The Casey behind the Casey Cares Foundation

Casey Baynes conquered various obstacles, including dyslexia, to establish her nonprofit organization in Baltimore, Md. Baynes founded the Casey Cares Foundation in 2000, and since then, she dedicated her time to enhancing the lives of children with critical disease.

Ongoing obstacles Casey Baynes finds a way to follow her passion

By Amber Mayfield

Casey Baynes dreaded reading out loud in high school. Shakos, Baynes said one day, as she read out loud for the class. The room filled with laughter. All the other students knew the word Baynes tried to say was chaos. Baynes learned she had dyslexia when she was
Casey Baynes smiles for organizations first employee photo shoot. Source: Casey Baynes Photo By Jeff Dayton

8, but she never told anyone about her struggles. At the time, she only knew dyslexia would make school harder for her.

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Amber Mayfield, Baynes, Pg. 2 Dyslexia may have been the first obstacle Baynes needed to rise above, but on her road to success it was far from her last. She was determined not to let a struggle with dyslexia prevent her from obtaining a career she was passionate about. Baynes always aspired to be a doctor, and she studied pre-med before she changed her career path to communication. I was overcome by how difficult it [pre-med] was, and working with the [medical] terminology as a person with dyslexia made it even more difficult, Baynes said.

I realized we all For some people, this would have been more have our own cross to bear. than just a bump in the road. Baynes saw the situation -Casey Baynes
differently, I realized we all have our own cross to bear. Baynes moved on to become Towson Universitys youngest masters degree recipient and started to work at her familys business, Wollenwebera logistic company in Baltimore. Meanwhile, she satisfied her interest in the health field by volunteering at the local hospital.

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Amber Mayfield, Baynes, Pg. 3 While she volunteered, Baynes interviewed parents, physicians and social workers to find out what children with critical diseases, such as leukemia, tumors and other cancers, needed most. Baynes went on to found the Casey Cares Foundation because these children and their families needed an outlet for ongoing support.

The journey Baynes began the Casey Cares Foundation by filing with the IRS, a long, expensive and sometimes difficult process. Baynes said her next obstacle was to build her credibility and secure donations. In 2000, when Baynes launched the Casey Cares Foundation, her goal was enhance the lives of one family per month, but before long, the foundation took off. Her next biggest decision was to leave her full-time job, and dedicate all her time to the Casey Cares Foundation. Although people close to her had their doubts, she decided to follow her passion. Baynes passion helped shape the foundation. Lynda Buck, a mother of a family in the foundation, recalled her first impression of Baynes. She is wonderful. She is so outgoing, enthusiastic, passionate and genuine. She really takes the opportunity to get to know the child and the family, Buck said. She is not just a name to an organization. (more)

Amber Mayfield, Baynes, Pg. 4

The Bucks and Casey Cares

In 2008, doctors diagnosed Kevin Buck, with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, LCH. Kevins mother, Lynda Buck explained LCH is a benign disease that acts like cancer. Kevin joined the Casey Cares Foundation during his final years of treatment. Lynda Buck said she was grateful for the opportunities the organization created to make her son feel special. My family was able to be normal and take our minds off it too, Buck said. After a year of chemotherapy and a year of steroid treatments, the likelihood of the disease returning is slim to none.

Kevin Buck, 8, shows off a prize from a Casey Cares program. Source: Casey Baynes Credit: Lynda Buck

Emerging obstacles As founder and CEO of the Casey Baynes Foundation, Baynes must sustain the reputation of the organization and ensure it keeps up with new membership demands. My biggest obstacles today are that of the growing organization. Just today I had 12 new applications on my desk, Baynes said. So my biggest obstacle is how do you keep up with growing number of patients and donations that have to match that?

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Amber Mayfield, Baynes, Pg. 5 Baynes said her greatest accomplishment was to not have to turn a child away from her organization. Protecting this standard is the one thing that keeps her up at night. However, Baynes ability to adapt to an early struggle with dyslexia prepared her for her role as Casey of the Casey Cares Foundation. Life experiences shaped who I am, but my focus on the positive, and knowing anything worth having is worth working really hard for keeps me going Baynes said.

Casey Cares Foundation releases gala theme Casey Cares announced 13th Annual Gala Are you mad about Casey Cares?
By Amber Mayfield The retro glam style of the 1950s and 1960s returned for the greater good. Mad About Casey Cares is the 2013 theme for the Casey Cares Foundations annual gala. Founder and CEO Casey Baynes took pride in the growth of her foundation, the fundraising efforts and the annual gala. Baynes recalled the first Baltimore Ravens themed gala in 2000, Baynes noticed how much money the foundation raised and made the gala its marquee event. Each year the foundation raises money to
The Casey Cares Foundation releases this logo for the 13th annual gala in March. Credit: Casey Cares Foundation Source: Casey Baynes

provide events and activities for children with critical diseases such as

leukemia, tumors and other cancers. The goal is to have a positive effect on the lives of the children and their families. At the gala, guests see the difference they are making. The event shows how their support helps and thats why we keep doing it, its so beneficial and it helps so many kids, said Baynes. (more)

Amber Mayfield, Gala, Pg. 2 Last March, guests embraced the roaring twenties themed gala, All That Jazz, by dressing accordingly. As guests enjoyed live jazz music, dancing, casino games and dinner, the foundation recognized various donors. By the end of the night, the event raised more than $112,000 for the foundation. In addition to the fundraising possibilities, Baynes looks forward to the galas presentations. I love hearing the families stories and what Casey Cares means to them, Baynes said. This years event will be Saturday, March 23, at the B&O Railroad Museum and will cost $150 per ticket. More information is available on the website, www.caseycaresfoundation.org.
Baynes arranged for the Baltimore Orioles mascot and Miss Maryland Teen USA to attend the 2012 gala. Source: Casey Baynes Photo By Mike Buscher

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