Volunteer Advocates for Alaska Foster Children

Friends of Alaska's Children in Care

Friends of Alaska's Children in Care

24th Annual Quilt Auction Results!

Friends of Alaska CASA held its first ever online event for its 24th annual quilt auction on Friday and Saturday, November 27 and 28, 2020.  There were 63 quilts donated by 61 talented quilters from Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, and Texas.  Nearly $22,500 was raised through the auctioning of quilts, selling of raffle tickets, and cash donations.

Once again, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous quilt donors and for members of our Alaska communities and beyond that braved the unknown, registered online, and bid on the quilted treasurers.  Holding the quilt auction online allowed for people throughout Alaska’s cities and villages, as well as from the Lower 48 states, to participate and support the children of Alaska and the Court Appointed Special Advocates.  We had bidders from Arizona, Delaware, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.

Anita Rosett, of Anchorage, held the winning ticket for the queen size “Northern Lights of Alaska” raffle quilt that was made by Sharon Hillstrom and machine quilted by Melanie Hancock.  Anita was so excited when she was called with the news that she had won the quilt.  She was at my house within less than 10 minutes to pick up the quilt and was utterly speechless by its beauty!

We’ll be back next year, on November 27, 2021, for the 25th Annual Quilt Auction.  It’s too early to determine whether we will be able to hold the event in person or whether it will be held online but, we promise you this, the photos will be better!

— Debby Hudson, Quilt Auction Organizer

23rd Annual Quilt Auction Results!

WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY!  Our 23rd Annual Silent Quilt Auction was held on November 30, 2019, at the University Center Mall in Anchorage and was a tremendous success.  A record number 240 stunning quilts were donated by 121 extraordinarily talented quilters throughout Alaska communities and from Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, and Washington.  Over $39,500 was raised through the auctioning of the quilts, raffle tickets, note card sales and cash donations.

Once again we were entertained by the lovely voices of Sally’s Kitchen, a group of dedicated women who have sung for us at all 23 quilt auctions.  This year we also heard from a group of three young girls, calling themselves “Broken Picks,” as they made their debut performance.  They were wonderful and we are looking forward to watching them grow and blossom and entertain us for years to come!

I think most in attendance would agree that the highlight of the day was the drawing of the winning raffle ticket.  This year’s raffle quilt, “Becky’s Heaven,” was one of the last quilts my sister and devoted CASA supporter, Becky Rudisill, made before she passed away in April, and it was generously and beautifully machine quilted by Debra Carney.  Michelle Rudisill, Becky’s daughter held the winning raffle ticket, and there wasn’t a dry eye to be seen!  Becky’s presence was definitely felt throughout the day.

We are deeply indebted to the individuals in our surrounding communities who attended the auction this year and to the following businesses and entities for their tremendous support:  Alaska Event Services, Alaska Home Magazine, Dimond High School JROTC, Great Originals, Just Sew, Seams Like Home, Sylvia’s Quilt Depot, Midtown Mall, The Quilt Cache, The Quilt Tree, Twisted Sisters Quilty Pleasures, University Center Mall, and Valley Quilters Guild.

To our “Stars of the Event”, the amazingly gifted generous quilters, we offer our overwhelming gratitude.

We also offer our heartfelt thanks to these dedicated and awesome individuals for their help before, during, and after the auction!

We look forward to seeing you all again next year on Saturday, November 28, 2020, at the University Center Mall for our 24th Annual Silent Quilt Auction!

With Enormous Gratitude,

Debby Hudson, Auction Organizer

          CLICK HERE to view the quilt auction photo gallery!  🙂

23rd Annual Silent Quilt Auction

Friends of Alaska CASA is gearing up for its 23rd Annual Silent Quilt Auction!

Mark your calendar:  SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location:  University Center Mall, 3800 Old Seward Highway, Anchorage, AK

Pass the word and invite your family and friends!

The Silent Quilt Auction will consist of more than 175 quilts of all shapes, sizes, and themes created and donated by incredibly generous quilters throughout Alaska and the Lower 48.  A special highlight of this year’s auction is the queen-sized raffle quilt, Becky’s Heaven, created by our beloved Becky Rudisill who passed in April 2019.  The machine quilting on this gorgeous piece of art was created by Debra Carney.

At this year’s event, we will also honor Becky with the official roll-out of the “Becky Rudisill Educational Scholarship”.   Friends of Alaska CASA will award $1,000 annually towards tuition, housing, or books, at an Alaska domiciled trade school, college, or university, for students in state or tribal custody .

Raffle tickets are on sale now and can also be purchased during the Silent Auction.  The price is $5 per ticket, or $20 for five.  The drawing will be held at 3:00 p.m.  The winner does NOT have to be present to win!

If you would like to donate a quilt, or know other quilters who would like to donate, please download and submit this Quilt Donation Form, along with your quilt, by noon November 16, 2019.  Quilts may be dropped off at the following locations:

Anchorage:  The Quilt Tree and Seams Like Home

Eagle River:  The Quilt Cache and Twisted Sisters

Wasilla:  Sylvia’s Quilt Depot

Palmer:  Just Sew

Fairbanks:  Contact Anne Udry at (907) 451-2812 or anne.udry@alaska.gov

To obtain your raffle tickets, or if you have any questions, please contact Debby Hudson at DebbyHudson@gci.net or (907) 337-7990.

Kathy Bates, You Will Be Missed

It is with great sorrow that we share the news of the passing of
one of Friends of Alaska CASA’s most creative and generous quilters.
Kathy Bates of Great Falls, Montana, passed away a few days prior to
this years’ quilt auction.>> Read More

Friends of Alaska CASA 22nd Annual Silent Quilt Auction

Friends of Alaska CASA held its 22nd Annual Silent Quilt Auction at the University Center Mall in Anchorage on November 24, 2018. We are honored to have received 204 quilted items from 101 quilters throughout Alaska and from Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Montana and Washington. Over $40,000 was raised through the sale of quilts, raffle tickets, cards and totes, and cash donations!>> Read More

Friends of Alaska CASA 21st Annual Silent Quilt Auction

Friends of Alaska CASA held its 21st Annual Silent Quilt Auction at the University Center on November 25, 2017. We are tremendously grateful for the 111 extraordinarily talented and generous quilters from Anchorage, Bethel, Big Lake, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Palmer, Unalaska, Wasilla and Willow, as well as quilters from Arizona, Colorado, Montana, and Washington, who donated a record-number 227 quilted treasures. Nearly $29,950 was raised through the sale of the quilts, raffle tickets, and cash donations!>> Read More

Become a FACC member!

Since 1991, Friends of Alaska’s Children in Care (FACC) has supported those whose mission it is to protect vulnerable children. As FACC nears its third decade we open a new chapter. We are now accepting applications for associate membership. By becoming a membership organization FACC will strengthen and deepen its existing relationships with the communities we serve and the community-at-large. Do you share our commitment to protect vulnerable children and families? Interested in court appointed special advocacy or supporting their work? Complete our FACC Associate Member Application  and return to membership [at] friendsofalaskacasa [dot] org.

Youth Editorial: Keep Moving Forward

Michael By Michael Schwietert

Alone. Confused. Unorganized. These are words that describe my time in the foster care system. I was placed in foster care at the age of 3 and reunited with my mother at 5. During the time away from my mother, I was able to see things from a different point of view, from a really unstable point of view. I was able to see many different homes from many different standpoints, and it was then I realized that I was my own best friend. There were never adults to share much time with me. Other youth in each home looked at me differently, and many were thrown off by my skin color. I became self-reliant and trained myself to go through the motions, home after home.>> Read More

Thanks to Friends of Alaska’s Children in Care for your generosity in helping me with mini grants for my kids.  I am so grateful that you and the others are available to help when we have special needs that OCS and other sources can’t fill for our foster youth. We so appreciated the help in getting what this child needed.  This resource is invaluable to the foster youth we represent and we so appreciate you.  Thank you so much.

Gayle W – CASA Volunteer