Southwest Florida currently has over 1,300 children in the dependency court system with close to 100 children in Charlotte County alone. These children, through no fault of their own, have been placed under court supervision, and removed from their homes because of Abuse, Neglect or Abandonment (A.N.A.). Each case typically takes from one to three years to be resolved. These vulnerable children, many of whom live in temporary homes until a safe, permanent solution is achieved, experience many changes, often very rapidly. Their futures are very uncertain and their young fragile lives are extremely stressful because they do not know what will happen next.
During this very uncertain time, dedicated trained GAL volunteers become the “voice” for these children in the courts, and their temporary living placements, schools, the case management system, and with other community agencies. In many cases, the GAL volunteer is the one constant in the child’s life. The volunteers assess the needs of the child, and can submit requests on the child’s behalf to A.N.A.’s Friends. Meeting these needs helps to stabilize the children, by providing a sense of normalcy with items such as beds, tutoring, clothing, strollers, happier birthdays, sports participation, field trips and many other things not funded by any other source.
A.N.A.’s Friends raises the funds necessary to meet these needs, and to recruit and train GAL volunteer advocates. On April 3, the Fifth Annual Charlotte County signature fundraiser, Jazz on the Harbor will be held at the Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda. The $100 ticket includes an elegant dinner, music by Best of the Bay award winners, the La Lucha trio, and, of course, a glorious sunset. The public is most welcome, and your attendance or sponsorship for the upcoming Jazz on the Harbor event will help meet the needs of our Charlotte County kiddos. The sold- out event last year raised $37,780 and we expect this year will also sell out. In other words, get your friends together, and get your tickets so you won’t be disappointed. For further information on becoming a volunteer, to sponsor or attend the Jazz on The Harbor evening, please call Barbara Berman at 443-632-4885 or call the A.N.A.’s Friends office at 239-245-7787 or online at ANAsFriends.org.
