After David Kindl retired from 30 years as a special-needs vocational instructor at Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center, he said, he missed the advocacy part of his job.
Kindl heard about CASA of Westmoreland and decided to volunteer as a court-appointed special advocate supporting children involved in family court proceedings.
About seven years later, the Derry resident received the Chip Funari Volunteer of the Year Award during the 11th annual CASA Leadership Breakfast, held April 26 at Word of Life Church in Hempfield.
“It’s one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences I’ve ever had, because you actually get to change the lives of these young people,” he said.
Breakfast guests also had the opportunity to congratulate recipients of the Judge Chrisopher Feliciani Youth Leadership Award, which this year went to Adam Hoffman, a Greater Latrobe Senior High School student who is founder and current president of the relationship-building club Aevidum Wildcats, and Riley Kapusta, Sarah Kucherer, Annagrace Radocaj and Olivia Steeley, members of the United Spartans, a student service club at Hempfield Area High School.
Jade Varhola, winner of CASA’s 2019 Dr. Seuss Bookmark Contest, attended with dad Jeremy Varhola.
The annual event brings together leaders from the business, government and nonprofit sectors who share CASA’s interest in building better lives for abused and neglected children in Westmoreland County.
Seen at breakfast: CASA staffers Carol Palcic, Mitch Samick, Kelly Jellison, Melissa Burns and Kelli Hardin; board members Rosemary Spoljarick, David Riehl, Beth Teacher, Sharon Nies, Suzanne Ward, Tyler Jones and Christine Mohler-King; volunteers Susie Bowell, Jennifer Learn, Sindy Diaz, Lynn Mance, Mary Walters, Jeanne Cerce, Roberta Cook and Mary Koziara; and CASA ambassador Pastor Elaine Frantz.
Also, Joe Shearer, Josie Funari, Christine Kindl, Keith Davis, Scott and Kelly Turer, Rob DePasquale, Mike Ward, Endy Reindl, Terry Graft, Nancy Kukovich, Chad Amond, Otis DiCerbo, Jessica Kadie-Barclay, Tim Phillips and John and Malinda Sherid.
