Brodie's Day at the Ballpark
This past Sunday, boys served by CASA experienced the excitement of a baseball game, thanks to the generosity of Deb Brodie and her late husband Mike, who founded the event. The boys had a great time watching the game, meeting the players, and spending quality time with their Advocates during the annual Brodie's Day at the Ballpark event.
Mike's legacy at CASA is one of compassion, caring and love.
Mike Brodie
Mike and Deb started working with CASA as Volunteers in 2007. Together, they made the CASA difference Advocating over about seven cases for the children involved. Deb recalls how Mike "loved the kids and felt a sense of accomplishment when we could be helpful in getting the kids where they needed to be." She also told us how good he was with them and how they would "open up to him and really talk to him."
Mike passed away in 2015, but his legacy has continued, thanks to Deb's efforts. In honor of his love of all sports, especially Baseball, "Mike's Day at the Ballpark" was created. Through the event, Deb hopes to pass on Mike's love of the game and give the boys an opportunity to interact with the players. She hopes that a day at the ballpark is "really exciting for them during a not so exciting time in their lives."
Moments from the Ballpark
Thanks to the Brodie family, our CASA boys had an absolute blast! Here are a few moments from the event so you can see for yourself. At CASA, we believe that every child deserves happy moments like these and will continue to do everything we can to Advocate and Be the Difference in their lives. You can also join in our mission by donating
or finding out more about becoming an Advocate.
View more
In March 2025, Child Protective Services removed four young children, just 7, 4, 2, and 3 months old, from their mother’s care. This difficult step followed ongoing concerns about neglect, largely connected to the mother’s struggle with substance use, even during her most recent pregnancy. Although CPS offered support through Family Based Safety Services, the mother was unable to engage in the help provided. The children’s father was also unable to support them due to his own substance abuse and his incarceration in Bexar County Jail. Before removal, the children’s basic medical and educational needs were going unmet. They had been moved repeatedly between their mother and other relatives, leaving them without the stability, routine, and nurturing supervision every child deserves. When CASA Staff Advocate, JoAnn Herring, was assigned the case in April 2025, she immediately reached out to both kinship caregivers to understand the children’s needs and how to best support the families stepping in to care for them. JoAnn quickly learned that the paternal grandmother, who lovingly took in some of the children, was struggling financially and facing barriers due to limited English proficiency. To ensure she wasn’t facing these challenges alone, JoAnn submitted a CFE (Collaborative Family Engagement) referral and personally provided translation support so the grandmother could access services with dignity and understanding. Throughout the case, JoAnn has witnessed moments where cultural sensitivity was lacking, and personal biases influenced important decisions; often at the expense of what was best for the children. Despite these obstacles, she continues to advocate steadfastly and compassionately for the children to remain with the kinship caregivers who have opened their homes and hearts to provide safety, consistency, and love. Although the case is not yet over, Joann’s story demonstrates that CASA’s advocacy reaches beyond the children themselves, strengthening the village of care and support surrounding them, because CASA wants children to be safe, to thrive, and to have their overall well-being protected.
Johnathan Cobb
