Mission
The mission of the Mecklenburg Guardian ad Litem Advocacy Foundation is to: raise community awareness about the issue of child abuse and neglect in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region, by way of, promoting the Guardian ad Litem program, assisting with volunteer recruitment, and supporting the work of the Guardian ad Litem volunteers.
Vision
Our vision is for the Foundation to serve the needs of the GAL volunteers, the child clients they serve, and others affected by the GAL program. The Foundation will support the volunteers through providing them with educational opportunities, and through promoting the GAL Program. The Foundation will initiate government advocacy efforts to affect public policy issues related to the GAL Program. The Foundation will utilize relevant local, state and national resources to develop partnerships and resources that would aid in the work of the GAL volunteers. The Foundation will establish an office facility which will accommodate the Foundation’s program functions and house a full complement of management, fundraising and programming staff. It will be governed by a strong board and have a diverse revenue stream for the funding of our mission.
History
In 2004, a group of Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Volunteers realized there was a need for more community awareness and resources for children in the foster care and court system. Thus the group took the initiative to form a foundation which would serve to bridge some of the gaps in the children’s care through supporting the GAL volunteers. Consequently, the Mecklenburg Guardian ad Litem Advocacy (GALA) Foundation was established in April of 2005. The first two fundraisers they coordinated were in conjunction with the Charlotte Checkers. They also built partnerships with the Youth and Family Services of the Department of Social Services, the Council for Children’s Rights and the Junior League of Charlotte to assist in the coordination of the Annual Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Walk which began in April 2006.
