Advocate Spotlight: Donna Anguiano
October Advocate Spotlight
1. How long have you been an Advocate and when did you realize you wanted to become one?
I was sworn in as a CASA Volunteer on Feb. 15, 2019. I first started thinking I would like to volunteer about a year earlier when I heard about CASA on the radio. The commercial tugged at my heart and mind. I am a momma to 6 kids and have 9 beautiful and active grandchildren! I had such a hectic schedule and wondered if I could add CASA to the mix. It took several months of thinking about if I could make the time, I felt I would need, to dedicate to CASA kids. I really wanted to. I’m grateful the CASA commercials never stopped! I finally decided to go for it and am so glad that I did.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an Advocate?
I think the most rewarding thing has been seeing how I’ve been able to make a positive difference in the lives of my two CASA boys. I am still on my first case and have worked with the boys and their gramma, who is their Kinship caregiver, since March 2019. One of the boys has recently been adopted by Gramma and the other one should be soon! I have enjoyed working with their gramma too and helping her maneuver the many things she has had to do to reach the point of being able to adopt her grandsons. There have been many bumps in the road for Gramma and the boys during this past 18-19 months and it has filled my heart with joy when we’ve been able to work through the rough patches together. The absolute happiest days for me have been the ones where I get to see my boys truly happy and smiling.
3. If you could offer some words of encouragement to your fellow and incoming Advocates, what would they be?
I think the very first word of advice would be to remember you have a supervisor!!! The second is to not be afraid to ask questions. I have a wonderful supervisor who has been a tremendous help to me. I have always known I could ask her anything and if she did not know the answer, she would certainly find it! Also, as an Advocate, there are many happy times, along with some frustrating and sad ones. Don’t get discouraged by the yucky stuff. Remember that you CAN make a huge difference in the life of a child.
A Message from Child Advocates San Antonio on National CASA/GAL Funding Termination On April 24, 2025, the National CASA/GAL Association announced that its federal funding through the U.S. Department of Justice has been terminated. As a result, National CASA is suspending subaward disbursements, training programs, and technical assistance. The organization is actively appealing the decision and assessing what services it can continue to provide during this transition. Info from National CASA can be found here. We understand that this announcement may raise concerns in the community, and we want to provide reassurance and clarity regarding how this news affects Child Advocates San Antonio. First and foremost: There is no impact to our organization or our services. We are fully operational and remain committed to serving the children and families in our community with the same excellence, integrity, compassion, and commitment we have always shown. Here are key facts we want our supporters and the public to know: Our funding remains secure. Child Advocates San Antonio has a diverse and stable funding base that includes a healthy mix of public and private funding. No one funding stream exceeds 50% of our budget. You can access our recent financials HERE. Our stability comes from strong state support and our dedicated Bexar County community, which keeps Child Advocates San Antonio resilient and focused on serving children. We do not receive subawards from National CASA. The suspension of subaward disbursements has no bearing on our funding or ability to operate. Our training programs continue without interruption. Our comprehensive and high-quality Advocate training programs are fully intact. We do not require technical assistance from National CASA. Our team is experienced, well-resourced, and prepared to continue all programming. No cuts, no hiring freezes, no changes to our operations. We remain fully staffed and actively engaged in our mission to advocate for children in foster care. Our commitment to advocating for children in foster care is unwavering, and our services continue as usual. We want to be clear: Child Advocates San Antonio is strong, stable, and here to stay. CASA programs in Texas are strong, independent, and fully committed to children in foster care. While we’re aware of the situation with National CASA/GAL, it doesn’t impact the critical advocacy happening here. Our commitment is clear: we will stand with the children we serve—until they are safe, their voices are heard, and their futures are secure. Our focus, as always, is on advocating for the best interests of children and ensuring they have a voice in court. Public support at all levels, including individuals, ensures we remain strong, regardless of national developments. No matter what, our mission stays the same – every child deserves to be safe, cared for, and have their voice heard. CASA’s mission is as important as ever— children in foster care need advocates who will stand by them. Start your Advocate Journey today!
Brittany Coppage
