Victoria Furman is a champion among CASA Mental Health’s network of volunteers.
She has been a volunteer with CASA for more than two years, starting her journey in February 2024. Victoria can be found volunteering at almost every CASA signature and community engagement event, including the CASA Golf Classic Edmonton, CASA Gala and McNally High School bikeathon.
Through these events Victoria has worked closely with Candace Fehr, Philanthropy Officer, Community Fundraising, who says Victoria will always bring her “A game.”
“She is eager to help in any manner asked of her. She is always smiling and puts forth maximum effort in everything she does. In short, Victoria is a CASA champion, through and through! Victoria is an incredible person with a huge community heart,” says Candace.
Victoria has volunteered for numerous other opportunities, including selling 50/50 raffle tickets at Oilers games where CASA has been a beneficiary, assisting with assembly and inventory of first aid and medical kits, Children’s Day Program Halloween activities and toy and therapeutic device inventory and management.
What motivated you to get involved as a CASA volunteer?
I took psychology in university and fell in love with it, and I wanted to help people and find a career. Learning about CASA, I thought it would be a great place to volunteer. I like the variety of opportunities CASA has to offer.
What has been your favourite part of volunteering with CASA?
I think for me, it’s more of the moments. Like at an Edmonton Elks game, people came up and said how they were impacted by CASA and how it made their lives a lot better. I thought that was very touching to know that it’s affected people.
I also love meeting new people and volunteering has helped me go to events I wouldn’t go to or have heard of if it weren’t for CASA. It’s lots of fun to do and try different things.
With so many great organizations to support, why should others choose to support CASA?
There are many different opportunities, and you choose when you go. I’ve volunteered before where I had to commit to a kind of schedule to make it work. But at CASA, you can browse and find what you want to do that works for you.
And again, those moments where people come up to say, “CASA changed my life,” then you know there’s a difference being made from this organization.
How do you take care of your mental health?
I like to go for walks and listen to music. Doing puzzles (is) always fun and I like to stay close with my family and volunteering helps.
For more information on becoming a volunteer like Victoria, visit casamentalhealth.org/volunteer.
