Celebrating Gina Cetta’s 15-year CASAversary!
By Erica Fischer-Kaslander
As milestones go, some are measured in years, others in achievements, but few capture the essence of dedication and unwavering commitment quite like Gina Cetta's 15-year journey with the CASA program in Passaic County.
When Gina first joined the staff, little did either of us foresee the adventures ahead. Over the years, she has served as an Advocacy Supervisor, member of the training staff, Senior Advocacy Supervisor, Program Director and, now, Director of Advocacy for the CASA program serving both Passaic and Union counties.
As Executive Director, my focus is always ensuring our children are supported with the highest standards of advocacy. As the organization has grown, Gina has repeatedly risen to the challenge of ensuring that quality, accountability, and the utmost ethical standard remain central to all of CASA’s work.
Memories Made
Working alongside Gina all these years means a host of shared memories, and they run the gamut from heartbreaking to heart-lifting. From needing to raise desperately needed funding or the night our office flooded, to the day we reached the ultimate goal of serving every Passaic County child involved in the child welfare system, Gina has been there. And whether she’s dancing in the middle of county fairgrounds or chasing geese away in the early morning hours so our Superhero Run could begin, Gina can also be comic relief amid all the weight of the serious work we do.
Each summer, Gina serves as the voice of the annual Tricky Tray fundraiser; she’s called every single number of every single basket for 14 years, minus a one-year maternity leave gap! (Don’t miss her year 15 performance at this June’s Tricky Tray!) Every winter, Gina ensures hundreds of CASA children receive their very own holiday wish through her work leading the effort, and has done so ever since the Holiday Wishes program launched a dozen years ago.
Advocacy in Action
No matter the season or situation, Gina is armed with passion, determination, and a relentless drive for excellence. A former child abuse prosecutor focused on cases that involved sexual abuse, Gina knows the importance of ensuring a child’s needs are met as quickly as possible during traumatic experiences. She joined the CASA program with the singular mission of being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and, more than 5,000 days later, this continues to be her motivation. Just ask some of the CASA volunteers she supervises:
Said Advocate Theresa Waters, “Gina has been my supervisor for most of my 10 years in CASA. She remains a constant, I can always count on her for empathetic responses, smart advice, and positivity. Sometimes I think she's an actual mindreader. Just as I'm thinking I should check in with Gina, she will email or text me. I consider myself fortunate to have her as my CASA advisor for so long.”
Al Marcus, an advocate since 2008, added, “What do you say about someone who is always there when you need her, is super competent, knowledgeable and does it all with a smile? It has been my privilege to know and work with Gina all these years.”
Whether attending court hearings, collaborating with CASA volunteers, or providing support to children in need, her unwavering dedication has made an indelible mark not only on the fabric of our organization, but the practice of child welfare in our communities. In a world where consistency and compassion are invaluable, Gina's tenure is testament to the power of advocacy and profound impact one person can make on the lives of vulnerable children.
Looking Ahead
Milestones serve as markers, as moments in a larger story – and it’s impossible to celebrate Gina’s without knowing the journey continues and the advocacy work is far from over. Countless children still await the guiding hand of a caring advocate, and the need for leaders like Gina has never been greater as we embrace the organization’s recent expansion to serve the vulnerable youth of Union County. Because Gina is leading those efforts, we are confident in our capacity to do so, and it will be done with grace, compassion, and quality.
So, here’s to Gina, a true champion for children. Amid our tremendous thanks and congratulations to her, we step up and stand alongside her, and reaffirm our commitment to the ongoing pursuit of a brighter, more just future for all children.