2024 DIAMOND & HEARTS FOR NEW YORK’S CHILDREN SPONSORS

Title Sponsors:
Anonymous

Gold Sponsors:
NYS Board of Directors

Heart Sponsors:
Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC
Beth Ehrich
Judy and David Gilberg - Congratulations to Barbara Morgen for this well-deserved honor!
Warren and Julia Gregory - In honor of Barbara Morgen.
Key Bank

Silver Sponsors:
The Mental Health Association of Westchester, Inc.
Christopher Harris, CPA, PLLC

Bronze Sponsors:
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton, Albany Downtown
Wendy Kleinman - Congratulations Barbara! You have been a wonderful supervisor to me and have really helped guide me on my CASA volunteer career. Such a well-deserved honor.
Northern Rivers Family of Services
Sweat Spot
Yvonne Tropp - Congratulations and gratitude for all you do for CASA, Barbara Morgen and Jackie Boissonnault!
Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics
WRI Solutions
677 Prime

Please send Diamond & Hearts for New York’s Children Event high resolution copy/ad (PNG preferred) to cpaterson@casanys.org. Deadline: May 3, 2024

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2024 Diamond & Hearts for New York’s Children Sponsors

CASA of New York State and CASA programs from across the state come together once a year to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and honor our community members who have done exceptional work in keeping with CASA’s mission: advocacy focused on the best interests of abused and neglected children.

Awards presented at the event:

DIAMOND & HEARTS FOR NEW YORK’S CHILDREN AWARD

This award is given to an individual or organization for their distinguished service in child advocacy.

MARY RICH AWARD

This award is presented in memory of Mary Rich, the late Manager of CASA of Dutchess County. In this role for over a decade, Mary showed unwavering dedication and passion to helping abused and neglected children until her passing in 2015. Mary was an inspiration to us all. This award honors the exceptional work Mary did during her career by recognizing an individual or individuals who are being recognized for their tireless efforts to protect our most vulnerable children.

HEART FOR NEW YORK CHILDREN’S AWARD

This award was first presented in 2023 in recognition of outstanding advocacy for children served by CASA.

2024 Diamond & Hearts for New York’s Children Event

Wednesday, May 22nd | 677 Prime, Albany

FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER

Roger Saillant, CASANYS board member and author of The Power of Being Seen, a memoir covering his years in foster care.  

SPECIAL GUEST

The Honorable Fatimat O. Reid, Monroe County Family Court Judge.

DIAMOND & HEARTS FOR NEW YORK’S CHILDREN AWARD

The Diamond & Hearts Award for New York’s Children will be presented to The Honorable Richard Rivera, who will be accepting on behalf of The NYS Unified Court System, Office of Court Administration.

MARY RICH AWARDS

The Mary Rich Award will be presented to two honorees in 2024. Barbara Morgen, Esq., CASA Advocate Supervisor, The Mental Health Association of Westchester, Inc., CASA of Westchester and Putnam Counties Program.

Cheryl Vallee, Executive Director, Center for Community Justice, CASA of the Capital Region.

HEART FOR NEW YORK’S CHILDREN AWARD

The Heart for New York’s Children Award will be presented to Shimoli Shah, 2024 Outstanding Volunteer from CASA-NYC.


Previous Award Recipients and Featured Guest Speakers

2023

FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER

Suzanne Miles-Gustave, Esq., Acting Commissioner/Executive Deputy Commissioner, New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

DIAMOND & HEARTS FOR NEW YORK’S CHILDREN AWARD

Northern Rivers Family of Services, a family of human services agencies that work together to provide life-changing care to children, adults, and families. Accepted by William Gettman, Chief Executive Officer.

MARY RICH AWARD

Lee Lounsbury, President of the Board of Directors of CASA of New York State.

HEART FOR NEW YORK’S CHILDREN AWARD

Kathy Davidson, NYS Office of Victim Services.

2022

FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER
Andrew Hevesi, New York State Assemblymember. Chair of the Committee on Children and Families.

DIAMOND & HEARTS FOR NEW YORK CHILDREN’S AWARD
The Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, accepted by Crystal Charles, Policy Analyst and Kate Breslin, President and CEO. The Schuyler Center is a policy analysis and advocacy organization working to shape policies to improve health, welfare and human services for all New Yorkers, especially children and families who are living in poverty.

MARY RICH AWARD
Art Siegel, Esq., Former President of the Board of Directors of CASA of New York State.


2019

FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER
Henry M. Greenberg, Esq., Former President of the New York State Bar Association
Co-Editor of Judith S. Kaye In Her Own Words: Reflections of Life and Law.

DIAMOND & HEARTS FOR NEW YORK’S CHILDREN AWARD
New York State Kinship Navigator, accepted by Gerard Wallace, Executive Director.
The Navigator seeks to assist caregivers by providing information on financial assistance, legal information and referrals, and other types of issues that caregivers face when raising children in order to provide stability and permanency in the home.

MARY RICH AWARD
Barbara Benedict, Former Executive Director of CASA of New York State.


2018

FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER
The Honorable Karen K. Peters, Former Presiding Justice
New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department.

DIAMOND & HEARTS FOR NEW YORK’S CHILDREN AWARD
Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS), accepted by Glenn Liebman, Executive Director. MHANYS works to end the stigma against mental illness and promotes mental health wellness in New York State.

MARY RICH AWARD
Betty Carroll, Former Program Director of Onondaga CASA and member of CASANYS Board of Directors.

2017

MARY RICH AWARD
Al Stirpe, New York State Assemblymember.




2016

MARY RICH AWARD
John J. Bonacic, New York State Senator.




2015

MARY RICH AWARD
Darlene Ward, Assistant Coordinator of the Child Welfare Court Improvement Project for the New York State Unified Court System.