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Spring/Summer 2005 Newsletter
Casa’s influence on Jaclyn began at a very young age. As Jaclyn puts it, Casa has changed her life. And that may be an understatement. When she was eight years old, her parents became foster parents to three Casa siblings. For an only child to suddenly share her home with three younger children certainly was an adjustment. Looking back on that time, Jaclyn says: “I see how important a secure home environment is to children. They thrived while in our home.” Then the biggest change occurred. After the foster children went to more permanent placements, the Martins adopted an infant girl from Casa. Jaclyn, several years older than her sister, quickly realized that she needed to be a role model for her. She has loved watching her grow and develop. With the approval of Casa’s directors, Jaclyn took the initiative to pull together an outstanding group of students from eight different high schools to form a Teen Board. They started big by taking on the Casa birthday party last November—an event requiring so much effort that it is not held every year. The Teen Board took over every aspect of the planning and fund raising. They also brought in scores more teen volunteers for the day itself to staff every game and activity. It was a huge success. The Teen Board has continued helping Casa on other projects since then. It is this continuity that will be the strength of the group. The teens have hosted a party for the children in residence at Casa and have provided childcare assistance while the Casa staff was in required training. For her own St. Agnes senior project that requires 100 hours of volunteer service addressing a social justice issue, Jaclyn selected Casa. Early this summer Jaclyn will move into a Casa home where she will be assisting the staff in the house with caring for the children and doing household duties. In addition to her work at Casa, Jaclyn has volunteered at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for the past two summers. And as a member of the Heart of Texas Chapter of the National Charity League, she also does other community service. This fall she plans to assist in a research project for the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Jaclyn is continuing her leadership role with the Teen Board by outlining their plans for the next school year and beyond that to the time when she will be going on to college.
“As I look toward college and my future, I have many plans and aspirations.
I hope to someday combine my love of language with a career in the business
world. I hope to be involved in the international business community. But,
above all, I will continue to strive to make a difference in the lives of
abused children, either near my college or as a working adult volunteering
much as my own parents did when I was a young girl.”
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