ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND – Anne Arundel County CASA, Inc. (AACASA) is proud to announce the 21^st Annual Tee Up for a Child Golf Tournament, to be held at the Crofton Country Club in Crofton, Maryland on Monday, May 2, 2022.

Registration begins at 8 am with a Shotgun Start at 9 am, and features a light breakfast, lunch, awards presentation and raffle drawings. All proceeds go directly to supporting the mission of AACASA to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in foster care in Anne Arundel County, though trained volunteers.

AACCASA hopes the event will raise $50,000 to provide more CASA volunteers to be voices for abused and neglected children in the foster care system.

“I love the work that CASA does and I don’t think that we can support it enough! The organization is filled with great people doing amazing work and we need to do everything we can to give them the tools and resources that they need to serve those kids,” says Stephen R. Holt, Golf Tournament Chair for AACASA. 

“Our Executive Director, Rebecca Tingle, is one of the best human beings I know and she’s the type of person when she asks you to do something, you can’t say “no!” It’s an honor to be asked to lead the Tee-Up for a Child Golf Tournament. “Tee-Up” has always been one of my favorite golf outings in the county and I’m excited to build on all of its past success.”

In 1977, a Seattle Superior Court Judge, David Soukup, was losing sleep trying to make the best decisions for abused and neglected children in his courtroom. There were many times when he felt that he did not have enough information about each child’s unique circumstances. Judge Soukup knew the decisions he was making would have a lifelong impact on these children. 

Judge Soukup came up with an idea: What if he could train community volunteers to get to know these children and their circumstances? These volunteers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), could report back to him with what they had learned and he would then be able to make a decision based on the best interests of the child. He put the word out that he was looking for volunteers, expecting five or ten people to hear the call. 50 citizens responded and CASA was born.

The local AACASA opened its doors in 1997, and today continues to work tirelessly to ensure a safe and happy home for children in foster care who have experienced neglect or abuse.

“Over the past 16 years, I have been privileged to witness the remarkable ways that CASA volunteers impact the lives of the most vulnerable children in our community. These children come to us wounded, but they cling to their hopes and dreams. It is our job to watch over them while in foster care, to make sure all that can be done is done, to help them flourish while a safe, loving and forever home is found,” says Rebecca Tingle, Executive Director of Anne Arundel County CASA, Inc. 

“It is critical that youth in care have a voice within the system—someone with the best interests of the child in mind—and someone to speak up on behalf of the child. That’s what CASA does.  CASA makes a difference every day, one child at a time, one life at a time, one future at a time.”

AACASA is honored to announce First National Bank as the Presenting Sponsor of Tee Up for a Child. Registration and sponsorship opportunities are available through Friday, April 22,2022. Please go to aacasa.org to register or learn more, or contact Executive Director Rebecca Tingle at [email protected].

About Anne Arundel County CASA, Inc.

Anne Arundel County CASA, Inc. (AACASA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that advocates for and supports abused and neglected foster care children in the court system to ensure their right to safe, stable and permanent homes. Founded in 1993, AACASA provides a powerful voice and meaningful connection for children who have experienced abused, neglect and abandonment. We are able to serve these children through the generous support of those who donate to our local CASA chapter, as well as the immeasurable compassion and commitment of our CASA advocates. Please visit aacasa.org. to learn more.

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