CASA de Amparo is a safety haven place for children taken away from home due to any form of sexual abuse, neglect, physical abuse and abondoment. The staff made sure the kids are being protective, well care for the well being. CASA is there call home and being love and protect.
June 4, 2011
President Board of Directors
Casa de Amparo
Oceanside, California,
Dear President,
Like a kaleidoscope, the work of nonprofit governance is intricate, varied, and involves viewing the organization through a variety of lenses. Exceptional governance requires precision, imagination, and principled and adept decision-making. Its’ practitioners are dedicated volunteers who contribute valuable services to our community.
The University of San Diego’s Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium recognizes an exemplary nonprofit board of directors with the “Kaleidoscope Award for Exceptional Governance.” The purpose of the award is to celebrate, promote, and inspire excellence in nonprofit governance. A six-member blue ribbon committee of nonprofit leaders does an extensive review of applicants’ governing documents, financials and other organizational material. Finalists are interviewed. The award is given at the annual USD symposium.
Casa de Amparo was among the first three award winners. They won the award because of their diligent fiduciary governance, their ability to move their organization strategically over the long term and their willingness to ask themselves generative questions in order to keep their programs relevant. Their board is intelligent, hardworking, courageous and engaged.
We are proud to have them be part of our kaleidoscope.
Thanks for the opportunity to talk about some folks who do great work helping children and their families that grapple with the very tough issues of child abuse. Casa de Amparo has been there for these children for thirty years. I've worked with Casa for ten years and have seen first hand the impact caring, loving people can have.
Casa is also a great steward for the money it receives. The core concept has always been to reach out to the community for help in providing additional services that focus on healing and prevention leveraged on top of government supported programs. That partnership helps take dollars a long way.
Casa has been recognized by the University of San Diego for excellence in governance. If you are thinking of contributing you can rest assured that your money will be well spent on a good cause.
I am the expressive arts teacher (and student) at Casa de Amparo in Oceanside California, a shelter for abused and neglected children. I add student because as much as I give to the kids at Casa, I receive back, ten fold. The kids at Casa have been through trauma and distress in their lives. They are living in a group home because those that should love and shelter them are incapable or uncaring enough to do so. These kids have not been given the care nor crucial tools they need in life to succeed, let alone excel and yet many of them are doing just that. Thanks to Casa, these kids are receiving the love, support and instruction they need to make a good life for themselves, one filled with choices for success and achievement. Just recently, a Casa child was having a very difficult day (what six year old wouldn't that has been removed from his home and family), I am told that instead of throwing a tantrum, he asked to, "paint it out". A positive response to his very negative feelings. Many well adjusted grown-ups don't respond this well. Thanks to Casa there is hope for these kids and more importantly, these kids have hope.