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Senator Bonacic Honored by Court Appointed Special Advocates of New York for his Years of Work to Help Neglected and Abused Foster Children
October 5, 2016
![Senator Bonacic is pictured with volunteers from the CASA program.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/casa.jpg?itok=EWwGIW8X)
(Middletown, NY)- State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt. Hope) was honored last evening at an event in Albany which was hosted by Court Appointed Special Advocates of New York State (CASA). Senator Bonacic received the second annual Mary Rich Award for Distinguished Service in Child Advocacy.
Senator Bonacic has been a strong supporter of CASA during his time in the Legislature. For the past three legislative session, Senator Bonacic has sponsored and helped pass legislation in the Senate recognizing CASA as a program that provides vital support and advocacy for abused and neglected children. Senator Bonacic also successfully worked to have $875,000 included in the FY 2016-2017 Budget for the CASA program.
CASA is a volunteer program that provides 3,000 foster children with volunteer advocates before family court. There are currently 900 CASA volunteers in Family Court across 31 New York counties. For more information on CASA, please visit http://www.casanys.org/
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Go to Newsroom![Senator Bonacic and his colleagues hear testimony at this week’s joint hearing. Pictured L-R is, Senator James Sanders, Senator Patty Ritchie, Senator Fred Akshar, and Senator Bonacic.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/img_1054.jpg?itok=_kP-xT1s)
![Senator Bonacic (center, with helmet) is pictured with soldiers from Fort Drum and several colleagues from the legislature including, Assemblyman Will Barclay, Senator Patty Ritchie, and Senator Kemp Hannon.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/0718181232.jpg?itok=RgjRMdSA)
![Senator Bonacic is pictured with (L-R); Salutatorian, Hailee Quicks; Valedictorian, Dylan Broder; Honored Student, Krista Novello; Salutatorian, Anna Bittinger; and Valedictorian, Morgan Mitchell.](/sites/default/files/styles/760x377/public/article/main-image/06-07-18_300-64_0130.jpg?itok=5rQVlCi8)