Episode #444 "Pull For Kids" Ron Onyon with CASA of Tarrant County

·32 min·3 clips

A 17-year-old in foster care asks for a portable DVD player, revealing the tech gap these kids face.

The episode begins with host and guest Ron Onyon bonding over shared negative experiences with a home renovation reality show, setting a casual tone. Ron explains his 'old man with a cell phone' social media persona and his mild viral fame. The conversation shifts to CASA of Tarrant County's upcoming 10th annual 'Pull For Kids' clay shoot fundraiser at Defender Outdoors Clay Sports Ranch on March 6, 2026, which supports abused and neglected children. Ron shares his personal connection to foster care, starting from his Air Force roommate who aged out of the system and later becoming a foster parent for 14 years. He now volunteers as a CASA, acting as a surrogate parent for a 17-year-old foster child with no family, helping set up an education plan. A poignant moment arises when Ron mentions the child requested a portable DVD player, illustrating the tech disparities foster youth face. The host recalls a statistic from a previous episode about females aging out of foster care having an 80-90% chance of becoming mothers within nine months, underscoring the need for guidance. Ron discusses the broader CASA mission, including court representation, educational advocacy, and mentorship for children of all ages. The episode also covers Ron's military background, including his service in the Air Force as an F-15 avionics technician and on the Armed Forces Taekwondo team, where he won a bronze medal. He talks about returning to martial arts with jiu-jitsu after a heart attack, despite medical advice for water aerobics. Later, Matthew Lopez joins to provide practical details about the clay shoot, including registration at casaclayshoot.org, raffle prizes, and first responder sponsorships. The host emphasizes Fort Worth Roots' commitment to supporting local causes and promises more frequent coverage of CASA initiatives.

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