HONORING MIKE:
MIKE'S STORY
On May 10, 2023, we lost a dear friend and fierce advocate for foster kids. Sadly, Mike Barnett succumbed to cancer after a courageous battle. Mike became a CASA volunteer in 2009 and because of his work eventually rose to the rank of Program Volunteer Manager in 2018. From 2009-2022 he advocated on behalf of 71 individual foster children and helped to build and maintain a viable program that supported advocates for many more Polk County children.
Mike believed that “children need and deserve to be safe within our society." He always said that if he could “make a positive impact on a child’s life” then his own life has “added meaning as well.” His last request was “take care of the children.”
CONTINUING MIKE'S LEGACY:
PLEASE JOIN US IN CONTINUING MIKE'S LEGACY OF MAKING LIFE BETTER FOR FOSTER KIDS.
By donating to the Mike Barnett Memorial Scholarship Fund, you can help a child’s dream come true. This is a fantastic opportunity to further the work he started. Mike wanted to ensure that every child and youth in foster care has an opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities. We will use this fund to send foster kids to Summer & Enrichment Camps. We all have great memories of summer activities. Please help our local foster kids make some special memories of their own. A contribution of any size can make a difference. As Mike always used to say, “it’s for the kids.” So, let’s do this for the kids. And let’s do this for our friend, Mike Barnett, so that his advocacy work lives on.