Maryland CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Association will present this official kickoff celebration for Team CASA, which will participate in the Under Armour® Baltimore Running Festival to support Maryland’s victims of child abuse and neglect.

Guests can meet fellow Team CASA members and recruit new ones to walk or run in the marathon, half marathon, 5K or team relay. Anyone who registers for Team CASA will receive a free drink ticket, possibly poured by celebrity bartenders, including Baltimore Ravens Super Fan Captain Dee-Fense, Baltimore Blast Players, Mike Deasel and Marco Mangione, and 92Q On-Air Personality Persia Nicole. What’s more all attendees can enjoy complimentary appetizers, courtesy of Bond Street Social.

Proceeds from drink or food purchases will support Team CASA, which will raise awareness and funds for the 10,000+ Maryland children who are under the protection of the courts as a result of abuse and neglect. Most of these children live in temporary foster homes and institutions, where they wait an average of three years before reaching safe, permanent homes.

Court Appointed Special Advocates are trained volunteers, appointed by the court to speak up for the best interests of vulnerable children. Last year, more than 1,400 CASA volunteers served more than 1,500 children in Maryland. But with 10,000 children under court protection, 9 out of 10 of them have no advocate speaking up for their best interests.

“By joining or supporting Team CASA, you can help close the gap by raising money to recruit more trained, committed advocates to help every child in Maryland find a safe, permanent home,” said Ed Kilcullen, Maryland CASA state director.

Maryland CASA Association is a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to ensuring the rights of all victims of child abuse and neglect to grow up in safe, permanent homes. This mission is carried out in partnership with the state’s15 Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs, which provide trained volunteer advocates to speak up for the best interests of children. For more information, visit www.marylandcasa.org [7]. You can, also, e-mail Kay@marylandcasa.org [8].