be released, and they were subsequently placed in an emergency shelter. Mother was asked if she would attend the court hearing and stated that she would not. Although both sisters were released to Mother from the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center, Mother refused to pick them up. There were no relatives or family friends willing to provide placement for the girls, and Mother stated that she wanted to voluntarily sign over her parental rights. Stephanie was assigned as the CASA Staff Advocate in May 2025. By this time, both sisters had experienced multiple placements. The older sister was 18 years old, enrolled in College Docket, and preparing to graduate from high school. The younger sister was 17 years old and residing at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center. Although the sisters were on different paths, they remained emotionally connected and struggled with maintaining contact due to their circumstances. CASA attended the older sister’s high school graduation and the graduation celebration that followed. CASA assisted her with completing all required paperwork and testing necessary for college enrollment. Additionally, CASA supported her in moving into her first apartment, helping her get settled and navigate the challenges of early adulthood. While the younger sister was residing at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center, CASA met with her shortly after assignment and introduced herself. The younger sister was later transferred to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). CASA continued to maintain contact despite challenges related to TJJD policies and procedures. CASA established a positive and consistent point of contact, worked to understand TJJD visitation processes, gathered relevant information, maintained communication with the youth, and actively worked to schedule sibling visitation. CASA has remained a consistent and reliable support system for the older sister as she transitions into adulthood. The youth frequently contacts CASA for guidance and assistance with everyday questions, and CASA continues to provide support. The older sister is currently passing all of her college courses, earning straight A’s, and is actively seeking employment. For the younger sister, CASA remains in close communication with TJJD case managers. CASA provides ongoing support through in-person visits every three months and monthly video calls. CASA is also gathering clothing, legal documentation, and preparing a comprehensive resource packet to support the younger sister upon her release. Through every challenge this case brings, Stephanie will stand beside these sisters, offering unwavering support and encouragement as they discover their strength and reach their full potential.
Joy Varner
