Join us in welcoming Anne O’Brian Pope to the Virginia Beach CASA Board. Originally a founding member of the Friends of CASA ambassadors group, Anne took on another opportunity to serve after being nominated by a fellow board member, Sue Haycox. Although Anne enjoyed her time with Friends of CASA and the comradery of the group, she was excited for the chance to serve the organization at a higher level.
Anne is a native of Virginia Beach. An alumnae of Old Dominion University, she worked in the Human Resources field for a few local companies before moving to Atlanta, GA to work for a start-up technology company. Homesickness drove her back her to Virginia Beach. (there is no place like home!)
After the birth of her youngest son, when it was time for him to go to school, Anne and her husband Mike did not find suitable school, so they did what any parent dreams of doing and opened their own school. Today they own and operate The Goddard School Chesapeake (Cedar Rd.) and
The Goddard School Lynnhaven (Virginia Beach Blvd.) As Anne says, “all because she had a baby!” She is the proud mother of 3 children; Taylor, Caitlin and Connor; and has been married to her husband Mike for 17 years. They are a family who loves to travel and do so as often as they can!
Anne and her husband Mike have supported CASA over the years by sponsoring the annual fundraising event (CASA Cabana) in June, and more recently the Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign. From being a committee member, event volunteering, to sponsoring, Anne has been diligent in supporting the work of Virginia Beach CASA.
When asked about Virginia Beach CASA, Anne is eager to tell friends, family and colleagues “it’s a wonderful organization in advocating for children who otherwise may not be heard, and how empowering it is that the courts really listen to the CASA volunteers in deciding their case.”
Going forward, Anne is very excited to be part of the Board and helping to grow the organization's community awareness and hopefully find more ways to raise money for CASA.
Thank you Anne for being a true champion of the children we serve!