Theta’s National Philanthropy Loses Federal Grants

Kappa Alpha Theta’s national philanthropy, Court Appointed Special Advocates, lost its federal grants on Tuesday, along with around 365 grants canceled by the U.S. Justice Department, totaling $4.4 billion. 

Better known as CASA, the organization focuses on providing advocates for at-risk children, tackling issues such as child abuse and neglect. The grants, used for training volunteers, have been provided by the government for over 30 years.  

The loss of these federal grant awards, a part of recent broader federal cuts, impacts the operations of the organization, as well as more than 200,000 children involved in ongoing court proceedings, CASA said in a statement on its website. 

“Grants for programs that do not align with the administration’s priorities were rescinded but this Department of Justice will continue to ensure that services for victims are not impacted, and any recipient will have the ability to appeal and restore any grant if direct impact on victims can be thoroughly established,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement to Reuters.  

Members of Belmont University’s chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta have made posts on social media to spread awareness of the issue. 

“Those kids often don’t have anyone else to advocate for them except CASA’s volunteers,” said Sammy Wilson, Theta’s fundraising director. 

Both CASA’s national organization and its Nashville chapter have called for action, urging people to call their local representatives in support of the organization.  

“Just stress to them why it’s important to keep giving them funding and how damaging this could be,” said Fiona Clements, Theta’s service director.  

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This article was written by Nolan Russell