Meet Our Volunteers
Hudson County CASA could not achieve its goals without the life-changing work of its volunteers.
Meet some of the CASA volunteers making a difference in foster children's lives:
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Nikki Diaz has been a CASA volunteer since 2022. Nikki lives in Hoboken, but has strong roots in New York and family heritage that traces back to Puerto Rico and Sicily. Nikki currently works in technology at a large software company.
Nikki describes herself as having a passion for leveling the playing field for women and minorities, advocating for social justice, supporting children's causes, and protecting animals. She enjoys traveling, with New Zealand being among her favorite destinations. She also loves all things Ireland and the UK, as she’s lived in both countries. In addition to traveling, Nikki enjoys fashion, interior design, hiking and petting random dogs on the street. Nikki has also recently taken up boxing.
Nikki’s interest in becoming a CASA stems from visiting her mother at work as a child. Her mom was a court officer in the Family Division in New York, and Nikki admired her mother’s empathy for children in foster care. She has also volunteered her time with the Big Brother/Big Sister Program, and has worked with children who have special needs. Becoming a CASA was a natural progression.
Nikki has been on her current case for over two years. She is the advocate for a 7 year old boy, and his 11 year old sister, both of whom were removed from their biological home due to neglect, and each have resided in multiple resource (foster) homes. The children have been reunited with their mother, but continue under the care and supervision of the Division, with a goal of permanent reunification. These children have many challenges, including health issues. Nikki speaks proudly of these children being incredibly smart, and has great hope that with CASA’s involvement we can help ensure a bright future.
Nikki talked about her proudest moments in her case and spoke of a time when one of the children expressed her affection for Nikki and was worried about how she was getting home after a visit. For Nikki, that moment cemented the importance of CASA’s involvement. The children know we care about them, and they care about us too. Nikki was also very proud when the Judge in her case thanked CASA for all of the hard work during a difficult time in her case. As with every case, there have also been challenges, including educational advocacy and motivating the children to attend school, along with encouraging proper hygiene and a clean living environment.
Case Supervisor Paola Torres said, "Through ups and downs, Nikki has consistently demonstrated unwavering dedication to her CASA children. She is relentless in advocating for their well-being, overcoming any obstacles in her path. It has been a pleasure working with Nikki; her strong work ethic and compassionate heart are highly appreciated.
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Lee Wilcox has been a CASA Volunteer since 2019. Lee describes herself as a woman of a "certain age" who enjoys living in Hoboken with her dog Cooper and nearby family and friends. After spending over thirty years in the media industry, Lee tried and failed at retirement. She then enrolled in the CASA training program, one of the best decisions of her life, creating a role she is very proud to fill.
For the past 18 months, Lee has advocated for a sister and brother, aged 14 and 12. They come from a volatile home situation and have suffered repeated abuse and ongoing neglect. Now living with a relative, Lee said that the children amaze her with their fortitude, resilience and hope. At Lee’s first meeting with the older sister, the girl had been lying on her bed in a dark room. By the time Lee left, the child asked if she would ever see Lee again, or if this was a one-time thing. Lee immediately learned the importance of consistency, unwavering support, an ongoing presence and a steady demeanor. According to Lee, one of the biggest challenges out of CASA’s control is the slow process of the court system.
Lee has enjoyed a long history of working with kids, beginning at age 16 as an assistant music teacher for inner-city kids. She is most proud of her role in launching Sports Illustrated For Kids magazine, along with its accompanying literacy program targeting underfunded schools across the U.S. In that capacity, she worked with kids and national media sponsors to find creative and fun ways to engage kids in the learning process.
Lee’s advice to future CASA volunteers? “You don't have to be perfect. Instead, focus on being honest and present, and exposing them to as many new experiences and opportunities as you can. CASA has been tremendously supportive with helping me find programs in theater and the culinary arts that have opened up new worlds for these kids.”
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Renee Natali has been a CASA volunteer since 2019 and while she is not the longest serving volunteer, there is something quite special about her---she stays in touch with many of the lives she has changed.
In her years of service, Renee has had four cases including her current one and she maintains contact with three foster moms and four of the children she helped. Her interest in the small yet important details of the families CASA serves distinguishes Renee. She remembers birthdays, holidays and keeps up through LinkedIn and Instagram.
Renee speaks proudly of a mother of three boys who she helped through an awful eviction process; today that mom is a licensed insurance broker. She maintains a relationship with a boy who was adopted at age 16 and was the first in his family to graduate from high school. Renee has close relationship with one special foster mom, who adopted three boys, one of them a CASA kid. This child is autistic and Renee keeps up with his development, helping whenever she can.
Why CASA for Renee? “I don’t have children and when my nieces and nephews grew up, I wanted to do something good for kids,” she explained. Renee grew up in Essex County, one of 19 grandchildren and she is a devoted aunt to two nephew and four nieces.
Currently Renee is assigned to an extraordinary teen-age girl, who is a graduating high school senior and was admitted early decision to Johns Hopkins University. This is a very different kind of case for Renee as she is participating in a new CASA program for youths called Fostering Futures. As a result, Renee has received special training, enabling her to drive her teen to appointments, meetings and on outings. Their first meeting took place in a diner and for the second, the child requested a haircut—CASA provides a generous stipend to volunteers working with teens in Fostering Futures.
What is the source of Renee’s extraordinary commitment? “My goal is to help the children understand that where they are now, does not to define who they will become.”
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Patrick Gallagher has been a CASA Volunteer since 2022. Patrick is a man of multiple accomplishments, but measuring for curtains and teaching 20-year old Matthew how to hang them was just one of the many ways this CASA volunteer earned the young man’s trust.
Two years ago, Patrick began working with Matthew who was removed from his home as a 16-year old because of a dangerous hoarding situation. He had been “home schooled” for six years and was emotionally delayed. Patrick jumped right in, identifying ways to help the teen-ager with school, meeting the challenges of everyday living and envisioning the possibilities of a stable and successful life.
One of the ways this happened was in restaurants: Matthew would identify where he wanted to eat—what cuisine, what neighborhood—and the two would set off. At the table, Patrick explained the menu and coached the boy on proper etiquette. They would talk about the food, the ambience and the discussion would drift off to aspirational musings about Matthew’s desire to enjoy life as an adult.
“Matthew would observe how the people around us would engage and how I interacted with the wait staff and then reflect on what it would take for him to be in this world, “Patrick recounted. “ He loved going out and it was the best way to reach him.”
Despite the odds against Matthew, he was able to graduate from high school, secure a summer job as a lifeguard and work full time as a concierge in a luxury building in Jersey City. Much credit has to be given to the Strong Futures residential program, run by Catholic Charities, where Matthew lived for the past two years. Patrick, however, was instrumental in helping him secure a subsidized apartment as well as teaching him out to outfit the space and maintain it. Matthew’s case should close in the next few months as he has just turned 21.
This is a remarkable story of success, given Matthew’s history, but it is also amazing that Patrick, trained as an actuary and now working as an insurance executive, could accomplish so much in so little time. Patrick has two daughters, ages seven and nine and exemplifies the adage about the busiest people taking on the hardest tasks.
Like many CASA volunteers, Patrick was inspired by a family tragedy of his youth. Of course, if you met him this would not be apparent, but it just goes to prove #CASAPeopleAreTheBestPeople.