Episode 201 Alisa Abecassis
Alisa Abecassis
Court Appointed Special Advocate
Alisa Abecassis is a highly effective volunteer and philanthropist, best known for her dedicated work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Orange County. Her journey into this demanding advocacy role began in 2018, sparked by a desire to honor the memory of her friend Jeanne Pepper’s son Blaze Bernstein through the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam, or "healing the world." Since then, she has committed years of service to children who have experienced abuse and neglect.
As a CASA volunteer, Alisa’s work is characterized by a thoughtful, consistent presence in a child’s life. She is appointed by a judge to be the eyes and ears of the court, providing a crucial, unbiased perspective on the child's best interests. This involves spending consistent, quality time with her assigned youth, organizing meaningful developmental and social outings, and conducting in-depth interviews with all parties—from teachers to social workers—to write powerful reports that inform life-altering judicial decisions. She has successfully advocated for children to achieve positive outcomes, including reunification with a parent and adoption by loving families.
Beyond her one-on-one advocacy, Alisa is a recognized powerhouse in community mobilization and fundraising. She has been honored as CASA’s Children’s Champion for her exceptional contributions, which include personally hosting information sessions to recruit new volunteers. Most notably, she transformed her New Year's Eve birthday party into an annual, high-impact fundraiser, consistently raising significant funds to ensure CASA can continue providing life-changing support for foster youth in her community.
Alisa's commitment extends to broader community service; she is a Trustee of the Irvine Hebrew Day School and serves on the Finance and Grants Committees for the Jewish Community Foundation. Through every endeavor, Alisa Abecassis demonstrates an unwavering dedication to philanthropy, child welfare, and volunteerism, leveraging her passion to create stability and hope for the most vulnerable members of society.
Alisa Abecassis, Justin Arenson and Jeanne Pepper following Alisa’s podcast interview.
