CASA Essex Honored with the Helen D. Schwartz Memorial Crystal Award

CASA for Children of Essex County is deeply honored to have been selected as the recipient of the Helen D. Schwartz Memorial Crystal Award, a prestigious recognition created in 1987 by the National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section (NCJW/Essex). This award is rooted in NCJW’s mission: the belief that voluntary citizen action is vital to shaping responsible social policy and building programs that truly meet human needs. It is presented to an individual, agency, or corporation that has made a lasting impact in Essex County and exemplifies NCJW’s values through vision, service, and community leadership.

As the 2025 recipient, the award holds special significance for CASA Essex, as NCJW was instrumental as one of the two founding partners of our organization nearly 40 years ago. From our earliest days, NCJW/Essex leaders recognized the urgent need for trained community volunteers to advocate for children in foster care—ensuring their voices would be heard and their needs addressed. To receive this award during our 40th anniversary year is both a profound honor and a full-circle moment in our history.

This recognition affirms not only the impact of CASA Essex’s work, but also the enduring partnership with NCJW and the shared commitment to justice, equity, and opportunity for all children in our community. We are grateful for this honor and celebrate it as a tribute to our past, our present, and our vision for the decades ahead.