SFCASA Bids Farewell and Good Luck to Executive Director Renee Espinoza
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Click here to read a message from Board Chair Lisa Pearson
A Letter from Renee
It is incredibly hard to share the news that I will be moving on from San Francisco CASA. I started my career at CASA of Orange County, and I still firmly believe that CASA is the ultimate volunteer program, providing the most rigorous training and support to volunteers while working to address the diverse needs and build the strengths of our deserving youth through trusting relationships.
I feel so lucky to have landed at SFCASA, largely because of the volunteers at the heart of the organization. Even after seven and a half years, I am continually impressed by the dedication and creativity of our volunteers, and I am heartened that almost universally, they tell me the rewards for them are as great as they are for the youth we serve. Whenever I hear from a volunteer, it is never about them; they are always putting the youth at the forefront. And at the same time, our volunteers bring their own unique experiences and personalities to each relationship, and that individuality makes the relationship successful and makes our organization what it is.
In a society that too often sees foster youth for their needs and deficits, I’m proud of how SFCASA and our volunteers value the youth we serve, as well as the families they come from. The goal is always about strengthening families and lifting up our youth’s own voices and interests. In doing so, it has been a powerful experience to work so closely with such a broad range of partners, and I have come to truly value SFCASA’s relationship with the courts. To work so closely with the judges, who are the ultimate decision-makers in so many critical areas impacting foster youth, is something I never took lightly. It is a great responsibility to have the ear of the judges, and I am proud of how our organization and volunteers exercise that role.
The community that supports SFCASA has also given me so much hope for our future. I’ve created so many strong personal relationships with our incredible donors and have been struck time and again by how heartfelt and generous their support is for the organization and for the youth in San Francisco’s foster care. To our generous donors, committed partners and dedicated board members, I appreciate the confidence you’ve placed in my leadership and our ability to support healthy development and successful lives for foster youth. You’ve made it possible to grow the organization’s impact over these seven years.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the stellar and steadfast staff of SFCASA. I am so proud of the team we’ve built and have total confidence in them to support the organization in continuing to grow its impact on our community. Program Director Erika Dirkse, Director of Finance & Operations Amy DiBenedetto and now Interim Executive Director Paul Knudsen are tremendous leaders, passionate about transforming the lives of youth in foster care.
I will soon be joining the Metta Fund as their Director of Program Strategy to work on supporting the health of older adults in San Francisco. I will take with me the inspiration and love of our volunteers and the true impact of caring relationships. As excited as I am about the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for me, I know I will miss SFCASA’s staff, board, partners, donors and advocates so very much. Thank you for all you do.
With true gratitude,
Renée Espinoza
A message from SFCASA Board Chair Lisa Pearson
Thank you for being such an important part of San Francisco CASA’s community. As San Francisco CASA’s Board Chair, I am writing to share news about our Executive Director Renée Espinoza. After leading the organization to a place of financial and organizational strength, and deepening community impact over the last seven and a half years, Renée has decided it is time to move on to a new opportunity. We are grateful for her years of leadership.
Renée has built an impressive and professional staff, leaving us confident that SFCASA will continue to grow in impact while the search committee works diligently to hire her replacement. We have created a board committee that will lead a thorough process to define the organization’s priorities for a new leader, and to find the best possible person for the job.
I am happy to announce that Paul Knudsen, our Director of Development & Communications for the last seven years, has agreed to serve as Interim Executive Director starting August 10. The Board has the utmost confidence that the organization will continue to thrive under Paul’s guidance, as well as that of Program Director Erika Dirkse and Director of Finance & Operations Amy DiBenedetto. We are grateful for their commitment to support this transition with their shared expertise and passion for the mission that is so important to all of us.
As Renée departs, I wanted to share a few of her team’s many accomplishments in appreciation. Under Renee’s leadership, the organization:
Grew to support 341 youth, from the 213 youth served in 2014
Built a strong base of support, tripling annual revenue and creating a reserve fund that has helped SFCASA to be nimble and address urgent needs during this pandemic
Introduced services and support for youth in the juvenile justice system
Revamped the training and supervision of volunteers with an emphasis on practical tools and support to address the realities of life in foster care, including the recent pivot to an all-online volunteer training during the city’s shelter in place orders
Implemented a new Salesforce-based system to track efforts, progress and impact of our work, while consolidating the organization’s data management.
Partnered with other local CASA programs and the SF Human Service Agency to increase awareness of foster care, the CASA role and the need for foster parents.
Renée shares with us, “It is incredibly hard to leave SFCASA. I started my career at CASA of Orange County and I still believe that CASA is the pinnacle volunteer program that provides the most vigorous training and support to volunteers while working to address the diverse needs and build the strengths of our deserving youth through trusting relationships. I am continually impressed by the dedication and creativity of our volunteers, and I am heartened that almost universally, they tell me the rewards are as great for them as for the youth. It is never about them, always about the child and I will carry their spirit of commitment and love with me. I am so proud of the team we’ve built, have total confidence in them, and know I will miss the staff, partners, donors and advocates so very much.”
Thanks to the strong team Renée has built, SFCASA will continue to serve the unique needs of foster youth during these uncertain times. Our youth need us now more than ever, and your support is as critical as ever.
If you would like to share any thoughts with the Search Committee as we begin this process, we welcome your input, which you can send to me directly at lisa_pearson@sfcasa.org.
Please join me in thanking Renée for her service to SFCASA and in wishing her well in her next chapter. And on behalf of the entire Board, thank you for supporting our mission and the youth we serve.
Warmest regards,
Lisa Pearson
Chair, Board of Directors