Law Rocks celebrates grassroot, community efforts, and The Hustle & Heart award is meant to encourage donations for each band’s nonprofit pick. As part of our initiative to increase our impact, we began offering The Hustle & Heart Award at each U.S. Law Rocks show. This award is given to the band that has the highest number of unique donors contributing to the “Donation” category (separate from sponsorships or ticket sales). Law Rocks makes an additional donation to the winning band's charity of choice. We are thrilled to increase our support of small, local nonprofits who would otherwise not be receiving this funding.
Today’s spotlight is on CHILD ADVOCATES OF SILICON VALLEY, winner of the Hustle & Heart Award at the Tenth Annual Law Rocks San Francisco this past May. Child Advocates was the chosen nonprofit of Hustle & Heart Award Winner Morgan Lewis & ROCKius, featuring legal talent from Morgan Lewis & Bockius.
We first shared a Nonprofit Spotlight on Child Advocates of Silicon Valley last year when the organization was the winner of the Hustle & Heart Award at the Ninth Annual Law Rocks San Francisco. Child Advocates was the chosen nonprofit of Hustle & Heart Award Winners Morgan Lewis & ROCKius, featuring legal talent from Morgan Lewis & Bockius. The band took on the challenge of fundraising for the organization once again at the Tenth Annual Law Rocks San Francisco this year, once again crushing it (much like their on-stage performance). Including the additional $2,000 Hustle & Heart award, the band was able to bring in over $26,500 for Child Advocates this year..
Read on for our spotlight interview with Child Advocates of Silicon Valley to learn more about the organization and some of its upcoming initistives.
1) For those who are just learning about the organization, what is your core mission?
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley has a simple mission: to be there for every foster child who has experienced abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment. Children, youth, and young adults in foster care have experienced so much trauma in their lives and deserve all the support and resources necessary to not only survive, but to *thrive*. The main focus of support for foster youth is to provide them with a trusted adult in their lives to act as an advocate, mentor, and voice. Our highly trained Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Volunteers do just that. From support at school, to being their voice in court. Our CASA Volunteers SHOW UP for our foster youth in many meaningful ways throughout their youth's journey in foster care.
2) What is another success story you’re really proud of since we last shared a bit about the organization?
Earlier this year Leon* graduated high school, with his CASA there to cheer him on! He has been with his CASA since 2011. And they are both in awe of how far he has come in the 13 years they have been impacting each other's lives. From Leon's CASA: "He's very excited about his high school graduation and his future at our local community college." Leon's CASA Volunteer has been a consistent staple in his life from their weekly dinners, phone calls, and attending special occasions like his Senior Night for high school sports and even his High School Graduation. Proving that CASA's that Stand Up and Lift Up foster youth in everyday things *and* when they need it the most are truly special people.
3) Tell us more about some programs and initiatives you have scheduled for the upcoming year.
Child Advocates will continue to support their CASA Volunteer program throughout the coming year. Including new initiatives to center the youth voice in all we do by offering culturally relevant activities and events that represent the diverse BIPOC background of over 90% of our foster youth. Events like our "Fiesta Mi Gente" celebration offer children and youth the opportunity to explore a variety of South American & Caribbean cultures like Mexican, Cuban, Guatemalan, and Puerto Rican. Child Advocates is also wrapping up the first stages of our Thrive Initiative; a project designed to provide transitional age youth (16-18 years old) and Non Minor Dependents (18-21 year olds) with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to go beyond surviving life after foster care, but to *THRIVE* in their lives as young adults and beyond.
Learn more about Child Advocates of Silicon Valley.