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All children have a right to a home with loving people to care for them. But each year in the United States, thousands of children are abused, neglected, or abandoned by their families. Over 270,000 of them are removed from their homes and placed in foster care or institutions. Eventually, they end up in court. They are victims of abuse and neglect.

It is up to a judge to decide their future. Should they remain in foster care? Be reunited with parents? Or adopted? In these cases, many children also become victims a second time - lost in an overburdened child welfare system that cannot pay close attention to each child whose life is in its hands. That's where CASA comes in. CASA volunteers are Court Appointed Special Advocates for children; they are trained community volunteers appointed by a judge to speak for abused and neglected children in court.

CASA's goal is to expedite the process through which these abused and neglected children are found permanent, safe homes.

Since social agency caseworkers can have 60 to 90 assigned cases at a time, it's often impossible for them to give each case their full attention. The CASA volunteer's research can include reviewing documents, interviewing the child's parents, siblings, neighbors, school officials and doctors.

It is the volunteer's duty to focus exclusively on the child's best interests and express the child's needs and point of view. The advocate's in-depth knowledge of the case provides the judge with the information necessary to make tough decisions.

The volunteer helps ensure the child makes it to a safe permanent home.

Founded in 1973, Friends of Radnor Lake is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving and promoting the natural integrity of Radnor Lake through land acquisition and environmental education. Radnor Lake, located south of Nashville in Oak Hill, was originally constructed by L&N Railroad as an earthen reservoir to supply water for its steam engines and livestock at the nearby Radnor Yards. Today it is a haven for birds feeding and resting during their annual migration, as well as an urban sanctuary for eagles, deer, turkey, and otters, and a place of peace and tranquility for the one million people that visit each year. The Radnor Lake State Natural Area consists of more than 1,260 acres of preserved land and was designated as Tennessee’s first natural area and protected ecosystem in 1973.

For more information, visit www.radnorlake.org.

Girls on the Run® (GOTR) is a national organization that combines a developmentally focused curriculum with the power of running in order “to inspire, educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect, positive relationships and healthy active living” (GOTR, 2010). In a series of bi-weekly, after-school practice sessions, trained female coaches instruct 3rd through 8th grade girls in research-based lessons designed to improve physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. Simultaneously, participants are taught the importance of goal setting while training for a 5k (3.1 mile) race, which they complete at the conclusion of the season with the support and encouragement of a volunteer Running Buddy/mentor.

Celebrating its 20th year as Middle Tennessee’s volunteer resource center, Hands On Nashville connects volunteers to critical community needs. In 2010, HON connected nearly 200,000 volunteers to service, making it the largest mobilizer of volunteers among all HandsOn Network affiliates. Facilitating volunteer work for 400-plus Middle Tennessee nonprofits, schools and government agencies, HON supports 25 critical community needs ranging from hunger and homelessness to at-risk youth and animal welfare. HON challenges everyone to find a way to give back and to … Be the Change. Volunteer. To find out how, check out www.hon.org, call (615) 298-1108, or follow HON on Facebook or Twitter.

JDRF is a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide, and is the largest charitable funder of and advocate for type 1 diabetes research. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal. Until a cure is found, people with type 1 diabetes have to test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times or use a pump - each day, every day of their lives. And even with that intensive care, insulin is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its potential complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970, JDRF has awarded more than $1.5 billion to diabetes research, including more than $107 million last year. More than 80 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and research-related education.

JDRF Middle Tennessee is located in Brentwood. For more information please contact the JDRF office at (615) 383-6781 or visit www.jdrf.org/midtennessee.

The mission of The Land Trust for Tennessee is to preserve our natural and historic landscapes and sites for future generations. To date, over 60,000 acres of land in 48 counties have been protected through our work. As a result, parklands, farms, working forests, river corridors, historic landscapes, critical watershed areas, urban land, community and cultural resources, and recreational places are created, enhanced and protected drawing new residents, tourists, and business to Tennessee. Our work has helped conserve signature places including Fiery Gizzard, Mayfield Farm, Ropers Knob, critical lands around the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Leiper’s Fork Gateways, as well as thousands of acres of family farms throughout the state. We were selected to partner with the city of Nashville for the 2011 Open Space Plan. With offices in Sewanee and in Chattanooga, we continue to strengthen our reach across the entire state and become the voice of conservation for all who love Tennessee.

No child should have to go without quality healthcare, and no parent should have to struggle to provide this care. Under this premise, Mercy Health Services was founded in 1999 with the mission of reflecting the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by providing healthcare to All children and support to their families.

Starting out as a one doctor practice that provided pediatric primary care, Mercy has grown into a pediatric, multi-specialty health care center, all with the goal of providing the very best care for our patients and their families.

Mercy now serves children from more than 30 counties in Tennessee and some from Alabama and Kentucky. While about 30% of our patient population carries private insurance coverage, 70% of our patients have no insurance or are on TennCare. It is our standard to provide the same compassionate, holistic care to all children regardless of their ability to pay!

Mission Lazarus uses developmental and humanitarian aid projects and programs to intentionally provide individuals in developing nations an opportunity to develop a transformational relationship with Jesus Christ. Through unconditional Spiritual, Educational, Medical, and Agricultural outreaches Mission Lazarus has seen the doors opened to thousands of hearts to receive the Good News!

Ditch the daily grind, and escape to splashing waterfalls, rolling savannahs and lush bamboo forests. At Nashville Zoo, you can hang loose like the gibbons while you see animals from across the globe in natural habitats resembling the many environments of our world. Discover clouded leopards and red pandas along Bamboo Trail, see elephants and giraffes wandering through African savannahs and splash around the Unseen New World with some of the wildest things you’ve never seen, like poison arrow frogs and hellbender salamanders. You can also monkey around our 66,000-square-foot Jungle Gym, take a spin on the Wild Animal Carousel or be surrounded by more than 50 Australian parrots at Lorikeet Landing. Answer the call of the wild, and plan your Nashville Zoo escape today!

Not Alone provides programs, resources and services to warriors and families impacted by combat stress and PTSD through a confidential and anonymous community. Not Alone started in 2008 when a group of warriors and professionals discovered a significant gap in the government's ability to help warriors and families adjust after war. Not Alone is here for everyone whose lives are affected by war: warriors, families, friends... our national community.

Our Kids provides expert medical evaluations and crisis counseling to children and families affected by child sexual abuse. National statistics reveal that about 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys will experience some form of child sexual abuse by age 18. Over half the children served at Our Kids are 7 years of age and younger.

In its 25-year history, Our Kids has evaluated more than 20,000 children and currently serves 46 counties in Middle Tennessee. At Our Kids, a team of nurse practitioners and social workers are on-call 24/7 every day of the year to respond to the unique needs of each child and family. By addressing both the medical and emotional needs of the child and the emotional needs of the caregiver, Our Kids provides help, hope and healing to the entire family.

To learn more about Our Kids and how you can help, please visit www.ourkidscenter.com.

Organized in 1978, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is a private, not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee's mission is to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is one of the largest and most comprehensive of over 200 food banks and food distribution centers nationwide and also a member of Feeding America - The Nation's Food Bank Network. Second Harvest distributes food and other products to approximately 400 nonprofit partner agencies in 46 counties in Middle and West Tennessee. Our partners include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, childcare facilities, senior centers, group homes, and youth enrichment programs.

For more information on Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and its programs, please visit www.secondharvestmidtn.org.

The Pearre Creek Elementary PTO, through volunteer and financial contributions, enhances and supports the educational experience; promotes the welfare and growth of each child; encourages and develops strong parental and community involvement with the school; provides enriching experiences for Pearre Creek students; and assists in any other manner deemed necessary and appropriate to improve the environment at Pearre Creek Elementary School.

Special Olympics Tennessee is a program which through quality sports training and competition improves the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and, in turn, the lives of everyone they encounter. SOTN strives to empower the people we serve by helping them to realize their full potential and develop skills through year-round sports training and competition.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

To learn more about Special Olympics and find out how you can get involved please visit our website at www.specialolympicstn.org.

Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping dogs in need.

Located 30 miles south of Nashville, Snooty Giggles rescues dogs from high kill shelters, otherwise overlooked due to appearance, illness, injury, common breed, age or other insignificant “flaws”. The name Snooty Giggles emanates from those who turn their noses to these magical dogs while we giggle and smile at the happiness they bring to their forever families.

We temperament test every dog increasing the success possibilities of our placements. We are proud to state that we’ve placed 100% of our rescues. Part of this success pertains to our matchmaking talents if we can be so bold and proud to say. To continue the need for a good fit, we regret to advise that we can only do local adoptions. However, certain New England adoptions can be handled through our sister collaboration with Peace And Paws.

We receive no government assistance. We are funded through private donations. 100% of proceeds goes to Snooty Giggles! Snooty Giggles depends on the kindness of people like you to continue our mission.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Because Snooty Giggles believes that every dog is better prepared for a forever family if first placed in a foster home, we do not have a facility. Each and every one of our dogs has its own foster family so that it can learn what it means to be part of a “pack”. With that in mind, the best way to contact us is through email at snootygiggles@gmail.com . Should you feel a need to speak with us over the phone just shoot us your phone number and we will make the call as soon as we are available.

The Greater Nashville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is dedicated to combating breast cancer at every front. Up to 75 percent of the Affiliate’s net income goes toward funding grants to local programs that provide breast health education, screening and treatment programs for medically underserved women. The remaining net income (a minimum of 25 percent) supports the national Komen Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific programs around the world.

The Komen Greater Nashville Affiliate’s services area encompasses an 11-county area including Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson. Thanks to the thousands of people who participant in the Greater Nashville Race for the Cure® and other Affiliate events each year, dedicated corporate partners and generous donors, we are playing a vital role in fighting breast cancer in our community.

The Westhaven Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization established in 2007 by the residents of Westhaven with support from Southern Land Company to promote lifelong learning, leadership, preservation, philanthropy and environmental awareness within Westhaven and the greater Franklin community. The Foundation complements the activities and programs in the community; however, it functions entirely independent from the Westhaven Homeowners Association and Southern Land Company.

Designed to nurture a strong sense of community while enhancing the quality of life of Westhaven families and the surrounding community, the Foundation is under the stewardship of a Board of Trustees and Advisory Boards, comprised of volunteers from Westhaven and leaders from the surrounding community.

The Westhaven Foundation provides grants, scholarships and acts as a catalyst for raising much need funds for charities and organizations serving Westhaven and the surrounding communities. Fundraising events and featured causes include The Race for the Cure, The Concert for the Cure, Waves, Inc for people with developmental disabilities, Williamson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Second Harvest Food bank, Pearre Creek Elementary School and the Community Resource Efficiency Directive (CRED).

The Foundation follows in the footsteps of many other outstanding residential communities throughout the country. These communities include Celebration in Celebration, Florida; Spring Island in Beaufort, South Carolina; Kentlands in Gaithersburg, Maryland; and Seaside in Seaside, Florida. These highly successful community foundations have demonstrated great value, becoming a catalyst for a better life, as well as a great source of personal and community pride for the residents.

The Young Leaders Council (YLC) is a program founded by the Council of Community Services, in conjunction with the Frist Foundation (formerly the HCA Foundation) and the United Way. It was created in 1985 to address the need to broaden and strengthen Nashville's volunteer leadership base. The YLC consists of an eleven-session training program, addressing fundamental board skills. These interactive sessions reflect on such leadership indicators as collaboration, diversity and the role of catalyst deemed crucial for today's nonprofit leadership roles. The training is followed by a year internship with a community agency. At this time, the YLC participant serves as a non-voting member of a working board.

Participants are between 25 and 40 years of age and come from a broad range of corporate, civic and volunteer backgrounds. They may be nominated by YLC alumni, their group's management or may be self-nominated with management's recommendation.

A YLC alumni group makes activities available to those who wish to continue their involvement. Much of the success of the Young Leaders Council has been due to the active participation of community business leaders and agency directors. They have most willingly given of their time and expertise in the training of Young Leaders. The corporate business leaders provide valuable insight into such topics as legal liabilities; corporate giving; what to look for in a board; and how the social service system works. Thus, a balanced, objective picture of community volunteer leadership is presented to the Young Leaders.