Casey Feldman Foundation Volunteer Day of Service 2018

November 1st, 2018

It was another beautiful, annual Day of Service to honor Casey’s memory on the 9th anniversary (July 17th) of her death. A group of about 45 friends, family and supporters gathered at Providence Animal Center in Media, PA where so many of the Feldman family pets have been adopted throughout the years. Service projects included laying wood chips on the dog trail, deep cleaning the crates in the temporary dog space, emptying the donation trailer, reorganizing the food shed and breaking down and reassembling shelving. We know that Casey was with us in spirit and grateful for all who showed up to benefit the many dogs and cats at the Center who are waiting for their forever homes. The Feldman family is deeply grateful for all of the love and support received!

Click here to view all of the photos from the day. 

Click here to view the annual photo galleries from our Day of Service since 2010. 

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Spay Day and Mr. Handsome – “Yes, Mom and Dad, It’s Me!”

June 22nd, 2018

By Dianne Anderson*

Mr. Handsome managed to find this spot right away!

I grieve the loss of Casey every day, but through our Foundation work, find some solace. We are keeping Casey’s memory alive and are carrying on her legacy through our many programs and scholarships, including those that honor Casey’s love of animals.  It’s all bittersweet, since we are doing these things because Casey is no longer with us.  What I always long for is a sign that Casey’s spirit is alive and that perhaps, she is communicating with us. That sign came Wednesday at our Foundation sponsored Spay Day at Providence Animal Center (Providence AC) in Media.

It was the third spay event which our Foundation had sponsored and the second at Providence AC. Through our Foundation subsidy, cat owners were able to get their cats spayed and neutered for just $15. The event booked up at 80 cats within a few days of when we had announced it on social media.  We knew that Casey would be pleased with the success of the event and that we were working with Providence AC (the former Delaware County SPCA),  where so many of our family pets had been adopted.

It was great to see and greet the many cat owners with their carriers in tow at 9 am when the doors opened. Joel (my husband and Casey’s dad) and I also enjoyed seeing the staff at Providence whom we have come to know and love. We were given an updated tour of the facility and were impressed with the progress of the construction since we had last been there in July 2017 for Casey’s Day of Service.  We made a brief but warm stopover with the surgery staff and then visited the kennels, stopping to see Ralphie, who was the most recent dog occupying the kennel which we had been sponsoring in Casey’s memory.  After that, we went to one of our favorite places, the cat room, just to pay a call and admire the many beautiful kitties waiting to be adopted.

There were 50 or so cats and kittens and I loved looking at them all. They had a dozen or more adorable kittens, one more beautiful than the next. I asked to hold one kitten in particular that had lovely gray and black markings. He purred when I picked him up and I asked the staff his name. The response caused Joel and I to drop our jaws in disbelief. His name was “Mr. Handsome”!  Mr. Handsome was the name of Casey’s horse!  My instantaneous thought was that we were receiving a communication from Casey and that clearly, this 2 pound Mr. Handsome was destined to be ours. Casey was in fact with us and shouting, “Yes, Mom and Dad, it’s me!”

Was this all simply a coincidence? Was I grasping at straws trying to believe that I had evidence that Casey’s spirit was alive? I choose not to attempt to weigh the evidence one way or the other. In fact, there is no rational answer as we know it.  Neither I nor anyone will know what happens to the soul upon the death of the body until we too, leave this earth.

In the meantime, I will find solace in our experience in the cat room and adoption of Mr. Handsome, feeling that it was meant to be. I’ll enjoy our rambunctious, little kitty and know that Casey too, would have found great joy in this new addition to our family.

Casey (age 13) with Mr. Handsome

Joel and I in the cat room with Mr. Handsome

 

View the photos from our Spay Day.

Join us when we return to Providence AC on July 15 for a Day of Service to honor Casey’s memory.

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Dianne and Casey, Christmas 2006

*Dianne Anderson  is the mother of the late Casey Feldman and co-founder of The Casey Feldman Foundation.

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Foundation Sponsored Cat Spay Day

June 22nd, 2018

It was another successful Casey Feldman Foundation Cat Spay Day at Providence Animal Center (Providence AC)  in Media, Pa on June 20th! Through our Foundation subsidy, eighty cats were spayed and neutered at a cost to the owners of just $15. This was the third Spay Day that our Foundation has sponsored and the second at Providence AC. The event booked up so quickly after it was announced on social media that Providence AC added a second Cat Spay Day for July 18th!

Casey’s parents saw it as a sign from Casey when they visited the cat room and picked up a kitten to  hold.  His name was Mr. Handsome – the same name as Casey’s horse! Read Dianne’s post here.

Please join us when we return to Providence AC for our Day of Service on July 15th to honor Casey’s memory! View the details here.


Casey’s parents adopted a kitty on the spot. His name was Mr. Handsome – the same name as Casey’s horse!

Ralphie, who currently occupies the Foundation sponsored kennel

 

 

 

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Foundation Awards Greater Philadelphia Cappies Scholarship

June 17th, 2018

Xandra Coleman (right) performing in Phoenixville High School’s production of Radium Girls

The Casey Feldman Foundation is proud to have awarded its annual  Cappies Scholarship* to Xandra Coleman from Phoenixville High School! The announcement was made at the annual Greater Philadelphia Cappies Gala, which is a Tonys-like awards show celebrating the end of another successful season of high school theater in the Greater Philadelphia region. In addition to her involvement in theater, writing and a multitude of activities, it was Xandra’s passion for service work that caught the eye of the Foundation in awarding the scholarship that bears Casey’s name.

Xandra was nominated for the Foundation scholarship by Christine Tavani, German and Theatre Arts Teacher at Phoenixville High School in a recommendation which follows:

Xandra is a senior at Phoenixville Area High School. Throughout the last four years, she was completely involved in what the High School had to offer:  Theater Guild, theater productions, marching band, jazz band, National Honors Society, Academic Team, and, of course, Cappies. In the community at large, she worked with the Camphill Community involving adults with mental disabilities and has picked up marathon running.  She has cataloged over 4,000 hours in extracurricular activities and 1,500 hours of volunteer work in addition to holding down a job and maintaining a high academic standard. The plethora of activities certainly permits for a sturdy college resume, but her involvement is not at all about strengthening her biography, but strikes closer to her desire to grow through experience, show compassion for her community, and be committed to bolstering the people around her.

Due to her passion for service work, she has taken advantage of the opportunities to tutor local kids, help run school events, fundraise for charities, and – her personal favorite – develop relationships with the people in the Camphill Community in Kimberton.  The villagers of Camphill can have a wide range of developmental delays from autism to Down’s Syndrome, but each of them has a unique range of skills and a delightful personality. The enriching atmosphere causes Xandra to look forward to volunteering in their sustainable community each summer. However, the service project she is most proud of comes in the form of Suicide Prevention Trainings for youth. In her high school career, she has unfortunately recognized the desperate need for proper suicide prevention training for students. Therefore, in her senior year she made the effort to develop and present trainings to local youth ages twelve to eighteen as part of her senior service project for school.

After three years of dedicated involvement with her school activities, in her senior year she was also chosen for numerous leadership positions including Theater Guild Leader, Band President, National Honors Society Parliamentarian, Marching Band Section Leader, along with Lead Cappie. Xandra strived for these positions not for the status, but for the opportunity to grow and support the organizations she has come love. Many of her classmates have witnessed her tireless work ethic which includes reading textbooks on the bus rides to events, finishing homework in those five minute intervals before a rehearsal starts, and racing back and forth to club meetings. As a result of her efforts, she has been honored in being awarded the National School Marching Award and Student of the Month, winning the Martin Luther King Jr Expressions Contest for her essay, and having her Cappie reviews published.  There is no doubt that she has given her all to the Phoenixville community.

She will be spending this following year living with a host family in Senegal, learning a new language and culture, doing service work in the form of an apprenticeship with a local organization, and earning college credit. She hopes this will foster a matured world view as she pursues a major in international affairs and environmental studies with the hope of a future career with the United Nations. She credits her experiences with the Cappies program for developing her voice as a writer, a voice which will continue to speak as she blogs about her experiences abroad, writes essays for colleges, and, one day, as she represents our country in the global community.

Congratulations Xandra and thank you Christine Tavani for nominating such an outstanding student!

Xandra Coleman working with area youth

Casey’s parents, Dianne Anderson and Joel Feldman, announcing Xandra Coleman as the Casey Feldman Foundation Cappies Scholarship recipient

Casey (red) and the entire cast of Springfield High School’s Odd Couple were among the many memorial photos displayed as the Foundation scholarship was being announced

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*Casey was involved in every high school theater production at Springfield High School (SHS) from her sophomore year through graduation. She was the lead critic from SHS for the Cappies, with reviews published in The Philadelphia Inquirer and as well as in local papers. In 2006 Casey accepted the Cappie award for the entire SHS cast of the Odd Couple which won best play. Casey was also nominated for a Cappie herself for her role in that production as Gwendolyn Pigeon.

View all of the prior Foundation articles on the Cappies and its scholarship recipients.

 

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Join Us On July 15th for our Annual Day of Service in Honor of Casey

June 15th, 2018

Casey and her beloved Nikki

This July 17th will mark nine years since Casey Feldman was killed by a distracted driver. Every year around the time of Casey’s “Angelversary”, we honor her memory by inviting family, friends and supporters to gather for a day of volunteer service. This year’s Day of Service has been scheduled for the second year in a row at Providence Animal Center, 555 Sandy Bank Road in Media, PA and will take place on Sunday, July 15th from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Snacks, drinks and lunch will be provided. Service activities will include ground maintenance and volunteers are asked to bring gardening gloves, hand tools and any power tools such as weed whackers, blowers and hedge trimmers. All are welcome to join us as we honor Casey’s memory and her love of animals on this special day of community service.

As an animal lover, Casey was a huge supporter of shelters and adoption of pets. Providence Animal Center is a no-kill shelter and was the former Delaware County SPCA. Many of the Feldman family pets were adopted there. In 2017, Providence AC adopted a record 4,002 cats and dogs into forever homes. They also prevent future pet overpopulation through community programs including low-cost public veterinary and behavioral services, humane law enforcement and education and pet food pantries.

In addition to the Day of Service, the Casey Feldman Foundation has supported the Center through its sponsorship of a cat Spay Day for the second year in a row as well as its sponsorship of a kennel.

Note: Parking is limited so volunteers are encouraged to carpool. 

RSVP by Wednesday, July 11th by email to dianneanderson@caseyfeldmanfoundation.org or text or call Dianne Anderson at 610-659-6995. We need a headcount in advance for food and for scheduling projects!

If you cannot attend, consider donating to the Casey Feldman Foundation.

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View all of the photos from our 2017 Day of Service at Providence AC

Read the July 2017 Providence AC blog article, The Casey Feldman Foundation’s Day of Service

Matt Thornton and his mother, Betty, washing tables at the 2017 Day of Service at Providence AC

Springfield High School alumni including Ericha Mary Grace, Emilee Rose Grace, Stephanie Eklund and Bridget Clawson with Casey’s parents, Joel Feldman & Dianne Anderson at the 2017 Day of Service

Rachael and Samantha Kemmey working on trail maintenance at last year’s Day of Service

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My Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans – A Rewarding and Unforgettable Experience

June 5th, 2018

By Tim Inthavong*

My fellow CU volunteers and I while working with Common Ground Relief

There are significant moments that change a person’s life and how they view the world, and my Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans was an unforgettable experience that I will remember forever. I am truly grateful to the Casey Feldman Foundation for funding my trip with a scholarship stipend which enabled me to volunteer to help a community and environment in need.

At the outset, my fellow volunteer students and I from the University of Colorado Boulder worked with the nonprofit, Common Ground Relief  headquartered in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Founded initially in 2005 to provide disaster relief following Hurricane Katrina, Common Ground has since revised it’s mission to reflect a forward-looking focus to restore and preserve Louisiana’s disappearing coastal wetlands. Wetlands are crucial to prevent flooding since they hold water much like a sponge, helping to keep river waters normal, and slowly releasing water when levels are low. In addition to many other benefits, the wetlands provide a habitat for a diverse group of wildlife.

After being introduced to the environmental issues affecting the Lower Ninth Ward community due to Hurricane Katrina, our group worked at a plant nursery where we watered and removed weeds from bull grasses that would be used to restore the wetlands. My favorite and most rewarding  experience was then actually planting the bull grasses onto the wetland floor.

In the wetlands where we worked to plant bull grasses

At first, I felt uncomfortable and was in fact, very nervous to physically plant them. I worried about the difficulty in moving through all of the thick algae and the uncertainty as to how deep I was swimming. I continued however, and planted the grasses. I felt great satisfaction afterwards in knowing that I had contributed to helping to restore the wetlands and mitigate the effects of a future hurricane on the people of New Orleans. The experience had another strong impact on me as well, in that it served as a learning opportunity.  I realized that it’s okay to be scared in a new and uncomfortable situation and that by proceeding in the face of it, I can conquer that fear.

My group also performed volunteer work at Crevasse 22, an indoor and outdoor art exhibit with an ecological theme.  It sits in a natural area of forests and marshes and contains a deep lake, created by a crevasse, or breach in the levee in 1922.  It is steps away from the Mississippi River and borders St. Bernard State Park. Our work there was to uproot and get rid of  invasive plants damaging the natural habitat of wildlife. This service that was done was the most difficult, but it was extremely rewarding to know that our work was supporting a safe environment for animals to live and grow their population. I thought of Casey Feldman and her love of animals and how my work there was made possible through the Foundation established in her memory. It was deeply gratifying knowing that I was honoring and continuing her legacy.

My Alternative Spring Break trip also afforded me the opportunity to create and build new relationships.  My group and I traveled together in a van for 40 hours round-trip from Boulder, Colorado and lived and worked together the entire week. I did not know any of my fellow volunteers when the trip began, but, by the end of the week, I had 15 close friends  –  David Ruin, Julia Book, Tyler Ennis, Danya Arie, Diantha McAllister, Elise Warnock, Emma Blanken, Feben Kassahun, Hiba Abdali, Jose Canizares, Julia Smith, Maggie Hearn, Marissa Kelly, Mohammed, Pujan Tandukar, Vladimir Brizuela. Without them, the service week would not have been as enriching an experience.

I came into this trip far from my community in Westminster, Colorado not knowing much about the environmental issues facing the people of New Orleans and it’s wildlife habitat. But, by at the end of the week, I had gained so much knowledge about the issues facing the people of Louisiana 12 years after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation.

As I get older and look back at this trip, I can say “I really made in impact on others.”  It makes me smile to know that I made a difference through an experience that I was able to share with others. Above the clouds, I picture Casey Feldman smiling too.

On the site of Crevasse 22 where we worked to remove invasive species

In the forest at Crevasse 22

 

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*Tim Inthavong just completed his junior year at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is studying economics and business and would like to work  for a hospital as a health administrator after graduating. He is one of five children of a single refugee mother whom he has worked to support in and around his studies and volunteer work.

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Immigrant Scholarship Recipient Hopes to Pursue a Medical Career

May 17th, 2018

By Morgan Steward*

 

Our Alternative Spring Break Scholarship recipient, Gabriela Solano Serna has had to overcome many challenges in her young life. Emigrating from Mexico at age 10, Gabriela and her family left behind everything in order to start a new life in the United States. Unable to receive any government aid, including food stamps, medical care or scholarships through FAFSA, Gabriela and her family have struggled to make ends meet. But, instead of discouraging Gabriela, it has motivated her to volunteer in her community to make a difference for those facing hardships like her family.

The Casey Feldman Foundation scholarship stipend enabled Gabriela to travel to Atlanta last year over her spring break to work with the Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition (AHRC). The alternative spring break trip was one of many organized by the Volunteer Resource Center at the University of Colorado Boulder where Gabriela is a student. The AHRC  works to build relationships with individuals who are either suffering from or in danger of contracting HIV/AIDS, STD’s and Hepatitis Viruses and is the only comprehensive harm reduction program in the entire state of Georgia.

During her week in Atlanta, Gabriela did a lot of hands-on work with the coalition in underprivileged communities and visited the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn about the long-term benefits of the work she just participated in. One activity in particular stood out to Gabriela—a needle exchange. A needle exchange is a program that provides drug users with clean needles to prevent them from sharing and re-using contaminated needles, thus drastically lowering the chance of spreading diseases like HIV and AIDS.

“We helped distribute and make safety packs, which [are handed out] to individuals during the needle exchange in a poor community known as the ‘Bluff,’” Gabriela explained.  “After visiting and interacting with individuals from this neighborhood, I was able to see the unprivileged side of the community and learn how the state plays a role in helping the community.”

“I would say that this opportunity helped me—it was definitely an eye opener, but [also] a motivation to pursue a career in the medical field,” Gabriela explained. She hopes to use her talents to become an Obstetrician Gynecologist to honor her sister who passed away in Mexico due to the lack of medical attention.

So what does this remarkable scholarship recipient hope to accomplish in the future? “I am passionate about providing medical care to those in the US that struggle every day to sustain families and who do not have as much access to adequate medical assistance, public benefits (like Medicare) or health care insurance as other privileged groups do,” Gabriela said. As an undocumented immigrant herself, Gabriela’s future plans also include opening a clinic to provide medical assistance, regardless of the patients’ immigration status.

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morga -steward*Morgan Steward is a sophomore Communication and Media Studies student at Fordham University at Lincoln Center (Casey’s alma mater). Born in Beaumont, TX, she to moved to New York City to pursue a career in the media. She is the Arts & Culture Co-Editor of The Observer, Fordham’s student newspaper (where Casey was the News Editor).

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Donating Casey’s Prom Dresses

April 10th, 2018

By Dianne Anderson*

Casey’s senior prom, 2006

It’s been hard to let go of the many physical objects that represent our many loving memories of Casey – now her remaining prom dresses, which we just donated today.  We have the photos of Casey in those dresses and know that keeping them would not be something that she would want us to do. While in high school, Casey was part of a group of students who worked to donate dresses to less affluent school districts so that other girls could experience their prom, something they would otherwise have to forgo, because of financial constraints. Our donation is a small part in how we wish to carry on Casey’s legacy – to make this a world a better place.

We are grateful for the efforts of Philadelphia attorney, Maureen M. Farrell, a member of the Solo and Small Firm Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association, whom we did not know and who did not know of Casey’s story until we heard of her efforts in gathering prom dresses. Casey’s dresses will be among the many of those donated to Central High School in Philadelphia where the young women will be able to “shop” in preparation for their prom.

It warms my heart to know that other young women will feel as happy and as pretty as we know Casey did on that momentous high school event and  that Casey’s light will be shining down upon them.

[Note: Visit our photo gallery to view the many photo of Casey in her various prom dresses.]

_____________________

Dianne and Casey, Christmas 2006

*Dianne Anderson  is the mother of the late Casey Feldman and co-founder of The Casey Feldman Foundation.

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The Faces of our 2018 Alternative Spring Break Scholarship Recipients

March 30th, 2018

By Dianne Anderson*

Spring break is underway at many colleges in the nation. Our University of Colorado Boulder scholarship recipients are off on their Alternative Spring Break – volunteering in various parts of the U.S., with funding made possible through the Casey Feldman Foundation. Take a look at these outstanding young people.

Jaela Zellers

Jaela Zellers – Jaela is a junior majoring in integrative physiology with a double minor in Spanish and women and gender studies, with the hopes of becoming a physician.  A native of Georgia, Jaela has consistently worked 3-4 part-time jobs while taking 18 credit hours per semester. Despite her own hardships at home, sometimes not knowing where her next meal would come from, Jaela has managed to help others through filling boxes of food for the needy or helping build a home through Habitat for Humanity. Zaela works at the Volunteer Resource Center on campus and is currently organizing a service project focused on women’s empowerment for the Better Boulder Day of Service. Jaela’s Alternative Spring Break is in environmental conservation where she is working to protect the habitat and build trails on Catalina Island, CA.

Nicole Fernandez-Perez

 

Nicole Fernandez-Perez – Nicole is a senior and a first generation college student majoring in psychology and minoring in ethnic studies. She currently works with Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN) in Boulder where she supports survivors of domestic violence. Nicole is also a part of Pi Lambda Chi Latina Sorority Inc.,  where she works to preserve Latina culture in the Latino communities near the CU campus. Nicole is participating in the Disability Advocacy Spring Break Trip in Springfield, Missouri where she is working with a non-profit that focuses on building self-esteem, self confidence and social skills in children and adults with disabilities through education, sports training and competition.

 

Jose “Santos” Navarro

Jose “Santos” Navarro –  Santos, a first-generation American, is a freshman majoring in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology with ultimate hopes of working one day in the Astrobiology Institute at  NASA. Throughout high school, Santos was an outdoor counselor who helped at-risk 5th graders from schools in troubled areas. Often, his biggest responsibility there was to simply be a source of support for the children by listening and hearing their stories. Santos’ Alternative Spring Break has taken him to Houston, TX where he is working in disaster relief, helping to rebuild homes and the community in the aftermath of the devastating hurricane which occurred last year. In looking forward to his week in Houston, Santos stated, “I can’t wait to represent CU Boulder and carry on the values of service through our actions.”

Tim Inthavong

Tim Inthavong –  Tim is a junior studying economics and business and hopes to work one day for a hospital as a health administrator. Tim is the child of a single refugee mother with four siblings and has always worked to help support his family. Despite this, Tim has found time to volunteer in and around his work and studies. Whether working with low income communities by teaching youth about the sciences, or volunteering on Saturdays at the Have A Heart food and clothing bank, Tim feels best when he can be of service to others. Tim’s Alternative Spring Break is taking place in New Orleans, LA where he is helping to rebuild homes for the needy. As he was leaving for the trip, Tim said, “I can’t wait to make a difference!”

 

Thank you Casey Feldman Foundation Alternative Spring Break Scholarship recipients for making a difference in the lives of others! We look forward to hearing about your service work upon the completion of your trips!

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Dianne and Casey, Christmas 2006

 

*Dianne Anderson  is the mother of the late Casey Feldman and co-founder of The Casey Feldman Foundation.

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Casey’s Virtual 30th Birthday Party – April 6th

March 27th, 2018

Casey Feldman would have been 30 years-old this April 6th, had she not been killed by a distracted driver on July 17, 2009.  We are celebrating her birthday with a virtual party on Facebook, where we are asking you to share how you have been inspired by Casey’s life or, death. You need not have known Casey to participate.

Why? Following Casey’s death we were told by scores of people how they were inspired to do better, be better or make positive changes in their life, including those who never even knew Casey. Friends, family and strangers vowed to volunteer more, lead a more balanced life, laugh more, or put away their phone while driving.

If you have been inspired by Casey, tell us how you have been inspired, by sharing on our Facebook event.  Include #BecauseofCasey and tag @CaseyFeldmanFoundation in your Facebook post. Include a photo, video, music or graphic with your post if possible. Feel free to be creative. Of course, we will all appreciate seeing a photo of you and Casey. If birthday balloons are what you’d like to share, do so!

We will share all of the posts throughout the rest of the month of April on Facebook.

See you at the party!
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Note: To see how others have been inspired, view the 14 minute video, “Remembering Casey” or, the Casey Feldman “Faces of Distracted Driving” video below. Read Casey’s bio here.

 

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