GILA COUNTY — Margret Celix is a mother of seven; grandmother of 19; great-grandmother of 12; Miami Unified School District #40 Board Member; avid champion for causes like March of Dimes, domestic violence prevention, and Safe Kids; and an employee.
In her spare time, she changes the lives of children in foster care in Globe and Miami as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. This month, Margret will celebrate 20 years of doing this important work.
“When I am recruiting in the Globe-Miami area, I frequently hear how people feel they do not have the time to volunteer with CASA. Margret lives her life showing others how much of an impact someone can have when they make the time for others,” said Emily Leverance, CASA coordinator for Gila County.
On May 31, 2017 CASA of Gila County celebrated Margret’s 20 year anniversary with the program.
“It is hard to summarize 20 years … It has been rewarding, disappointing, fulfilling, frustrating and joyful,” said Celix, when discussing her years of service with CASA of Gila County.
During her 20 years of service, Margret has been assigned to seven cases that totaled 15 children and she has spent the last few years volunteering as a recruiter and supporting other CASA advocates by sharing her experience and advice.
Margret hopes to be assigned to a new case in the near future.
“I really need to the thank the guidance of the judges, coordinators, attorneys, staff and especially the other CASA advocates that I have worked with during this past 20 years,” Celix said. “What I learned from these wonderful people you could never learn in a classroom setting nor could you afford to pay for it. The joys, tears, frustration, but to me the most important thing was being able to help these children taken out of their home for abuse or neglect and being the most consistent person in their lives for the time they are in the court system.”
More volunteers are needed to speak for these children.
To learn more about the program visit www.CASAofGilaCounty.org or email Emily Leverance at eleverance@courts.az.gov.
