The CASA Connection
Learn more about what’s going on at CASA Project Worcester County, in our Central MA communities, and with our partners by reading our monthly blog! Have a topic you’d like us to write about or want to be considered for a featured spot? Email communications@thecasaproject.org!
Interested in becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate? Read our Volunteer Spotlights to learn more about our incredible team of CASA volunteers and their life-changing impacts.
Name
Mark Vaillancourt
How long have you been a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)?
1.5 years
What inspired you to become a CASA volunteer?
A sincere desire to have a positive impact on the lives of children facing challenging situations through no fault of their own. I learned about CASA Project Worcester County through a friend of mine, and it sounded like a great fit.
What do you want our supporters to know about your background?
I am a Navy veteran, and after 25 years of private sector leadership in the High-Tech field, I retired in 2024. It was an important priority for me to apply my experience and management skills to a worthwhile project, giving back some of the good fortune I have had.
What are your interests and favorite hobbies?
I am primarily focused on sharing time with my family now. I traveled a lot for work and am making up for lost time. I have two children and four grandchildren, as well as my brothers, sister, nieces, and nephews, all of whom I enjoy spending time with. When not taking in live music and theater, you are likely to find me on a golf course.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our community?
In the short time I have had the privilege of working with CASA, I have been struck by the wealth of talented people involved in the organization. Full of empathy and energy, the CASA staff and volunteer advocates work in their own way to change lives for the better, one child at a time. It is rewarding to engage with the broad circle of contacts who support the children I advocate for on my assigned cases. Whether I am collaborating with DCF social workers, communicating with teachers, school counselors, physicians, or working with foster parents to support the children on their case, I always feel they share the same commitment to the children’s well-being I feel.
Learn more about getting involved:
