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Second 11Summits event strives to raise more funds for Scottsdale nonprofit

Hikers to complete 11Summits in 2 days to raise funds for CASA volunteers

Posted 3/12/20

On May 2 and 3 the 11Summits participants will conquer 11 of Arizona’s toughest peaks in just 48 hours to raise funds for local nonprofit, Voices for CASA Children, as well as Colorado CASA.

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Second 11Summits event strives to raise more funds for Scottsdale nonprofit

Hikers to complete 11Summits in 2 days to raise funds for CASA volunteers

Posted

On May 2 and 3 the 11Summits participants will conquer 11 of Arizona’s toughest peaks in just 48 hours to raise funds for local nonprofit, Voices for CASA Children, as well as Colorado CASA.

In the inaugural year of the event in 2019, the 11Summits team raised more than $96,000 for the Arizona and Colorado CASA volunteer programs with the funds going directly back to support CASA volunteers (Court Appointed Special Advocates).

These volunteers are assigned by the court to advocate for the best interests of foster children navigating the system.

The 11Summits journey first began when the creators Jim Steg and Kim Ferraro were introduced to each other and quickly became friends, according to a press release.

Ms. Ferraro had been a CASA volunteer for eight years, serving on three different cases. During that time, she acted as a voice for those children in the system, advocating on their behalf to the courts and acting in tandem with a caseworker to ensure their safety and essential needs were met.

“I was deeply touched by the role of a CASA volunteer and the important work they do,” Mr. Steg said in a prepared statement. “And it was equally heartbreaking to hear what some of these kids go through. I knew I had to help in some way to raise awareness and support such a valuable cause.”

Ms. Ferraro convinced Mr. Steg to utilize his mind, body and power to help kids in need. Mr. Steg, who was already an avid hiker and accomplished athlete, decided to use his hobby for good and tap into his potential in a purposeful way. He started recruiting other passionate and accomplished athletes to join him on his mission to raise funds and awareness for CASA volunteers.

With 38 hikers raising funds for this year’s event, Mr. Steg hopes to surpass last year’s record and raise at least $200,000. Each of the hikers have individual goals to raise $5,000 each, the press release stated. This is done through 11summits.com.

“We are so thankful to receive support from 11Summits for the second year in a row,” said Christine Slomski, the marketing and fund development manager for Scottsdale-based Voices for CASA Children.

“With their help, we are able to continue to recruit and train even more CASA volunteers to advocate for more foster youth in Maricopa County. Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers are crucial in the lives of foster youth; they provide a source of consistency and stability while ensuring their needs are met while living in out-of-home care.”

For more information about this event and how to sponsor the hikers, visit 11summits.com.