John and Sandy Goodman first learned of CASA OC through a small ad that appeared in their synagogue's bulletin. Their three children were grown and married with children of their own. John and Sandy decided to check out a CASA volunteer informational meeting and soon found their lives transformed by the experience.
John says, “It was hard work but we both served as CASAs for six or seven years.”
One moment stayed with John. At a meeting with his youth’s second-grade teacher, he learned that the boy had spent the entire school year under his desk, just to feel safe. "That really stuck with me," says John.
When their cases closed, both John and Sandy wanted to stay connected to CASA. "We recognized the value but didn't have the bandwidth to stay on as advocates," Sandy says. So they found a new way to help.
John says, “We decided to donate money, beginning with a financial gift that helped fund the first CASA staff member dedicated to what was then called Family Connections.” They eventually expanded their giving to also donate to CASA Alameda County where their children and grandchildren live.
Giving While Living
Much of their giving comes from their IRA. "We’re lucky, we don't need to live off of it,” says John. Sandy adds, “You have to take money out after a certain age and it doesn't get taxed when donated directly to a non-profit organization."
They give through the Jewish Federation Community Foundation, which lets donors set up their legacy planning so their giving can continue after they're gone. John says, “Sometimes it's easier for people to donate their money after they're dead." Sandy laughs and chimes in, "Well…they know they won't need it anymore!"
Legacy planning is possible with any amount of money. It doesn’t require tremendous wealth, only a decision made while you're here, so that you can provide long-lasting support for an organization like CASA OC while enjoying the financial benefits yourself.
Why CASA
One of the things the Goodmans value about CASA is efficiency. As John explains, “One paid supervisor supports 40+ volunteer advocates. It would be impossible to support so many children if you had to pay every one of those advocates.”
The other thing they find special about CASA is the level of support provided to volunteers. John explains, “We’ve done volunteer work where you don’t have backup or any supervision and you’re trying to do it all on your own.” Sandy adds, “When we were both CASAs there was always someone we could go to if we didn't know what to do."
John keeps coming back to one statistic: 90-95% of kids with mentors graduate high school, compared with about 50% of those without the benefit of a mentor. "To me, that's the difference between poverty and having a pathway to success," he says.
Spreading the Word
John has an idea for others who care about CASA: write ten letters to friends and relatives explaining why you give. “People want to know that someone they trust vouches for a charity. The letters would bring smaller gifts, but they would broaden the circle of people who understand CASA’s work and financially support it,” explains John.
Extraordinary Giving
“What makes the Goodmans so extraordinary is that their commitment to CASA didn’t end when their time as volunteer advocates did,” says CASA OC CEO Regan Phillips. “They give generously and share their passion with others, because once you understand the impact we make, your voice becomes invaluable. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of CASA, and we’re deeply grateful to the Goodmans for rallying others around the children we serve.”
Repairing the World
The Goodmans have been married for 57 years after meeting one another at a UCLA Mardi Gras dorm dance. John is still smitten with his wife, “I feel like the luckiest person in the world."
He reflects for a moment, “When it comes down to it, there’s your personal life, your professional life, and community life. You want to leave something behind and feel proud that you've made something better.”
Sandy adds, "Judaism teaches us tikkun olam, which means - to repair the world. We believe that we’re not required to complete the task, but neither can we refrain from helping it along."
If you’d like to learn more about legacy planning or wish to donate to CASA OC, please visit CASA OC or email Tiffany McCain.