Greetings!
The holiday
season is almost upon us and we are thinking about the many children in Collin County who will not be with their families
of origin this year. This is both a
tragedy and a new beginning for most. We
hope you will support our efforts to continue providing services to 100 percent
of these children through the many activities we have planned the next few
months!
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Plano Metro Fences Us In
 The new
play yard visitation area at the future home of CASA is now fenced, thanks to
members of Plano Metro Rotary, who spent two Saturdays building the enclosure. Members cut trees, pulled out vegetation,
cleared brush, sank posts and nailed boards in this important community
project. The outside area will provide space for parents
to meet with their children who have been removed from their homes and have
been granted supervised visitation by the court. CASA is looking for groups or individuals to
build a playhouse and picnic table to further enhance the area. If you are interested, please contact the
agency at 972-529-2252, extension 103. The agency will relocate to its new
building, 101 E. Davis St., McKinney, in January. [Photo: Members of Plano Metro Rotary stand
by the fence they completed at the new location of CASA of CollinCounty. They agency will occupy the building in
January.]
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Collin County CASA Volunteer Named State's Best
Virginia
Barrett, 10-year CASA of Collin County
volunteer, was named Texas CASA Volunteer of the Year at the state conference
in October.
The McKinney resident has served 53 children in
21 cases. Virginia has a high caseload, but never
shortchanges her children. In addition,
she recruits volunteers regularly and speaks to advocate training classes and
outside groups.
Her high personal standards and community
credibility speak loudly for CASA. She
is soft-spoken and understated, while at the same time tenacious, engaging and
caring.
There are 68 CASA programs throughout Texas and 5,000 volunteers.
Virginia is also active in the McKinneyCitizensPoliceAcademy
Alumni
Association, Daughters of the TexasRepublic, countySheriff's
Academy Alumni Association and is a member of the Certified Emergency Response
Team. She has served on two grand juries
and the commission to select Grand Jury members. |
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Adoption Day Celebrated November 15
Thirty
children will join 18 families Saturday,
November 15 during Annual Adoption
Day at the Collin County Courthouse.
Festivities begin at 9:30 a.m. and will
feature decorated court rooms, face painting and other activities, with each
child receiving a teddy bear.
A former foster mom will be taking
photographs of the new families. The
number of adoptions in the county is up from a year ago.
Several judges and attorneys, some donating
their time, will be on hand to finalize the formation of these new
families.
There are
510,000 children currently in the US adoption system, with 129,000
waiting for families to take them home.
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CASA Exhibits at Family Violence Conference
Thanks to
the six CASA volunteers who helped staff the CASA booth at the recent Collin
County Family Violence Conference. They
are: Lisa Foster, Karen Smith, Fern
Jaffee, Maureen Barnes, Pam Kidder and Dottie Fedderson.
These volunteers assisted in the two-day
event in addition to their normal duties advocating for children who have been
removed from their homes.
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Award Becomes Windfall for CASA
When CASA
of Collin County Board of Directors President Diane Chester was named an Unsung
Hero by the Real Estate Council Foundation, her award included a $5,000
donation to CASA.
During the presentation, however, Gala Chair
Holt Lunsford announced that due to difficult economic times, the five
recipients would actually receive $15,000 each for their represented charities.
In addition to CASA, others receiving checks
included Circle of Support Inc., Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, burn victim
Camp I-Thonka-Chi and the managing
partner of a law firm providing pro bono services to the city of Dallas Urban
Land Bank.
More than 1,000 people attended the
western-themed gala October 23, held in Addison.
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Events Benefiting CASA of Collin County
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Southern Living Party Benefits CASA
 If you have admired the beautiful gifts and accessories
available from Southern Living at Home, November 13 is your chance to see the holiday
collection and benefit CASA of Collin County.
An assortment of silent auction gifts will
be available for bidding and drawings will be held for gifts awarded to those
who RSVP.
The evening is sponsored by Lisa Hammett at
her home, 6461 Shadywood Dr., Frisco, 75035, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Decorating ideas and holiday tips will be
offered and special guest Liz Cambra from Park Lane Jewelry will also be
present.
To RSVP, please call the CASA office,
972-529-2272, extension 100.
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Help Abused and Neglected Children This Year
Many
children who have been removed from their homes will celebrate the holidays
without their families. Even in
conditions where the child was mistreated, most children miss their families. CASA volunteers visit these children on a
regular basis, and try to make the holidays special. They visit the CASA office and select toys
and clothing before the holiday visit.
Won't you
help us provide new toys, gift cards and clothing for these children? Please visit our Donate page
for more information and a list of most-needed items. Drop-off boxes are located at Rapid Refill
Ink, Tutoring Club and Half of Half in McKinney.
A link to these businesses can also be found on this page. This is a great project for a group, club,
church class or other organizations. | |
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Win a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
Tickets are
now available for you to win the new 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK, a nimble yet large
and rugged car to be introduced to the market in January.
Only 700 tickets, priced at $100, will be
sold for the vehicle, the winner to be drawn at the February 7,
2009, My
Funny Valentine Gala benefitting CASA of Collin County.
To purchase yours, please contact the CASA office at 972-529-2252,
extension 103.
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Tickets Available for PGA Tour November 6-9
Golfers
playing to qualify for the PGA Tour will be at McKinney's TPC Craig Ranch Thursday through
Sunday, November 6 through 9. Gates open
at 7 a.m. Craig Ranch is
located between Custer Road and Alma Drive off SH 121 at 8000 Collin McKinney Parkway.
Tickets are available from the CASA office
at $10 or 10 for $90 and are good for any day of play. CASA volunteers will be directing traffic all
four days of the event, with proceeds from ticket sales and parking benefitting
the agency.
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Garret Quick Draw November 8
Come join
the fun on the McKinney Downtown Square Saturday, November 8. It's time again for The Garret Gallery Quick
Draw for CASA.
Beginning at 7 p.m. at the gallery, 111 E. Virginia St., 12 community artists will paint in
view of the public while refreshments are served.
It's also Second Saturday on the Square,
which has been revamped and beautified for shopping, dining and parking. Shops will be open late, live music will be
playing and visitors are invited to do some early holiday shopping.
At 9
p.m., a live auctioneer will be selling the
paintings created by the Gallery artists with all proceeds benefitting CASA of
Collin County. |
We hope you enjoyed your personal issue of The CASA Advocate. If you know someone that would be interested in hearing about us, please forward them a copy. Questions and comments are always welcome and may be sent to enews@casaofcollincounty.org.
Sincerely,
CASA of Collin County |
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| Lo & Norgart Honored
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Volunteers were honored with a Mexican flavor at the annual CASA of Collin County Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held last week at Blue Mesa.
Sponsored by CASA assisted by Junior League of Plano, honorees and their guests gathered to see Ardis Lo named Volunteer of the Year.
"Ardis is very cooperative with all her clients, a huge support to all her kids, is always on time, never complains and her court reports are awesome," said Angela Coleman, her CASA supervisor who presented Ardis with the award.
For Ardis' story, please click here.
Anne Norgart was named the Department of Family and Protective Services Worker of the Year, described by CASA Program Director Dianne McCall as a "great caseworker" who works well with CASA volunteers, gets along with parents, testifies well and knows her cases.
[Photo:
Anne Norgart, left, and Ardis Lo,
right, were honored at the Annual CASA Volunteer Appreciation dinner last week.]
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