Once again FAC was the beneficiary of many generous donors through the PFD Pick.Click.Give. program. FAC received donations from 52 Alaska citizens totalling $2,500 from their 2012 PFD. The FAC Board is so grateful to all those who so generously support our work. We are very fortunate to have so many wonderful supporters. Thanks to all of you!
There is still time on your 2013 PFD Application to designate a donation to FAC.
Friends of Alaska CASA
16th Annual Silent Quilt Auction
By Debby Hudson, Quilt Auction Organizer
Our 16th Annual Silent Quilt Auction was held on Saturday, November 24, 2012, at the University Center Mall. There were 145 gorgeous quilts donated by 82 quilters from around the State of Alaska, Colorado, Montana and Texas. Once again we were entertained by the harmonious sounds of Sally’s Kitchen. Mary Schallert organized a wonderful group of musicians, Alaska Folk Arts Family & Friends, for their inaugural performance for us this year. The auction crowd gathered to watch 15 incredibly talented artists, both children and adults, play instruments and sing some classic folk tunes. We are all looking forward to having Alaska Folk Arts Family & Friends entertain for years to come.
Shirley Pittz had the winning raffle ticket for the stunning Northern Stars raffle quilt which was expertly made and donated by Becky Rudisill and the exquisite machine quilting was donated by Jo Ann Gruber of Quilted Treasures. Shirley is a long-time supporter of CASA and has donated numerous quilts to our auctions over the years and has frequently helped before, during and/or after the event. Congratulations, Shirley!
Over $21,600 was raised at the auction via the quilts, raffle quilt ticket sales, and cash donations. We offer our deepest thanks to all our supporters that attended the event and to the following business for their continued support: Alaska Dispatch, Alaska Event Services, Anchorage Daily News, Coffee News, Dina’s Cozy Cabin Quilts, Great Originals, Vivian Hickok, Just Sew, Seams Like Home, Sylvia’s Quilt Depot, the Mall at Sears, Quilt Tree, Quilt Zone, Spenard Builders Supply, University Center Mall, and Valley Quilters’ Guild. We honor and thank the following incredibly generous quilters for their quilt donations:
Donna Alspach
Anita Alves
Anchorage Log Cabin Quilters Night Group
Anchorage Senior Activity Center
Rose Anderson
Anonymous
Darlene Appel
BAQOTN
Kathy Bates, MT
LaVerne Beck
Peggy Benson
Sharon Berna’
Judy Blair
Suzanne Bounds
Louise Bremner
Joan Brewer
Glenda Burk
Marylou Cacy
Nancy Campbell
Jacquelin Carley
Debra Carney
Judy Crosby
Melinda Dale
Brenda Dickison, CO
Dina’s Cozy Cabin Quilts
Mary K. Dodge
Liz Dow
Julie Drake
Lynne Duncan
Kay Fiero
Joyce Fish
Vickie Fuller
Donna George
Marilyn Gray, CO
Mary Hacker
Judith Haenschen, CO
Marcia Harlamert
Laura Haywood
Marcia Healy
Carol Hill
Sharon Horwath
Debby Hudson
Christine Jolley
Tara Jones
Linda Kau
Betsy Korzeniewski
Lorna Kramer
Kathleen Kritchen
Sharon Lake
Patty Mack
Linda Markus
Mary Lou Michels
Ree Moffitt
Cindy Montague
Nancy Moore
Judy Morrison
Rose Munafo
Nan’s Group
Katherine Neher
Dina Pappas
Robin Parsons
Carol Patterson
Jean Peterson
Shirley Pittz
Lottie Poisal
Charlie Polak
Gail Ramsay
Elizabeth Roberts
Nancy Rowland
Becky Rudisill
Mary Kay Sambo
Sylvia Showers, TX
Ruth Simpson
Judy Smith
Gloria Snodgrass
Susan Stout
Fran Strother
Gail Surrena
Shannon Thickstun
Mary Thompson
Valley Quilters’ Guild
Joan Wooliver
We hope you enjoy the slideshow of the extraordinary quilts from this year’s auction.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the following individuals for all their help before, during, and/or after the quilt auction:
Cindy Anderson
Geri Ax
LaVerne Beck
Suzanne & Larkin Bounds
Joanie Cleary
Kay Fiero
Donna George
Kylee Guidry
June Haisten
Marion Hallum
Vivian Hickok
Doris Hillis
Dianne Horbochuk
Sharon Horwath
Don Hudson
Linda Janidlo
Amber, Tara & Michael Jones
Shanna & Brody McPheters
Cindy Montague
Shirley Pittz
Bill Rediske
LeeAnn Reicks
Becky, Hailey, Kaitlynn, Melanie & Michelle Rudisill
Judy Smith
Cindi Sparks
Sallye Werner
For the last two years, Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA) has been working to acquire donated laptops for current and former foster youth. Since youth are frequently moved several times during their custody, keeping track of homework, family pictures, and contact information is often a real challenge. Former foster youth often face difficulties in finding permanent housing, also, so for them the challenge continues. Providing the youth with a laptop can make this situation a bit more tolerable.
If you have a laptop to donate that is no more than 3 to 4 years old, or if you know of an individual or business that wishes to donate, call Amanda at 230-8237 for details.
FRIENDS OF ALASKA CASA
16th ANNUAL SILENT QUILT AUCTION
NOVEMBER 24, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
UNIVERSITY CENTER MALL
Please note: The quilt auction is the Saturday AFTER Thanksgiving this year
Friends of Alaska CASA is gearing up for its 16th Annual Silent Quilt Auction on Saturday, November 24, 2012, at the University Center Mall at 3800 Old Seward Highway in Anchorage.
As in the past, we anticipate receiving over 170 donated quilts in all shapes, sizes, and themes from incredible quilters throughout Alaska and the Lower 48. Not only can you donate a quilt for this years’ quilt auction, you can also ask friends and family members to contribute a quilt as well. Additionally, please feel free to tell everyone you know about the event!
Along with the auction quilts, there is an incredibly gorgeous raffle quilt that could be yours. The quilt, Northern Stars, was made by Becky Rudisill and machine quilted by Jo Ann Gruber of Quilted Treasurers. Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Tickets will be on sale before and during the auction, with the winning ticket being drawn at 2:45 at the event. 
The deadline for submitting a completed quilt donation is Saturday, November 10, 2012 at noon. Quilts may be dropped off in Anchorage at The Quilt Tree, The Quilt Zone, and Seams Like Home, in Eagle River at Dina’s Cozy Cabin, in Wasilla at Sylvia’s Quilt Depot, and in Palmer at Just Sew. A data form must submit every quilt donation and you can download the form here.
Please contact Debby Hudson at DebbyHudson@gci.net or 337-7990 or Becky Rudisill at 349-1626 with any questions.
Friends of Alaska CASA is pleased to announce Shanna McPheters as our newest Board member! Shanna brings a wealth of experience as both a volunteer and professional working with the children, families, and the community.
Shanna McPheters, FAC Board Member
“I have been a CASA for over eight years and welcome the opportunity to be a FAC Board Member, to share my knowledge and create new opportunities for CASAs and the children they work so hard for,” stated Shanna. FAC is excited for the opportunity to expand our Board to continue to support CASA’s and the children and youth they serve throughout the state.
OPA Director Rick Allen, Becky Rudisil, FAC Treasurer Debby Hudson, and National CASA CEO Michael Piriano
The 2012 CASA/GAL Conference was held in Anchorage on April 20 and 21, 2012, at the Sheraton Hotel. There were nearly 40 CASA volunteers and approximately 25 Guardians ad Litem that attended from areas around the state. Personnel from the Alaska State Court System personnel and the Office of Children’s Services were also in attendance for a final count of 89 individuals.
FAC is pleased to announce that it was able to pay the transportation and lodging costs for a total of 12 CASAs from Juneau, Fairbanks, Bethel, Kenai, and the Mat-Su Valley to attend the conference. Not only was this a perfect opportunity for the CASA volunteers to receive additional valuable training, it was a great occasion for them to network with their peers. Master Bill Hitchcock, now a resident of Oregon, did an exceptional job serving as the Master of Ceremonies.
FAC Board President Sallye Werner
FAC also hosted an evening reception to celebrate the Alaska CASA Program’s 25 years of child advocacy in Alaska as well as to honor individual CASA volunteers from the various programs throughout Alaska for their extraordinary work with youth. The evening was full of heartwarming stories of the CASA volunteers’ advocacy with the youth. We were also delighted and privileged to have Michael Piraino, the CEO of the National CASA Association, and Jimmy Wayne, Celebrity Spokesman for the National CASA Association and a top-selling country music artist, at both the conference and the reception.
State Director of CASA Marion Hallum, and retired Children's Court Magistrate William Hitchock
FAC honored two individuals that have been outstanding and tremendous supporters of Friends of Alaska CASA for many years – Laura Haywood and Becky Rudisill. Laura served on the Board of Directors of FAC for six years, two as president, and has been a CASA in Juneau for nine years. In addition to being an active CASA volunteer, Laura has worked on recruitment, volunteer recognition, fundraising, and PR, to name just a few. She has been an indefatigable supporter of both the Juneau CASA program and statewide activities of Friends of Alaska CASA. Becky Rudisill has been alongside Debby Hudson every step of the way for over 15 years helping with the annual quilt auction fundraising event. Becky is an extraordinary quilter and a well-respected member of the Alaska quilting community, and we have often called her our “unofficial CASA Volunteer.” She also happens to be the sister of Debby Hudson, FAC’s Treasurer and Quilt Auction founder and organizer. Both Laura (who was unable to attend) and Becky were given a lovely plaque to show our appreciation of their endless dedication.
We are happy to announce that we will resume holding our annual quilt auction this year.
As it has in the past, the event will be held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving – November 17, 2012 – at the University Center Mall. More information will follow in the next few months; we just wanted to let you know as soon as possible that we are on track and will once again be holding this extraordinary event.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Debby Hudson at 337-7990 or DebbyHudson@gci.net.
