CASA Newsletter - October 2007
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Donna Gaines, CASA Transitional Housing Resident
Story of a St. Petersburg Survivor
October is celebrated nationwide as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year a brave resident of the Transitional Housing program at CASA is stepping forward to tell her story of domestic abuse and a remarkable recovery.
Donna Gaines had a hard life as a child. She was the oldest of six children by different fathers, and her mother left her on her own to take care of the younger kids much of the time. It's an experience Donna doesn't want for her own kids.
After a stable marriage ended with the death of her husband, Donna was abused by a man who said he loved her. Her family life suffered and eventually child protection services stepped in with an ultimatum. She could go to the CASA shelter or lose custody of her kids. At the shelter Donna began to pick up the pieces of her life. In a short time she moved into a Transitional Housing apartment with her children. Since then she has become a model for how to turn your life around, and a model mom too!
When Donna arrived at CASA it was difficult for her to read. Now she takes classes at the Tomlinson Adult Learning Center in reading, math and sewing, on her way to achieving her GED. She is looking forward to holding down a real job. She is working on getting a driver's license, and is spending her weekends looking for a house for herself and her three children in a safe neighborhood.
Bonnie Marshall, Transitional Housing Coordinator, says that Donna is the original "can-do" woman, a woman of her word. Recently Donna broke the wrist of her right arm, her writing arm. Many in her position would have used it as an excuse to skip school, but Donna figured out how to write with her left hand so she could keep going. She does all her family's laundry with a broken wrist. She meets with her CASA advocate each week and hands in her paper work no matter what! People who live near CASA's Transitional Housing have pointed her out as one of the best moms in the neighborhood. She takes care of her kids no matter what. She does what needs to be done.
"I want my kids to know how to take care of themselves," says Donna. She's making sure they don't have to learn the hard way, as she did. Donna is recovering from the trauma of domestic abuse, stronger and clearer than ever. And CASA is there to help Donna and her children. Donors to CASA, attendees at CASA events, Thrift Shoppe donors and shoppers -- all can be proud of supporting a motivated woman like Donna. CASA says it takes a whole community to stop domestic violence. When we work together to support survivors like Donna Gaines, everybody wins!
Please Join Us for CASA's Annual Meeting! Thursday, October 25, 2007 CASA Collections Thrift Shoppe 1011 1st Avenue North (First Floor) St. Petersburg, Florida 5:30 p.m. -- 7:30 p.m.
Brenda Griffin, A CASA Volunteer for Life! Brenda Griffin is a St. Petersburg, Florida native who has volunteered at CASA since 2002. She is a formerly battered woman who attended CASA support groups before becoming an active volunteer. Every month Brenda holds an Arts and Crafts Group for the residents at Transitional Housing. Each December Brenda gives the Transitional Housing survivors and their children a Christmas party to remember at her church. She arranges for Santa to meet the women on the night of the party and he escorts the CASA van to the church with illuminated Christmas lights and Christmas music on his vehicle. The women enjoy a catered dinner and receive gifts for their household.
The Hope for the Holidays program at CASA is another way the public, along with CASA volunteers, supports survivors of domestic violence and their children by donating holiday gifts. To receive a CASA Holiday Wish List, or information on the Adopt-a-Family program, call CASA at (727) 895-4912 x 101 or e-mail
Brenda Griffin also volunteers every year for the Clothesline Project of Tampa Bay which addresses the issue of violence against women by allowing survivors of domestic abuse to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. They hang their shirts on a clothesline to be viewed by others as testimony to the problem of violence against women. The next Clothesline Project will be carried out by CASA volunteers in March 2008.
Brenda provides decorations for the CASA Peace Breakfast in December and again for the Good Night's Sleep Lunch in the spring. Volunteering for CASA has become Brenda's passion and, as Brenda says, "I'm in it for LIFE!" If you would like to discover what keeps Brenda coming back for more, call the CASA Volunteer Coordinator, at (727) 895-4912 x 107, or e-mail
Donate your IRA to CASA. New IRS regulations make it easier to give your retirement account to a worthy cause. By David Fuller, CASA Board of Directors September 24, 2007
The near catastrophic destruction wrought by Katrina not only changed lives, it changed the tax code. As part of Katrina relief legislation, Congress made it easier to contributions to CASA—including donating your IRA.
Nominally, you can't give away your retirement account. Rather, you have to cash it in, and then give the money to your favorite charity. That sounds simple enough, assuming you're at least age 59 1/2 so you don't have to worry about the 10% early withdrawal penalty. You report your IRA as income, and then offset it dollar for dollar with the charitable deduction, right?
Not exactly. You see, the IRS limits such write-offs to no more than 50% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). (Any overage would be deducted in later years.)
Another part of the IRS code reduces itemized deductions by 3% of the amount by which your AGI exceeds $145,950 (on either a single or a joint return). As IRA withdrawals push income above this threshold, you don't really get 100% of your deductions' tax-saving impact.
Congress has now temporarily suspended both of those impediments. You still have to cash in your IRA and report it as income, but the 50% of AGI limit doesn't apply to cash contributions made through the end of 2007. Donations made before the end of this year when added to gifts made earlier can be deducted until they offset 100% of AGI (remember, adding your IRA payout to your income lifts your AGI).
In addition, contributions from IRA's or other sources made through December 31 don't count as income for purposes of the 3% itemized-deduction-offset rule.
So, the IRS has made it easy and advantageous for you to do well by doing good for CASA. Be sure to consult with your tax advisor so you can realize all the tax benefits that are available to you.
Securities Offered Through: Investors Capital Corp., Member FINRA/SIPC 5201 W. Kennedy Blvd., Ste. 714, Tampa, FL 33609 813.287.1159
On this Earth Benefit Concert for CASA Lorna Bracewell and friends will perform in a concert to benefit CASA on Saturday, October 27, 8 p.m. at Pro Star Sound Stage, 3220 28th Street North in St. Petersburg. This is the third CASA benefit produced by Lorna and colleagues. Tickets are $15. For more information, go to the On this Earth website at www.onthisearth.org.
Reflections on 30 years of CASA In 2007, we are featuring regular contributions on CASA Past by Judy Lambdon who has worked at CASA for 23 years.
Looking back to a CASA (Center Against Spouse Abuse, as we were called then) long, long ago, I remember preparing for October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Preparations actually began very early in the year and sometimes continued around the calendar. As funds were very limited staff and volunteers alike spent every free minute making purple ribbons. At first they were put together with small pins, then small safety pins, and finally we graduated to a punch and tapper system. Many fingers were pricked and banged. It became a labor of love. Some of us even took them home and engaged our families in helping. Thousands were needed as all staff and speakers took the ribbons to every speaking engagement and event to hand out. Board members and volunteers also passed them out at their workplaces and in the community.
After our first efforts proved so successful, other agencies, organizations, hospitals, nurses groups, civic clubs, health departments, churches, etc. began to call and request the ribbons so they could pass them out in October. Due to time constraints we found that we were unable to keep up with the demand by ourselves.
Finally an elder volunteer was found through the CASA Youth Program Supervisor. She was given the materials and turned out hundreds of ribbons a month. This continued for several years.
I have found over the years that when you wear a purple ribbon it sparks interest in why you are wearing it. This gives the wearer a wonderful opportunity to speak up about Domestic Violence Awareness Month and CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) in particular.
If you are interested in having a speaker for your group and/or sharing our purple ribbons with others, please call CASA at (727) 895-4912 ext.101.
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