Board Member Spotlight - Cheryl Schrempp-Dupris, Pierre SD
What community do you call home? I was raised in central South Dakota, but Pierre has been my home since 1980.
Why is CASA's mission important to you? After college, I took a job as a Social Worker. I saw first hand how many children were affected by going into foster care.
What do you wish more people knew about CASA and the children we serve? For some children, going into foster care is scarier than the worst situation they know at home. A CASA volunteer becomes another adult friend who helps them navigate that scary time. Most times, these children return to a better home situation or to a permanent family. Helping them survive that scary time has special meaning that may or may not be immediately apparent, but which helps them grow and thrive. CASA is a blessing for the children we serve, for the volunteers who witness that growth in the children, for the families in the legal process, and for our whole community.
What motivates you to give your time and talents to Central SD CASA? There are a lot of great organizations that serve children in our community, but CASA serves foster care children who are legally placed away from what they know. Sometimes, they need just a little more than the other children I know. That is what motivates me.
What is your favorite way to spend a weekend? Spending time and making memories with family, even if that involves a work project.
How can our community help ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive? If every person in our community would find time to do one more thing- volunteer, mentor, foster, serve on a committee, talk to others about the need, or donate to support the cause; together we will make a difference in the lives of every child.
In one sentence, what does Central SD CASA mean to you? I feel blessed to be a part of CASA because it is rewarding and important work.
