Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) honored Husch Blackwell's Kathryn B. Bussing and her husband Gary with the organization's 2011 Light of Hope Award. The award honors CASA volunteers who shine as assets to the organization's mission. The Bussings received the award at CASA's annual Light of Hope Breakfast on April 14.
Since 1983, Jackson County CASA has been providing guardian ad litem (legal advocacy) services for abused and neglected children and youth, birth to age 21 who enter the Jackson County Family Court system. Accredited by the National CASA Association (NCASA), and a member of the Missouri CASA Association, Jackson County CASA is one of over 900 programs nationwide and 22 statewide.
"Kathy was a CASA board member, and she has been a CASA volunteer attorney and case worker for many years," said Husch Blackwell Kansas City Office Managing Partner Benjamin Mann, who attended the breakfast. "Her husband Gary, a Leawood city councilman, donates his councilman's paycheck to CASA. They are passionate about CASA's cause and have committed to helping these forgotten children."
Bussing is Of Counsel in Husch Blackwell's Kansas City, Mo., office and has been with the firm since 1993. She concentrates her practice in Insolvency law and Business Litigation. In addition to her work with CASA, Bussing is a Program Developer and Board Member of the local Credit Abuse Resistance Education Program and volunteers with YouthFriends and the United Way's Speakers Bureau.