GREENFIELD — Two Hancock County residents were recognized Monday with awards from the East Central Indiana Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Hancock County Sheriff’s Department employee Bridget Foy received the Judge Jack L. Brinkman Child Advocate Award, while CASA volunteer Ginny Donovan was named Hancock County’s volunteer of the year.
Foy, who specializes in sex crimes cases at the Sheriff’s Department, is the board president of Zoey’s Place, also called the Hancock County Child Advocacy Center. The project recently found a home on North Street and will give investigators of child abuse and neglect cases a friendly, welcoming place to talk to the children involved.
Foy said she was surprised but pleased to be nominated for the Child Advocate Award by CASA case manager and volunteer trainer Marciann McClarnon Miller.
“I’m actually very honored that (Miller) thought enough of my work to do that,” she said.
Miller said Foy “single-handedly breathed life” into the Zoey’s Place project. Working with Foy, she said, is always an inspiring experience.
“She has so much energy and such a positive attitude,” Miller said.
The Brinkman Child Advocate Award is named for a Madison County judge who founded the CASA program there and helped establish the advocacy initiative in the area.
Miller also nominated Donovan as the county’s volunteer of the year. As a court-appointed special advocate, Donovan meets with children involved in abuse and neglect court cases to hear their stories, gather information on what would be in their best interest and make recommendations to a judge.
Donovan said she was surprised to receive the recognition and pointed out that all of the county’s CASA volunteers do good work. A retired court reporter, she has been working as a CASA volunteer for about three years and said the work gives her the opportunity to use her familiarity with court procedures for a good cause.
“I appreciate the honor. I do what I can to help the organization and my kids,” Donovan said.
Miller said Donovan goes above and beyond for the children she represents in court.
“Jenny always works hard to create, develop and maintain a healthy rapport with all the children she represents,” Miller said.