CASA of Grayson County History

Since 1993, CASA of Grayson County has helped more than 1,500 children navigate the legal system in Grayson County, giving vulnerable children a voice during some of the most difficult moments in their lives.
The CASA program in Grayson County began when a dedicated group of local women approached District Judge Lloyd Perkins with a vision of creating a program that would advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system. Among the leaders of this effort was Jayne Quinton-Gump, a founding member of Texas CASA who was serving as the organization’s director at the time. Having personally adopted a child who had experienced abuse, Quinton-Gump understood firsthand the importance of ensuring children have a voice and a consistent advocate within the child welfare system.
For more than 15 years, Quinton-Gump traveled across Texas recruiting compassionate volunteers and helping establish CASA programs throughout the state. Naturally, her home county of Grayson, Texas, became one of those important efforts. Alongside Carolyn Fields and Marty Sanderson, she began recruiting community members interested in building a local CASA nonprofit organization.
Their efforts quickly gained momentum. Judy McGraw, Ginny Jones, and Mary Green joined the initiative, meeting at Carolyn Fields’ home to begin developing the framework for what would become CASA of Grayson County. The group approached local banks and community leaders for support and organized a luncheon at Woodlawn Country Club featuring prominent community members. By the conclusion of that luncheon, the Dorset Foundation had committed $15,000 in startup funding, while numerous community members volunteered to serve on both the advisory board and board of directors.
In May 1993, Mary Green became the organization’s first Executive Director. Later that year, in October 1993, CASA of Grayson County conducted its first volunteer training class. The newly trained advocates were sworn in as Court Appointed Special Advocates on a Friday and assigned their first cases the following Monday by Judge Ray Grisham. Judy McGraw became the organization’s very first CASA advocate to accept a case, marking the beginning of a 25-year commitment to serving children through CASA. She later continued her involvement as both a volunteer and supervisor before returning to serve on the board of directors for an additional six years.
Today, the legacy established by these pioneering community leaders continues through the dedicated volunteers, staff, and supporters of CASA of Grayson County, who remain committed to advocating for the best interests of children in the child welfare system.