IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION congratulating Martha Gershun, Executive Director of the Jackson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), on the occasion of her retirement April 30, 2017.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 19477, May 1, 2017
INTRODUCED BY Crystal Williams, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, Martha Gershun has served as Executive Director of Jackson County CASA since 2009, leading the organization to become one of the highest performing nonprofits in the metropolitan area; and,
WHEREAS, Jackson County CASA volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children within the court system, providing information to judges to help them make the best decisions regarding where the children should live and the medical, therapeutic, and education services they need; and,
WHEREAS, under Martha's leadership and guidance, Jackson County CASA has grown to serve more than 1,200 children each year with over 360 active volunteers, a staff of 24, and a budget of $1.5 million; and,
WHEREAS, Martha graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts from Harvard University and a masters in business administration from Harvard Business School, and she earned a graduate diploma in economics from the University of Stirling in Scotland, where she was a Rotary International Fellow; and,
WHEREAS, despite formally retiring, Martha plans to continue to make a difference in Jackson County with the founding of the Martha Gershun Legacy Fund for Older Foster Youth; and,
WHEREAS, the Older Foster Youth program will provide assistance to foster children who "age out" of the system, but are still in need of support to transition to become independent adults; and,
WHEREAS, under Martha's leadership, Jackson County CASA has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, and she has been personally recognized with the 2013 Women's Justice Award for Citizenship from Missouri Lawyers Weekly and the 2013 Regional Leadership Award from the M...
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