Congratulations to our 2022 Honoree's! Your advocacy for CASA and the children we serve has not gone unnoticed 

 



​The Story Changer significantly impacts the trajectory of a child’s or children’s journey through the child welfare system. We could not think of a more deserving individual to receive the 2023 Story Changer Award than CASA Volunteer Fern Griesbach.

Fern has been an Ingham County advocate since 2017. She grew up in a small town in northern Illinois where her father was the first pediatrician to practice there, so helping children achieve healthy, happy lives is in her DNA. Fern is on the Board of Trustees of the Capital Region Community Foundation, and first learned about CASA from a grant request that CASA submitted to the Foundation to open an office in Ingham County. Fern was the first advocate to be assigned an Ingham County case. Now on her sixth case, Fern still regularly sees a child from her first case in the role of “supportive adult,” continuing to be a champion for her, even though her foster care case closed four years ago. Fern believes every child deserves a safe, stable, loving, a permanent home, and that CASA can advocate for those children who need extra help to get what they deserve.

​Champion for Children: The Champion demonstrates exemplary service toward the best interest of children in Barry, Eaton, and Ingham Counties. 

​Adam Williams is a multi-talented and multifaceted community organizer with a history of implementing strategies in the Mid Michigan Region. He believes in serving leaders and assisting with business expansion behind the scenes. He has a deep understanding of
diversity, equity, inclusion, community
development, and business development.
Adam is certified in training youth in leadership
and entrepreneurship, through Generation E.
Adam has continually worked with city leadership to implement programs that create community change. He founded his own
nonprofit and has operated it for five years - Teens LOL TV - a solution to help teens empower their peers by providing media training and teen talk shows. He also co-founded a network for youth pastors and leaders, called Y.O.G.L. (Youth of Greater Lansing) where leaders share, build, & unite together to transform the next generation.
Adam became connected with CASA for Kids, Inc. through his new nonprofit Missions Filled. The focus on outreach support and helping people fulfill missions within their communities aligned closely with CASA’s community based
volunteer model. Since connecting with Adam, CASA has been connected with new volunteers and communities to better support the
children we advocate for.