 Given I am a Golden Girls fan, I have always wanted to start a story like this: Picture It: Savannah 2020. The world (literally the whole world) felt like a bleak place. The Covid-19 pandemic was ravaging communities from Boston to Beijing, and the news coverage showing stories of families who lost loved ones was almost too much to take. Being someone who felt a bit hopeless during this awful time, I was looking for something I could do-some action that would make me feel a little more hopeful by contributing positively to my community. While I was recovering from having Covid in October 2020 my friend sent me a link to Savannah CASA, and they were advertising a need for more CASAs. Up until that point, I had never heard of Savannah CASA. However, as I read about the program and how CASAs provide advocacy to children in foster care, the national news was showing a story about 2 children whose parents passed away due to Covid-19 complications. Just like that, they were orphans and put into foster care with no family able to take care of them. I couldn’t help but think at that moment - this doesn’t seem like a coincidence. Whether you believe in a higher power or signs or “the universe”, moments like this are worth paying attention to. So, I did, and I signed up to become a CASA. Now looking back when I started my CASA training 2 years ago, that version of me couldn’t have fathomed how much joy, purpose, and hope I would feel now - hope that I could make positive change happen to people in my community who need it most. By providing life-changing advocacy to children in foster care, I in turn had life-changing experiences. I helped a teenage boy be able to trust adult men again, through speaking with him every day for 4 months and improving his jump shot. I helped that same teenage boy get ready for a school dance, and saw him say “I didn’t know I could look this good” when he wore a suit for the first time. I then saw that same teenage boy receive a standing ovation when he received a scholarship and said “I have come so far, and you helped me get here”. Moments like these will stay with me for the rest of my life, and I have that amazing teenage boy and Brightside Child and Family Advocacy to thank for it. I believe in the phenomenal power of this organization. Not only because of the incredible work the staff do on behalf of children in foster care, but also for the amazing experiences CASA volunteers get to be part of helping children in foster care. I believe in this organization so much; so much that I am putting my very mediocre dance skills on display by participating in the 2024 Dancing with Savannah Stars fundraiser . On May 3rd, I will be showing all the joy, purpose, and hope I have gained over these past two years on stage at Victory North to raise money so Brightside can continue and grow their spectacular programs. I hope you will join me that night (you can buy tickets or donate here) , and hope that you may even consider becoming a CASA yourself. Trust me - it will bring you so much joy, give you purpose you didn’t know you needed, and allow yourself to feel more hopeful about our future world. About The Author Bob Crimian is a devoted CASA volunteer celebrating two years of service this year. His passion for for his community is shown thoroughly in his consistent efforts to be a voice for children in foster care. This year Bob has chosen to take his efforts a step further by becoming a contestant on Brightside's 16th Annual, Dancing With Savannah Stars.
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