CASA Pinellas

Congratulations to CASA Pinellas for a nautical night to remember! The generosity of the people of St. Pete and Pinellas was amazing (I had to tap out when a year of coffee at Kahwa Coffee Roasting went for more than $6k). (Have been coveting that since standing in line behind Rachel Carpenter a few years ago after she chaired the first $1m+ gala and had the coffee winning bid.) The community is fortunate to have these bidders, donors, and sponsors. So many thanks to Meghan O'Keefe for a great evening!

I am so moved by the community’s support (and the support of some of my besties!) for CASA Pinellas’ Nautical Nights Gala. As CASA’s Marketing & Events Manager, I couldn’t be prouder to put on this event and raise over half a million dollars to support domestic violence survivors. 💜 #StandUpToSilence

CASA's Nautical Nights Gala is tomorrow! The gala serves as one of CASA's largest fundraising events, with proceeds going directly towards providing essential services to survivors. CASA is delighted to announce Anchor Sponsors for the upcoming event. CASA extends a deep appreciation to these sponsors for their unwavering support of CASA's mission to create a #ViolenceFreePinellas. Dynasty Financial Partners Cyndeo Wealth Partners HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital Maxey-Fisher, PLLC Carr, Riggs & Ingram Plummer Pet Hospital Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Power Design, Inc. Sunstar Paramedics #NauticalNights #StandUpToSilence #CommunityLove

Big thank you to the Lighthouse Sponsors for CASA's 2024 Nautical Nights Gala: Seacoast Bank, The Hajek Family Foundation, Crown Cars, and Fifth Third Bank. CASA is so grateful for their continued support of our mission to create a #ViolenceFreePinellas. Join in on the fun of the Nautical Nights Gala and browse CASA's Virtual Silent Auction, which is open to the PUBLIC: https://lnkd.in/eUhMPdWt #Gala #NauticalNights #StandUpToSilence

The countdown begins for CASA's Nautical Nights Gala! Introducing CASA’s Nautical Night Mariner Sponsor: SmartChoice. Smart Choice has built an impeccable reputation by providing exceptional telecom services to prestigious corporations since 1998. Thank you, SmartChoice, for all you do to #StandUpToSilence against domestic violence. Participate in CASA's Nautical Nights Silent Virtual Auction (which is also open to the public) here: https://lnkd.in/eUhMPdWt. #NauticalNights #Gala #EndDV

CASA's spring gala is quickly approaching! The gala serves as one of CASA's largest fundraising events, with proceeds going directly towards providing essential services to survivors. CASA is proud to announce the presenting sponsor of the event is Raymond James. CASA is so grateful for their continued support of our mission to create a #ViolenceFreePinellas. CASA's Nautical Nights Gala Silent Virtual Auction is NOW open! Browse the packages and start bidding today: https://lnkd.in/eUhMPdWt 💜 #NauticalNights #Gala #SilentAction

Many of you may know of my work as a board member and former board chair at CASA Pinellas, but what you probably don't know is that in the first 6 weeks of the year in Pinellas County we had 6 domestic violence-related murders. Someone dies every week in our county due to DV. Our work is not done. A great way to support CASA's mission to end all forms of domestic violence is to attend one of our events, and our annual spring gala is coming up on April 20th! If you, or anyone you know, is interested in a sponsorship, please reach out to me. We'd love to have you join us as we celebrate our progress and look forward to our next chapter tackling these tough issues. https://lnkd.in/eba75d6Y

The recent murder in our community of Audrey Petersen by her longtime partner highlights the gruesome reality of how difficult it can be for a victim to escape domestic or dating violence. Ms. Petersen applied for an Injunction For Protection Against Stalking, or a restraining order, against her former boyfriend, but was denied the temporary injunction. Two days later, he brutally murdered her before taking his own life. Although public policy makes it clear that a victim should not have to experience actual violence or be threatened with death before they can obtain protection, the body of case law on stalking in Florida makes interpretation by law enforcement, judges, and victims incredibly difficult. Stalking arrests and Injunctions for Protection Against Stalking are rare in Florida. The poorly written stalking statute does not allow room to protect victims like Ms. Petersen and puts victims in more danger. The tragic murder of Ms. Petersen highlights the need to simplify the stalking statute to better protect victims. Certified Domestic Violence Centers across Florida like CASA Pinellas and The Spring of Tampa Bay provide free and confidential Injunction for Protection legal assistance for victims to apply for Injunctions. Ms. Petersen was the fourth domestic violence murder in Pinellas County since the beginning of the year. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or stalking, please reach out for help. 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotlines: CASA Pinellas - 727.895.4912 The Spring of Tampa Bay - 813.247.7233 To read this full opinion piece from Lariana Forsythe, MBA CFRE, CASA CEO, and Mindy Murphy, The Spring of Tampa Bay CEO in the Tampa Bay Times visit  https://lnkd.in/e93Qer5E. #StandUpToSilence #TampaBayTimes #Stalking #RestrainingOrder

ARPA Funding provides Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) with funds to build office space for Domestic Violence (DV) advocates and improvements to shelters for DV survivors through the Pinellas Community Foundation. CASA Pinellas's CASA’s unwavering dedication to advocating for survivor rights, providing comprehensive support, transitional housing, and fostering an environment of empowerment, reflects a commitment to rebuilding lives shattered by domestic violence. Read more about the transformative journey here: https://ow.ly/S2se50QuveU #5YF #ARPAFunds #PinellasCounty #Clearwater #DomesticViolence #PCF #ThriveTogether #NonProfit

Thank you to Bea Schuhmacher for organizing #dayofservice for Thrive members and staff. Teams supported The Kind Mouse Productions, Inc. and CASA Pinellas with their time and assistance, to honor the legacy of #martinlutherkingjr . Dzuy Big Sea Dave Morganthall Luisa Fernanda Molano 💫 Ashley Halsted Jeffrey Clarke Mustafa Lakadawala Amber Patwell