CASA of the Brazos Valley Foundation

The endowment fund established by the CASA of the Brazos Valley Foundation works to provide funding in perpetuity for Voices for Children, Inc. There are many ways to give – just a few are outlined below.​​ Leave a legacy of hope for local children in foster care.

Planned Giving

Below is a summary of some common planned giving options. These are not offered as professional tax or legal advice and may not apply in all cases. Please consult your tax, legal and financial advisors about your specific situation.

Bequests

A bequest through a Will is the most common type of planned gift and does not draw on assets during a donor’s lifetime. Bequests can be estate distributions of cash, securities, real estate, or personal property. Types of bequests include a percentage bequest, a fixed-dollar bequest, a residual bequest, and a contingent bequest. Important estate tax savings may result from a bequest. Contact us for suggested bequest language.

Retirement Plans

Donors may consider making Voices for Children a beneficiary of a percentage of their pre-tax qualified retirement plan, such as an Individual Retirement Account, 401k, 403b, or Thrift Savings Plan to name a few. This is done via a beneficiary designation form. These pre-tax assets are received by a qualified non-profit free from income tax liability, leaving other tax-friendly assets available to pass along to your family and other heirs. Contact us for the needed information to put on the beneficiary designation form.

Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTS)

CRTs allow a donor to make a gift to Voices for Children while at the same time achieving several other financial objectives. When you create a CRT, you irrevocably transfer money, securities, real estate, or other assets to a trust that will then pay you an income for life or for a period of years. If you wish, the trust also can pay an income to another beneficiary. At the death of the surviving beneficiary, the remaining principal in the trust goes to Voices for Children. Several types of CRTs allow the donor to tailor their gifts to best serve their own needs.

Life Insurance

Many donors choose to give life insurance policies to the Foundation either as an immediate gift or as a provision upon their passing. This can be an easy way to make a gift to the Voices for Children without revising your will and may have advantageous estate tax consequences. Donors may make Voices for Children either a beneficiary or an owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Donors who consider giving life insurance policies do so because they have no heirs or because they already have made provisions for beneficiaries through other financial vehicles. Contact us for the information to put on the beneficiary designation form.

About the Foundation

The CASA of the Brazos Valley Foundation is a nonprofit corporation formed to raise money and provide financial support for the charitable programs and advocacy for children in the child welfare system due to abuse and/or neglect provided by Voices for Children – CASA, a nonprofit corporation recognized as tax-exempt under internal revenue code chapter 501(c)3 TIN 74-2970407.

To discuss planned giving opportunities or for additional information, please contact the Foundation by clicking the button below to send an email!

Jan & Gary Barnett Scholarship Fund

The Jan & Gary Barnett Scholarship Fund was established in 2016 in memory of Gary Barnett, a former CASA volunteer and VFC board member. Later renamed to honor Jan Barnett, the fund reflects their lifelong commitment to helping young people succeed.

Both Jan and Gary overcame early hardships through education and the support of others. They dedicated their lives to serving youth through the church, school, and community. After retiring to Bryan/College Station, they became strong supporters of Voices for Children.

The scholarship provides support for youth in foster care who are graduating high school, completing a GED, or recently aged out of care. Funds may be used for college or vocational training. Applications are available through the youth’s caseworker, school counselor, or CASA Advocate, with support from VFC throughout the process.

Bonnie Wikse Fund

The Bonnie Wikse Fund supports ongoing training for CASA volunteers, helping them provide informed, high-quality advocacy for children in foster care.

Bonnie Wikse was a lifelong educator and child advocate. After retiring from teaching, she became a CASA and made a lasting impact on the children she served. She was honored with the Voices for Children Advocate of the Year Award, which now bears her name.

Bonnie believed continuing education was essential to effective advocacy. Her family established this fund in her memory to ensure volunteers have access to the training and resources needed to serve children with confidence and care.