Local businesses raise awareness for foster children in TV PSA

Published 12:01 am Saturday, February 17, 2018

Beginning next week, local business owners and community leaders will be featured on a 60-second television public safety announcement, raising their voices together to speak up for local foster children.

The PSA will air on several major networks over the next two months, and participants will speak on the need for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers to support and advocate for Whitfield and Murray county children in foster care. Murray/Whitfield CASA, a program of Family Support Council Inc., trains volunteers from the community to serve in the local Juvenile Court as Court Appointed Special Advocates, who mentor local foster children, investigate their cases and advocate for their best interests during court proceedings.

The PSA production was funded entirely by the local community members featured in the spot: Lynn Laughter, chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioenrs; state Sen. Chuck Payne, R-Dalton; family law attorney Katie O’Gwin; Kristie Gazaway of JBM Office Solutions; Octavio Perez of Family Support Council’s executive board; Erin Widner of Georgia HOPE; Eddie Brooker of North Georgia Toyota; and James Lesslie of Engineered Floors. The PSA is produced by Mike Stephenson and was shot in Dalton.