DANVILLE — A new fundraising campaign for a local children’s advocacy group allows patrons to give money without extra spending.

A website called www.givebackamerica.org links patrons to online shopping sites like target.com, 1800flowers.com, amazon.com, expedia.com and staples.com —and a percentage of the purchases will go to the local Court Appointed Special Advocates of Vermilion County.

The link can be accessed at the CASA web site, and shoppers who link to some 250 online retailers will automatically donate a percentage of their purchase to CASA.

CASA, which began in the county two years ago, has been supported by two $40,000 grants, which expire at the end of the current fiscal year June 30.

So far, the non-profit that advocates for children who are wards of the county court system has raised $55,000 of its $75,000 budget for next year.

The new web program could help make up for the remainder.

Shoppers don’t have to register or give out credit card numbers to the site.

“I just put it in my favorites list,” said Jane Dobbles, president of the CASA board.

“And you can get anything. People who are online shoppers can shop from any category — electronics, clothes, shoes, airline tickets, shoes, flowers – you name it.”

The Give Back program won’t expire, so shoppers can give money to CASA any time they can.

“It’s not for a limited time. We certainly are looking for ways of maintaining a steady revenue stream, because the need continues. … This is a really brilliant way to accomplish that goal,” she said.

Another benefit of the online program is that patrons who live outside Danville can give to the program, unlike other fund-raising events that have to take place in the area.

Dobbles and Heather Fox, executive director of CASA, hope local businesses that purchase supplies from online retailers will also link to the site.

“I think the really cool thing is if some of the businesses who order that way are willing to click through that website, it could be substantial. Two or three percent of things they order could really add up at a business level,” Fox said.

Fox said other revenue-generating efforts are also coming along.

CASA recently found out the program will get an $18,000 court improvement grant from the Illinois Supreme Court.

Fox said it’s difficult to set a goal for how much they hope the program raises.

“It’s hard to know what kind of returns it could possibly bring,” she said. “We’ve never done anything like this before.”

The advocacy group will also continue fundraisers like the hog roast set for Oct. 17 and collect individual donations.

Most of the money the group has raised for its next fiscal year has come from individual giving, Fox added.

For now, CASA’s future looks bright.

“Children absolutely need a voice in court. We have to make sure it works and we want to find a way to make that happen,” Fox said.



CLICK ON THIS

Go to http://www.giveback

america.com/charity.php?b=796 to link to the site that gives a percentage ofonline shopping receipts to Court-Appointed Special Advocates of Vermilion County. The link is also accessible by CASA’s website: http://www.

casavermilion.org/.