At its annual Appreciation Luncheon, the Children’s Guardian Fund honors the nearly 400 Guardian ad Litem volunteers who work with 1,100 children in dependency in the 12th Judicial District.

At its annual Appreciation Luncheon the Children’s Guardian Fund honored the 383 Guardian ad Litem volunteers who work with the 1100 children in dependency in the 12th judicial district.

The event was held at Lakewood Ranch Country CluThe event was held at Lakewood Ranch Country Club on Friday, March 23. More than 200 people attended.

Each child is in the care of the courts because he or she has been abused, neglected or abandoned. “These GAL volunteers are the eyes and ears of the court,“ said retired Judge Durand Adams, the featured speaker. “Of all the constituents in the dependency proceedings, the Guardian ad Litem volunteer sometimes was the only one unburdened by any consideration other than what was in the best interests of the child.”

The volunteers are lead by Pam Hindman, executive director of the Guardian ad Litem program in the 12th judicial district which includes DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties.