What The Guardian ad Litem Association (CFGALA) Does:

The Cape Fear Guardian ad Litem Association (CFGALA) was organized to raise money to pay for enrichment activities for GAL children; activities that can change a life. 

Yes, the children in DSS custody are fed and clothed and sent to school. 

But there is little money in the DSS budget to send a child to camp, put him or her in a summer sports program, piano lesson, to purchase a trumpet, or send a child on a school field trip, or buy a bicycle or track shoes or a prom dress....No money to buy tickets to the Aquarium, the Children's Museum, or a children's play at Thalian Auditorium...and tutoring. 

With this in mind a group of Guardian ad Litem volunteers recognized this need which was going unfilled and formed the Cape Fear Guardian ad Litem Association in 2001.

CFGALA raises money to provide these sorts of opportunities to the children in who DSS have assumed custody of their well being and safety.

We are all volunteers ----No money is used to pay board members or staff

Because of nurturing and positive activities like tutoring, attending a basketball camp, successfully learning to swim, or being able to join classmates on a school field trip to Washington, D. C. children have found confidence and developed social skills that changes their lives...

In 2008

CFGALA funded 194 requests totalling $40,831.85

for activities beneficial to the children of the Guardian ad Litem Program

Plus

 

Through the “Help a Kid Be a Kid” campaign, GALA raised an amazing $56,000 in 2007, from foundations, corporations, churches and the rest from individual donors.  Wilmington was generous to our GAL children.  More than 130 individuals (including GALs) contributed generously.

CFGALA April 2009 Campaign

"Help a Kid Be A Kid"

coincides with "Prevent Child Abuse" Month

The CFGALA Board would like to thank all of our donors for their amazing generosity.  In addition, thank you to the GAL volunteers who go the extra mile to find enrichment activities for their children and make it all happen.

2006 Accomplishments:

CFGALA raised close to $50,000 in 2006. We enriched the lives of 126 GAL children through summer camps and programs, classes, special equipment, lessons, and other resources.

Additional funds were used to purchase tickets for cultural events for the children and their foster parents and to meet other needs of the children not paid for by DSS.

It was CFGALA’s best year yet!

Thanks to the efforts of individual GALs and the financial support of CFGALA, these children, ages 5 to 15, went to camp or participated in a recreational program last summer. In addition, a few took dance, swimming, baby-sitting or karate classes.

Others were able to attend the cultural events CFGALA obtains tickets for: movies and plays at Thalian Hall, the Serpentarium, Cameron Art Museum, Wrightsville Beach Museum, Children’s Museum, Fit for Fun Center, Cape Fear Museum, Railroad Museum, Fort Fisher Aquarium and the Battleship.

Other children were able to get needed dental work, a college tour, eye glasses, a trumpet, a cheer leading uniform and a prom dress.

These are all things that cannot be paid for by the Department of Social Services (DSS) but which can enrich a child’s life in life-altering ways. “I’ve always loved horses but this was the first time I ever got to ride one. I want to grow up to be a veterinarian.”

And what about the musically talented kid who now has the trumpet he needs to continue his passion. Can you imagine not being able to go to the prom because you can’t afford a dress? Or making the cheer leading squad but unable to participate because you don’t have the uniform?

These are things most children take for granted. And now, thanks to GALA, these kids can enjoy the same childhood opportunities.

The funds are well-used. The GALs explain: "....One of my child’s few interests is football and playing on a school team. Football camp developed his social interaction skills and possibly provided friends in his new school setting."

"….It is difficult to find summer camp activities for 15 year olds.  The American Red Cross provided swimming lessons as well as babysitting classes which gave this girl a measure of competence and confidence."

And in a camper’s own words: "I sailed on a sunfish at Camp Don-Lee and I used a thirty-pound pullback in archery!  One night my group slept on the pier, one night in tents and in the cabin."  Thank you....I will remember it forever."