FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2020
CONTACT: Gustavo Caraveo | Gustavo@childadvocatessv.org
MILPITAS, CA – Child Advocates of Silicon Valley was honored to present the 2020 Walter “Skip” Shaw Inspiration Award to Michael O’ Leary for his philanthropic work to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in our community on November 2, 2020 at the Golf “FORE” Foster Kids 15th Annual Golf Classic.
“We are exceedingly grateful that Michael has chosen to share his considerable talents, energy and resources to support our agency,” said Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO of Child Advocates. “Michael’s optimism married with his no-nonsense style makes each of us dig a little deeper, give a little more and push a little harder. Michael is an inspiration to us all and well deserving of this award.”
During his 30+ year career in senior level management positions at high technology companies, O’ Leary found the time to start a program called Connected for Life. Inspired by O’ Leary’s own experience as a foster parent, the program was developed to serve older youth in foster care and help them flourish by providing a long term committed mentoring relationship and develop essential life skills.
O’ Leary’s development of the Connected for Life program led him to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer from 2004 to 2007 to a 14-year-old male youth. He then joined the Board of Directors of Child Advocates of Silicon Valley in 2013 and he quickly became the Board’s liaison and co-chair of the Golf “FORE” Foster Kids Annual Golf Classic.
The Golf “FORE” Foster Kids Annual Golf Classic was started in 2005 and has raised over $3 million to support foster youth and children in Santa Clara County. During the annual event, Child Advocates honors a member of the community with the Walter “Skip” Shaw Inspiration Award.
The Walter “Skip” Shaw Inspiration Award, was named after the man who began the Golf “FORE” Foster Kids event and who gave selflessly to Child Advocates. The award was created to recognize an individual who demonstrates generosity of spirit and commitment to community.
About Michael O’ Leary
Michael O’Leary is a consultant with over 25+ years’ experience in senior level management positions at high-technology companies. For the past 12 years Michael has been involved with At-Risk youth as a foster parent, a CASA advocate, a board member for a domestic violence shelter, a board member at Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the funder of a partial college scholarship through the Boys & Girls Club.
About Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley is an independent nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization created in 1986. We serve children aged birth to 21 years old who are placed in the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System for having experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. We are responsible for operating the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in Santa Clara County according to the national guidelines, which entails recruiting, training and supporting CASA Volunteers. We are an affiliate of the National CASA Association. To learn more, please visit ChildAdvocatesSV.org.
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