April 30 Run for the Children Charts a New Course for Runners and Child Advocates

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Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates

Apr 27, 2011, 07:40 ET

FAIRFAX, Va., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Preparations are nearing completion for the Run for the Children, a 10K Race and 3K Run/Walk hosted by Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Made possible through a generous partnership grant from Verizon and other local corporations, the run takes place on April 30 in historic Fairfax City. This is Fairfax CASA's first community awareness event. Participants will start from the Fairfax County court house complex in a symbolic nod to the CASA volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children under the court's protection.

Fairfax CASA's Run for the Children brings visibility to the work of over 190 CASA volunteers who advocate year-round for the rights of more than 500 abused and neglected children to live in safe, permanent, and loving homes. In Fairfax County, a child enters the court system once every 38 hours. These children need caring, dedicated adults to help ensure that they do not fall through the cracks of the child protection system. Fairfax CASA recruits and trains citizen volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children who are under the court's protection in Fairfax County. The juvenile court relies heavily on the CASA volunteer's work and requests that Fairfax CASA assign a volunteer to every case of abuse and neglect before the Court.

"Verizon has a long-standing tradition of investing in communities and supporting the development of young people who, one day, will become our future leaders," said Doug Brammer, external affairs manager for Verizon. "An important resource to help a child cope with exposure to violence is a strong relationship with a competent, caring and positive adult.

"As this year's signature sponsor of the 'Run for the Children' event, Verizon is proud to partner with Fairfax CASA and support the good work it does," Brammer added. "We want our future leaders to succeed, and we applaud Fairfax CASA for ensuring that abused children in Fairfax County have that adult figure in their lives who will help create opportunities for these children to prosper and excel."

To learn more, visit www.fairfaxrunforthechildren.com.

Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates

www.casafairfax.org

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