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Dallas CASA’s annual Champion of Children evening has been reimagined as an outdoor dinner and concert, with renowned Austin musician Bob Schneider performing under the stars at The Rustic, Dallas.

Schneider, a sing-songwriter from Austin, released a new record Aug. 27. The winner of more Austin Music Awards than any other musician, including Best Song Writer, Best Musician and Best Male Vocals, Schneider is known for songs such as “Peaches,” “Mudhouse” and “Honeypot.” Schneider will perform his versatile and inventive rock and country act solo.

Tickets and sponsorships are on sale now at www.DallasCASA.org. VIP tickets receive special seating, a private bar, a buffet dinner and a chance to meet Schneider before the show. Individual tickets include general admission seating, cocktails and buffet dinner. 

When: Doors open at 6 p.m. / dinner and program begin at 7 p.m., Thursday, October 14 2021

Where: The Rustic Dallas, 3656 Howell Street

Who: Dallas CASA supporters will come together to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect, as wells as funds to support the court-appointed volunteers who serve children impacted by abuse and neglect.

Why: Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children removed from unsafe homes. For many children living in the protective care of the state, their CASA volunteer is the only consistent, caring adult during a frightening time. In 2020, 1,527 Dallas CASA volunteers were assigned to advocate for 3,374 Dallas children. All funds raised at the event will benefit the children victims of abuse and neglect served by Dallas CASA.

Cynt and Kenneth Marshall, the Estate of Nancy and Rex Spivey, along with an anonymous donor are presenting sponsors of the event. Pioneer Natural Resources is the live music sponsor. Gold sponsors include: Priscilla and Corey Anthony; The Fran and Mark Berg Family; Cynthia Comparin / Retta Miller; Crest Auto Group / Jana and Mike Brosin; Dallas Mavericks; Denise and Russell Harper; The Hirsch Family Foundation; The Hoglund Foundation; Linda and Rob Swartz; Leslie and Geoff Wayne

 

 

 

 

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On Friday, July 23 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. the Dallas Mavericks mascots – Champ and Mavs Man – will visit Dallas CASA’s Parade of Playhouses at NorthPark Center! 

Champ, a blue-haired horse with a fluffy white mane and Mavericks uniform, and Mavs Man, a part-man, part-basketball mascot who wears a basketball bodysuit under a Mavericks uniform, work in tandem at games together to inspire and motivate fans. They plan to visit all the playhouses on display at NorthPark Center, including the replica of the Mavs Mascots Headquarters donated this year by the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs playhouse, built by DPR Construction, features a loft with a ladder and a rope climb, a telescope, a periscope and a pair of binoculars, plus the indoor locker room is FULL of Mavs gear! Of course, there is also a basketball hoop where Champ and Mavs Man can practice their crowd-pleasing moves.

It's also the final weekend for Parade of Playhouses! These amazing little dream playhouses will be given away to their lucky winners at the RAFFLE DRAWING Sunday afternoon at 4:00p.m. Get your tickets at www.dallascasa.org Only $5 each or five for $20 - with a little luck, you could be a winner!

Presented by Crest Auto Group with KDC Real Estate Development & Investments as Grand Marshal - Parade of Playhouses ends soon! #POP21

Parade of Playhouses, Dallas CASA’s signature event, raises funds and critical awareness for the agency and the vulnerable children it serves. This year’s event features eight custom-built playhouses on display and available to win by purchasing raffle tickets at dallascasa.org. All proceeds from the event benefit children who have been abused or neglected served by Dallas CASA.

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Join Dallas CASA for the 26th annual Parade of Playhouses at NorthPark Center. Eight adorable, custom designed and created children’s playhouses will be on view July 9-25. A preview playhouse, the Charming Cottage, makes its debut at NorthPark Center on June 25.

For this fun-filled community event, generous architects, builders, organizations, corporations and individuals design, build and donate extraordinary children’s playhouses to raise funds so that Dallas CASA can provide more volunteer advocates to help abused children have safe, permanent homes where they can thrive. This year’s designs also include a mini horse stable, a functional car wash, a Hot-Wheels playhouse, a colorful castle, a Tea House, rock outcropping and a Dallas Mavericks mascot headquarters. Some designs are modern and some are traditional, but each is unique to the Parade of Playhouses.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20, available now online at www.dallascasa.org. The winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday, July 25 at 4 pm. With a $5 dollar raffle ticket and a little luck, you could win an amazing children’s playhouse!

Parade of Playhouses is presented by Crest Cadillac/Crest INFINITI/Crest Volvo; KDC is Grand Marshal

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Please join the Dallas CASA Children’s Council and event co-chairs, Jenny Reynolds and Lindsay Stengle, for Cherish the Children on May 14. Dallas CASA will present the 2021 Caroline Rose Hunt Cherish the Children Award to this year’s honoree, the North Texas Cares Funders Collaborative.

In the spring of 2020, when shelter-in-place restrictions and fears of the pandemic quashed major fundraising events and drastically reduced the area’s volunteer troops in Dallas, a collaboration of more than 45 foundations, corporations and individual funders came together to provide support for non-profit organizations that work with people and communities most affected by all aspects of COVID-19.

The guest speaker for Cherish the Children is Father Gregory Boyle, an American Roman Catholic priest of the Jesuit order and founder and Director of Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gang-intervention and rehabilitation program. Julie Fine, Emmy award winning journalist and NBC5 reporter, will lead a discussion with Father Boyle.

The Caroline Rose Hunt Cherish the Children Award recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding contributions to helping children, particularly those who have been victims of abuse or neglect.

To purchase tickets, please visit DallasCASA.org/CherishtheChildren.

Thank you for your generosity, continued support and for recognizing that child victims in our community need us now more than ever.

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Dallas CASA Hosts Dallas County’s Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Event

Downtown Dallas buildings will be lit blue the evening of April 9 to raise awareness for National Child Abuse and Prevention Month. 

Dallas CASA is hosting a virtual Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Event to honor the 24 Dallas County children who died in 2020 due to abuse or neglect and recognize the Child Protective Services caseworkers who work on the frontlines of child welfare. Wear blue on Friday to show your support!

Members of Dallas’ Child Abuse Prevention Coalition members will speak at the virtual lunchtime event, including Dallas CASA President and CEO Kathleen LaValle, Hadijat Collins from FCAA Foundation, Irish Burch from Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Sophie Phillips from TexProtects and Ona Foster from Family Compass. Child Protective Services caseworkers are invited to drive through Dallas CASA’s parking lot for a free lunch donated by In-N-Out Burger.

On any given day, more than 2,000 Dallas County children live in the protective care of the state due to abuse or severe neglect. In 2020, Dallas CASA’s 1,527 volunteer advocates were assigned to advocate for 3,374 children in protective care.

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Downtown Dallas Will Go True Blue Friday Night To Promote Child Abuse Prevention Month

Apr 5, 2021 5:30 PM by Jeanne Prejean 

Dallas CASA with its volunteer advocates has always been on the forefront of protecting abused children. So April is especially important to the organization since it is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.

It’s a very unfortunate fact that “on any given day, more than 2,000 Dallas County children live in the protective care of the state due to abuse and severe neglect.” Just this past year during the pandemic, “1,527 Dallas CASA volunteer advocates were assigned to advocate for 3,374 children in protective care.”

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH*

To show its appreciation for Child Protective Services caseworkers, Dallas CASA will host a drive-thru from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for The Dallas County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition’s Dallas County Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Event on Friday with refreshments from In-N-Out Burger.

They’ve even arranged for a special thank-you video featuring Dallas CASA President and CEO Kathleen LaValle, Hadijat Collins from FCAA Foundation, Irish Burch from Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Sophie Phillips from TexProtects and Ona Foster from Family Compass for the caseworkers.

That night, downtown Dallas will share in the awareness spreading as the major buildings will dazzle in neon blue.

If you want to show your appreciation, wear blue Friday to show your support.

* Photo provided by Dallas CASA

Filed Under: Abuse, Advocacy, Announcement, By invitation only, Childhood, Children, Drive-thru, Events, Foster care, FYI, Heroes, In need of helpTagged With: Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, Dallas CASA, Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, Dallas County's Child Abuse Prevention And Awareness Event, Dallas’ Child Abuse Prevention Coalition, Family Compass, Irish Burch, Kathleen LaValle, Ona Foster, Sophie Phillips, TexProtects

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Strap on your running shoes and join the Dallas CASA Young Professionals for their first virtual Superhero 5K, presented by the Littletons and the Thompson Knight Foundation. Invite your friends to join the fun, then set your own pace to run, walk or jog 3.1 miles March 1 – 7.

Everyone who pre-registers will receive a Superhero 5K t-shirt and a link to upload your time. After March 7, prizes will be awarded for the best run time recorded in several different categories with special recognition for best Superhero costume!

All proceeds benefit the children served by Dallas CASA. Tickets are $35 to $75 - available at DallasCASA.org

Dallas CASA Young Professionals is a vibrant group of volunteers who serve as an outreach, volunteer and fundraising arm for Dallas CASA. Founded in 2009, the mission of the Young Professionals is to increase awareness of Dallas CASA and the organization’s critical role in the community. The group is open to people ages 21 to 40 years old who want to make an impact on the lives of abused children. Superhero 5K co-chairs are Mindy Busch, Sonya Reddy and Ben Riemer.

Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who advocate for the best interested of abused and neglected children.

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Dallas CASA is celebrating 40 years of advocating for children in foster care who have been abused or neglected. Forty years of amazing community volunteers, all working to improve the lives and futures of children in foster care. With the support of the Dallas community, Dallas CASA now serves more than 95% of children in protective care who need an advocate.

"Dallas is known as a generous and civic-minded community and Dallas CASA feels that spirit every day," said Kathleen M. LaValle, president and CEO of Dallas CASA. "Our volunteers, donors and supporters have been there for us year after year and have shown the children we serve they care. We are able to tell child victims of abuse and neglect that we see them, we hear them and we want the best possible outcomes for their futures."

“For a child who has experienced abuse or neglect, foster care can feel like yet another trauma in their young lives. So often they are frightened and unsure of what might happen tomorrow,” said LaValle. “Our volunteers step into the gap, advocating for counseling, appropriate foster placements and permanency. They visit monthly and attend all court hearings. Ultimately, they provide consistency and a path to healing every child deserves. This is a volunteer opportunity like no other, and we’re grateful for the tremendous community interest in and support of our program.”

Dallas CASA recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children removed from unsafe homes and living in the protective care of the state. Today there are nearly 1,500 Dallas CASA volunteers advocating for 3,600+ children each year. Dallas CASA provides more volunteer advocates for children in foster care than any of the 900+ independent CASA programs nationwide.

Dallas CASA depends on the generosity and the commitment of the community to make sure every child in need has a CASA volunteer advocate.

Learn how you can be part of the solution for children at www.DallasCASA.org

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Dallas CASA Celebrates 40 Years of Advocating for Children in Foster Care

Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) has a magic trick planned for the organization’s 40th anniversary.

Magician Justin Flom of the SyFy show Wizard Wars will perform during a virtual celebration from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday November 15.

Flom most recently performed in Dallas at the annual Dallas Mavericks Foundation 2020 Mavs Ball and received rave reviews. Flom is known for performing magic with ordinary objects, and every sponsor of the event, as well as those who purchase individual tickets by October 15, will receive a deck of playing cards by mail that will be incorporated into the entertainment.

Established in 1980, Dallas CASA was one of three pilot child advocacy programs in the country. Since then, with the tremendous support of the Dallas community, including many committed individuals, organizations, foundations and corporations, Dallas CASA has grown to serving nearly every child living in the protective care of the state who needs an advocate.

Dallas CASA’s volunteers are community members who complete 30 hours of training plus courtroom observations before being appointed by the court to advocate for the best interests of children who’ve experienced abuse or neglect. CASA volunteers work with the child, their family, attorneys, medical and educational experts and make recommendations to judges about where a child can safely and permanently live.

Dallas CASA will honor Goldman Sachs, Pioneer Natural Resources and AT&T with the Judge Barefoot Sanders Champion of Children Award during the 40th anniversary celebration. The trio of corporations hosts the Dallas CASA Classic golf tournament which has raised $20.6 million for Dallas CASA since its inception more than 20 years ago. The success of the tournament has contributed significantly to Dallas CASA’s capacity to advocate for more abused and neglected children growing from serving 407 children in 1998 to 3,644 in 2019.

“Dallas CASA would not be what it is today without these three companies and so many others in our community who have supported us in many ways during the past 40 years,” said Kathleen LaValle, president and CEO of Dallas CASA. “Dallas is known as a generous and community-minded city, and Dallas CASA feels that spirit every day. Our volunteers, donors and supporters have been there for us year after year, and have shown the children we serve that they care.  We’re able to tell child victims of abuse and neglect that we see them, we hear them and we want the best possible outcomes for their futures.”

The Judge Barefoot Sanders Champion of Children Award is given annually to recognize community leaders who significantly improve the lives of children, particularly those whose young lives have been marked by abuse, neglect or other adversity. In 2008, the award was named in honor of Judge Harold Barefoot Sanders, Jr., a revered United States District Court judge for the Northern District of Texas. Judge Sanders was a past Champion of Children Award recipient and a steadfast supporter of Dallas CASA. His wife, Jan Sanders, served as a Dallas CASA volunteer.

The evening will also feature a special performance by Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Young Strings. The Young Strings Program develops the talents of exceptional and underrepresented string players by providing students with lessons and opportunities essential to success in music education and careers.

The Dallas CASA 40th Anniversary celebration will raise critical funds to help Dallas CASA continue to recruit and train volunteer advocates who help child victims of abuse and neglect and their families.

Tickets and sponsorships available now! https://www.dallascasa.org/dallas-casa-events/dallas-casa-40th-anniversary-celebration/ 

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Dallas CASA: The adage of “see something, say something” is a critical strategy to fight child abuse. But in the midst of a global pandemic and social distancing, “see something, say something” alone isn’t enough to keep our children safe.

With schools and daycares closed, fewer medical appointments being kept and less interaction with grandparents and neighbors, newer and better strategies are needed to keep children from becoming the unseen victims of the virus.

With fewer eyes on children and fewer safety nets in place, what are some ways we could all join together to support families who are struggling?

Do you know a parent who is facing:

  • Increased stress due to loss of employment or curtailed hours?
  • Mental health issues that grow worse with isolation?
  • Domestic violence risks triggered by cramped quarters?
  • Loss of child care or struggles with supervising distance learning?
  • Removal of support systems to help during addiction recovery?
  • Separation from an older relative who can no longer help?

Think about making a human connection to break through a parent’s feelings of isolation, helplessness and frustration, whether it’s a phone call or a Facetime chat or a free Zoom video session.

An evening without the stress of cooking dinner can help keep a parent from reaching their limits.  Order a meal from a restaurant that offers delivery service or curbside pick-up.  Drop off groceries at the family’s doorstep.

As parents, couples can learn to recognize the signs that stress is building toward a breaking point before a child becomes the stress absorber. Intervene before a loss of control results in injury to a child or each other. Allow one another time and space to cool down before re-engaging even if this means taking turns supervising your kids. Reach out to resources like those listed on the Mental Health America of Greater Dallas website. You can also call the Statewide COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line toll-free at 833-986-1919.

If interventions don’t work, remember that reports of child abuse and neglect can be called into the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400.  Under Texas law, we’re all mandated child abuse reporters.

Don’t know a family in need? Anyone can participate right now in the Comfort Food Care Packages program supported in Dallas by the Governor’s Office, Texas Restaurants, Favor Delivery, and Dallas CASA. You can order and pay for a meal to feed a family of four to six by going online at participating restaurants. The meal will be delivered to a nearby family already identified as having an immediate need. Learn more here.

Want to do something now to help Dallas CASA be ready when the predicted surge in child abuse reports happens as social distancing comes to an end? Click here to register for one of Dallas CASA’s weekly virtual information sessions to learn about becoming a volunteer advocate. Find out how you can join your 1,500 community members who last year were strong voices and constant supports for Dallas child victims of abuse and neglect.