CASA Kane County is proud to announce that our reputable executive director, Jim Di Ciaula, has been selected as the recipient of the TriCity Family Services’ 40th Annual William D. Barth Award. This prestigious honor celebrates a local leader whose unwavering dedication to the non-profit community has made a lasting, positive impact on the community. The award, named after one of TriCity Family Services’ founders, recognizes Jim’s extensive contributions and commitment to various organizations throughout the Fox River area.
Di Ciaula was nominated for this year’s award by a group of his peers who highlighted his work with CASA Kane County, Random Acts Matter, St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, TriCity Family Services, and many other Fox Valley area organizations.
“Jim is an outstanding leader in our community,” says Debi Craig, a Board Member of Random Acts Matter. “He is a caring and compassionate person who takes action to help people. He is extremely successful in problem-solving, bringing people together to improve a situation or to resolve an issue.”
With more than 35 years of experience as a leader in the financial services industry, Di Ciaula joined the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce in 2017 as President and CEO—where he led 650+ businesses and organizations through strategic growth and collaboration, most notably during the time of the COVID pandemic. Since taking on the role of Executive Director at CASA Kane County two years ago, Jim, alongside our dedicated team, has led hundreds of volunteer Court-Appointed Special Advocates/Guardians ad Litem in being the voice for children in foster care due to abuse and/or neglect.
Kris Wano, president of CASA Kane County Board of Directors, shared, “Jim has been an exemplary steward of our mission, guiding us with passion, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. Under his visionary leadership, CASA Kane County has flourished, impacting the lives of our most vulnerable youth in profound ways.”
Beyond his professional achievements, Jim is a helper at heart and has volunteered countless hours to his church and other local organizations. From 2010-2016, Jim served on the Board of Directors for TriCity Family Services, leading as President in 2011. Then, in 2017, he founded his own not-for-profit organization dedicated to doing good: Random Acts Matter. Thousands of lives have been positively impacted through the group’s acts of kindness—including a counseling client of TriCity Family Services who was given a much-needed mobility device from Random Acts Matter in 2023.
“Jim’s unfailing commitment to the organizations he has worked with and served as a volunteer is commendable,” wrote Diane Gibson, a long-time TriCity Family Services Board Member. “I have learned a great deal from him over the years and believe he deserves recognition for all his contributions to our community.”
TriCity Family Services, CASA Kane County, Random Acts Matter, and other partner organizations continue to work together in pursuit of health and justice for all residents of the Fox River community.
Friends and colleagues of Di Ciaula are invited to an award ceremony and complimentary dinner at Riverside Receptions in downtown Geneva, Illinois on October 17. The event will begin at 5 p.. with a buffet-style dinner being served at 6 p.m. with a cash bar available. Due to limited space, registration for this event is encouraged. Register at https://bit.ly/Barth24 or by sending an E-mail to Laura Stoney at lstoney@tricityfamilyservices.org or (630) 232-1070 ext.120.
— CASA Kane County