At its 11th annual charity golf classic on June 30 at the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, the Charles Lafitte Foundation (CLF) raised $375,000 for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Jersey, according to a press release.
Each year, CLF devotes the event’s fundraising proceeds to an organization that works to improve the quality of life for those in need.
CASA is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that assists the court and child welfare systems to ensure the safety and well-being of children who are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
CLF co-founders Suzanne and Jeffrey Citron matched each donation from the golf outing. Over the past 11 years, CLF’s charity golf classic has raised more than $5 million, according to the press release.
“We are so thankful for the support of the Charles Lafitte Foundation and everyone here today,” state Superior Court Judge Thomas H. Dilts said. “With this generous gift, we will be able to increase our reach to help children all over the state who do not have the family support and resources they need, and we can help train our volunteers, who fight for these children day after day.”
CASA currently reaches about 3,000 children a year. The funds raised at CLF’s charity golf classic will support the implementation of CASA’s peer coordinator model, an organizational change that will exponentially increase the number of children served, according to the press release.
The model uses seasoned volunteers to support, coach and supervise advocate volunteers without having to significantly increase staff and budget.