Summer 2026 of Big Leagues and Big Hearts: CASA Volunteers and Ohio Programs in the News

The Ohio CASA Network had some major league help making headlines this summer, as the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians led efforts to bring the CASA mission to audiences beyond the ballpark.

Leading things off were the Family Members and Wives of the Reds and the Guardians. Their fundraising efforts culminated in a home run heard around the state, as their second annual charity softball game received extensive news coverage.

This year’s softball game, hosted by the Reds Wives with support from the Reds Community Fund, was broadcast live by FOX19 from the Reds Youth Academy and featured a first pitch by CASA for Clermont Kids volunteer Ana Warnick. The broadcast highlighted the efforts of both groups to raise critical funds and increase awareness of CASA programs, helping bring greater attention to the need for dedicated advocates for children.

Ohio CASA Executive Director Doug Stephens spoke about how vital these funds are for local programs and their CASA volunteers.

“One of the things our CASA volunteers do is stay in touch with the children and to do that, they’re traveling all over the place and they’re meeting them. This money helps support what the volunteers do,” Stephens told FOX19 during a live interview. “This helps [with things] like school supplies, backpacks, mileage, all those sorts of things, we get from our volunteer collections.”

The teams, led by Jordyn Pagán, wife of Reds pitcher Emilio Pagán, and Samantha Kwan, wife of Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, raised over $18,000 in 2025. This year, they nearly doubled the amount.

Both teams held on-field ceremonies prior to games at their home ballparks, presenting proceeds to Ohio CASA representatives, totaling more than $34,000.

Jordyn Pagán praised Ohio CASA’s mission and the ongoing support in an interview with MLB.com.

“It’s been great, [CASA representatives] have been to games in Cleveland and here,” Pagán said. “They do so much for the kids in foster care and the court system.”

Samantha Kwan explained to Spectrum News 1 what drew the wives to support the Ohio CASA Network.

“CASA is an organization near and dear to my heart,” Kwan said. “I worked with them in college, they were partnered with my sorority… I got to meet the people with Ohio CASA and really see the impact they make on Ohio. It’s been awesome.”

Other media outlets, such as the Cincinnati Enquirer, also shared highlights of the event online.

You can read more about how the entire “Ohio CASA at the Ballpark” campaign continues to show support for volunteers and families here.

While the Wives drove in runs and support, another Ohio CASA initiative that’s helping to drive change took center lane.

The Dayton Daily News took a closer look at how specialty license plates help nonprofits such as Ohio CASA, noting Ohio CASA was the first social service agency to have a specialty license plate. You can read more about how the newest plate is turning every mile into a hopeful message for Ohio’s children here.

Journalists taking a closer look at child welfare work and laws turned to the Ohio CASA Network for expert insight. Executive Director Doug Stephens spoke to Spectrum News 1 about recognizing the signs of child abuse, while both he and Delaware County Probate and Juvenile Court Judge David Hejmanowski explained truancy court cases in a separate article.

Other news outlets across the state took a closer look at the work CASA volunteers do. ProKids CASA volunteer Carmen Schrand told WCPO about the importance of simply showing up for the kids who need it most.

“These kids have had instability in their lives,” Schrand said. “So as a CASA, you’re the one who keeps showing up… you keep showing up whether they got in trouble at school … whether they’ve had a really bad day… you just keep showing up.”

City Lifestyle provided a different perspective, detailing how Erie County CASA Executive Director Terri Stephan stepped up and helped change the trajectory of a child’s life. It also served as a call for others to become a CASA volunteer.

That call to action was echoed by other local programs, such as CASA of Seneca, Sandusky, and Wyandot Counties, which are encouraging community members to attend their events and learn about the work volunteers do.

“We want people to come to orientation with their questions, even if they aren’t sure yet whether becoming a CASA is right for them,” CASA of SSW Assistant Director Michelle Hess told the Advertiser-Tribune. “This is an opportunity to learn more, meet our team, and discover how your time and experience could make a difference in a child’s life.”

Hess also spoke to WTTF to discuss the need for more CASA volunteers.

Community members answering that call were also featured. In Preble County, The Register Herald covered the program’s latest swearing in ceremony and detailed how their CASA volunteers represent a child’s best interest in court.

The Northwest Ohio CASA program was featured in two articles in The Crescent-News, bringing attention to the program’s work and the important role CASA volunteers play in advocating for children in the community.

If you have an article or news to share with Ohio CASA, please contact us.