Melanie Grammar of Whitewright earned the top award at this year’s CASA & CAC volunteer appreciation banquet hosted by the Fannin County Children’s Center. Grammar was named Volunteer of the Year for her significant contributions on behalf of abused and neglected children in Fannin County.

Grammar has volunteered with CASA and the CAC for one and a half years. During that time, she has been appointed by the courts to be the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem for three cases involving seven children in foster care. Two of her CASA cases also crossed over and involved the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) when incidents of serious physical abuse led to criminal charges. In one case, the mother’s boyfriend received a 99 year sentence from a Fannin County jury and the mother agreed to a plea bargain of 6 years for her failure to protect the children. In the other case, the perpetrator was sentenced to 32 years by a Fannin County jury.

Before giving her the award, staff of the Children’s Center took turns sharing stories of Grammar’s accomplishments, actions and personal qualities that have made her an outstanding volunteer.

One staff told of a time that Grammar kept calling people for five hours until things were worked out so that one of her children would get the physical therapy she needed. Family members of some of her other children regularly turned to her for support and advice. When it came time for the criminal trials, the prosecutors expressed appreciation for all of her knowledge of the cases that she shared with them.

Enthusiastic, dedicated, persistent and passionate were other words used to describe Grammar.

Each volunteer who was active in providing direct services to abused and neglected children in 2006 was recognized at the banquet. Board members were also honored for their contributions and service at the agency.

Debbie Ulmer of Bonham was awarded a special pin in recognition of five years of volunteer service. Three year service pins were awarded to Joanne Duncan of Trenton and Melody Burk of Bonham.

CASA Program Director Joyce McGehee reported that last year volunteers logged in 2,845.5 hours for CASA and 378 hours for CAC. Volunteers also drove 23,615 miles in order to do their work for 84 children served by CASA. To illustrate the monetary value of these contributions, McGehee held up an extra large check for the amount of $69,637.54. “This is how much our volunteers have saved Fannin County taxpayers this past year,” said McGehee. Since all children in CPS care must be assigned a Guardian ad Litem, the county would have to pay to have this service available for children if it wasn’t for CASA.

Board member Judge Joe Dale said the invocation and the Honorable Judge Lauri Blake spoke to those in attendance, praising the volunteers for their dedication and work.

CASA & CAC Volunteers

Board members