PHOENIX (Dec 24, 2020) – In response to the increased need to support foster youth this holiday season, the Arizona Lottery contributed a $5,000 grant to the Voices for CASA Children Virtual Toy Drive. The 2020 Virtual Toy Drive provided hundreds of foster youth with Amazon e-cards to choose their own toys or special items for the holidays.

The increased stress on families (job loss, housing crisis, isolation, substance use, conflict) manifested by the pandemic has directly impacted the most vulnerable of families and communities: children. Voices for CASA Children supports Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers. A CASA volunteer speaks up for the best interests of a child in court and in the community who has experienced abuse or neglect to ensure he or she has a safe, loving, and permanent home.

“Voices for CASA Children and the Arizona Lottery have a long history of working together to help these beautiful children get the care and support they need to cope with the stresses that come with their special situation,” said Gregg Edgar, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery. “This Gives Back Sponsorship is our way of reaching out to these kids to make their holidays as joyous and merry as they can be.”

“Voices for CASA Children is immensely grateful to the Arizona Lottery for its support of the children in our community. With this generous grant, foster youth will have an amazing holiday and know that they’re loved and cared for,” said Robin Pearson, Executive Director of Voices for CASA Children.

With thousands of children living in foster care throughout Arizona, there is a need for more CASA volunteers to ensure vulnerable youth have the benefit of a steady adult presence by their side. To learn more about CASA’s role and how to become a CASA volunteer in Maricopa County, visit www.voicesforcasachildren.org. In addition, there are other ways of creating impact and change including donating on the VOICES website for purchasing of the essential items needed by children or lending an area of expertise to enrich the lives of foster youth (art, science, technology, etc). Voices for CASA Children is an Arizona Qualifying Tax Credit Organization (QFCO code: 10010).