New Ohio License Plate Celebrates Kids
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 3, 2007 -- Ohio drivers will now see three smiling faces greeting them from the road courtesy of the new Celebrate Kids Ohio license plate. Today, the Ohio Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association introduced their new specialty license plate. Like the previous design, this new plate funds programs that help protect abused and neglected children in the court system.
"We are very excited about the release of the new Celebrate Kids plate," says Jackie Wilson, Executive Director of the Ohio CASA/GAL Association. "I think the new design is attractive and colorful. I especially like that the children are looking out from the shape of the state of Ohio. This says to me that Ohio's children are all of our children and are our responsibility."
"This new plate is adorable," says Terri Best of Wooster. "I will proudly display the Celebrate Kids plate on my car, because I know I am contributing to children in need here in Ohio." "I will most likely purchase a new plate," says Joanna Neumann of Centerville. "I believe it's a good thing to support all of Ohio's kids."
Since the plates original release nearly nine years ago, more than 120,000 Celebrate Kids plates have been sold. In just the last year alone, funds raised from the sale of the plates have enabled the Association to help serve more than 7,661 children in 38 counties, and have given support to 1,920 volunteers.
The first specialty license plate created to benefit a social service agency, the Celebrate Kids license plate was introduced in 1998 to obtain funds for the Ohio CASA/GAL Association which supports programs that advocate for abused and neglected children throughout Ohio.
Now is the general public's opportunity to help make a difference. By purchasing the new version of the Celebrate Kids plate design, plate owners are making a tax-deductible donation to help ensure that abused and neglected children throughout Ohio have a voice in the court process.
To purchase a new CASA Celebrate Kids license plate, visit the 'special plates link' at (http://www.oplates.com/), call 1-888-PLATES3, or stop by your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Fifteen dollars of each purchase directly benefits the Ohio CASA/GAL Association.
The Ohio CASA/GAL Association (http://www.ohiocasa.org/) was established in 1993 to support local Ohio CASA/GAL programs. The Association provides technical assistance to local CASA/GAL programs and training programs to CASA/GAL volunteers. Court Appointed Special Advocates serve and protect the best interest of the child in court cases involving child abuse and neglect. These trained community volunteers are appointed by the judge to serve as the CASA/GAL for the duration of the court process. CASA/GAL volunteers shepherd the child through the maze of the system to help the court ensure that each child finds a safe and permanent home.
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