March 16 Letters to the Editor
With March being Women's History Month, it is fitting to reflect upon the important strides that women have made in our nation and society.
In 2020, we will reach the hundredth anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which allowed women the right to vote. Through the following decades, women fought for the opportunity to have a greater role in democracy through elected office. Yet this year, we saw female candidates from both major political parties seek the office of President, one of whom may become her party's nominee.
As Hamilton's first female Mayor, I believe that we must continue to show girls and young women that there are no bounds to what they can achieve.
This month, I will be speaking to our school children about my own personal experiences in pursing elected office, while encouraging girls and young women to continue seeking their goals, whether in elected office or any other profession.
Our country and our world is stronger and more prosperous when all citizens - including females - have an opportunity to contribute to our nation and society.
Kelly A. Yaede
Hamilton Township mayor
On Saturday, February 20, our organization held "A Night of a Thousand Stars", commemorating the 15th Anniversary of the founding of CASA of Mercer County Inc. All proceeds from the event, held at Greenacres Country Club in Lawrenceville, benefitted Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) of Mercer and Burlington Counties. A total of $106,000 was raised for our organization, which, through trained community volunteers, represents the best interests of abused and neglected children.
We were very grateful to have Bernie Flynn, President and CEO of NJM Insurance Group, as our honorary event chairperson. Special event recognition was given to long-time corporate donor, Princeton-based DiversityInc. Our audience of about 200 was all moved by the presentation of former CASA child Fabiola Quezada, a young mother who is now employed by Wells Fargo Home Mortgages.
Lead sponsors for Night of a Thousand Stars were NJM Insurance Group and Diversityinc, along with The Martin Family and Wells Fargo, followed by 1WorldSync, Bracco Diagnostics, Herspiegel Consulting, Horizon Blue, Investors Bank, Junior Achievement of New Jersey, NJBIA, Pringle Quinn Anzano P.C., PSE&G, Sanofi-Aventis, Stark & Stark, Withum Smith & Brown, and Borden Perlman Salisbury & Kelly.
Leading our dedicated 8-person planning committee were event co-chairs Minda Alena, president of the Junior League of Princeton and principal of Muse Interiors LLC, and Geniva Martin, former president of the Junior League of Princeton.
The mission of CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties is to train and supervise community volunteers, appointed by the Family Court, to advocate for the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. The volunteers strive to ensure the emotional, physical and educational well-being of these children while they reside in foster homes or residential facilities. The ultimate goal of these volunteers is to help establish a safe, stable and permanent home for each child served. This past year in Mercer and Burlington Counties, 211 volunteers advocated for 323 children.
Our next major fundraiser is the CASA Kids Superhero 5K, a USATF-certified race (which includes a 1-mile Fun Run) to be held on Saturday, April 23d at The Princeton Pike Corporate Center in Lawrenceville.
For anyone interested in the possibility of becoming a CASA volunteer, please contact Volunteer Recruiter Jill Duffy at jduffy@casamercer.org or 609-434-0050, ext. 101.
Randall Kirkpatrick
CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties director of community development
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