Greetings!
CASA of Collin County thanks the many volunteers and donors who have helped us serve disadvantaged and traumatized children this year. We appreciate the time and support you give in both advocating for the children and assisting us in our many fund-raising activities. We could not do it without you and we are extremely grateful as you have made Collin County a better place to live. Have a happy and blessed New Year.
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Gala Plans in Full Swing The My Funny Valentine Gala, sponsored by Ewing Autohaus Mercedes Benz of Plano, will feature the Hunter Sullivan Big Band and emcee comedian Dean Lewis.
Presenting sponsors are CentennialMedicalCenter, Frisco, and Tenet Healthcare Corporation.
An exciting group of live and silent auction items will be available, including a fabulous dinner and wine-tasting for 12, backstage passes to the Dr. Phil Show, a queen-sized quilt featuring drawings from CASA children, gorgeous diamond jewelry and other unusual gifts.
For sponsorship and underwriting opportunities, please click here. |
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Won't You Help a Child's Wish Come True?
 Too many CollinCounty children have been removed from their homes this year due to abuse and neglect. They will spend the holidays in foster homes or other residential settings, away from their parents.
Their CASA volunteer remains their constant and will visit many times to help ensure each child has as happy a holiday season as possible.
You can help, too. Many of these children lack warm clothing and will receive only a small gift this Christmas. Your donation of a new toy or new clothing can help. CASA volunteers "shop" for their children at the CASA office, selecting the right items for each of their children, wrapping and delivering the gifts themselves.
Please help us stock the shelves by delivering the toys to CASA or to any of the following McKinney businesses: Collection boxes are at Rapid Refill Ink, McKinney, where owner Trudy Whitney is offering a $3 off coupon in exchange for a toy. She is also accepting monetary donations and turning them into gifts for the children by shopping sales.
Stuart Perlman of the Tutoring Club, McKinney, has a drop-off box and Half of Half, located on Central Expressway, has added to the effort by offering an additional 20 percent discount. Additional boxes are at Consumer Credit Counseling Services.
For a complete list of most-needed items, please visit these businesses or click here. |
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CASA Scores Hole-in-One With Parking  The weather was beautiful, the Craig Ranch course was superb and the volunteers fantastic as CASA of Collin County worked with the Salesmanship Club on the first Nationwide PGA Tournament held at the TPC Craig Ranch Golf Course.
Volunteers worked in shifts over four days parking cars and selling tickets to benefit CASA - and had a blast! Employees from UPS worked one day with members of the McKinney Boyd High School Key Club helping out on the weekend.
The effort was a huge success benefitting CASA, thanks to those who volunteered, including board members, spouses, friends, CASA volunteers, staff and tremendous support from the McKinney Police Department and Captain Randy Roland, CASA Board of Directors President.
Salesmanship Club members provided catered lunches, drinks and snacks for the workers. According to Nationwide, sponsor of the tournament, attendance was well beyond expectations.
Thanks to all who helped make this a great fundraiser for CASA. |
 JVP Group Presents Quilts
CASA is the recipient of several beautiful children's quilts made by the JVP Quilters Group, which meets weekly to make quilts for children and adults served by social services organizations in Collin and Dallas counties as well as military families at Fort Hood.
The group was formed in 2000 by Margaret Schafer, who continues to lead and recruit members.
CASA volunteers take the quilts to children who have been newly-removed from their homes.
[Photo: Margaret Schafer, right, presents one of many quilts donated to CASA to Debbie Mormon, CASA of Collin County Development Director.] |
Garret Art Event Raises Funds
A group of 10 artists affiliated with GarrettArtGallery in downtown McKinney painted a variety of topics for the Annual Quick Draw Event for CASA last month.
Landscapes, still life, and portraits of people and pets were auctioned by John Rattan after guests watched the paintings come to life in only an hour and 45 minutes.
Hors d'oeuvres and wine were served during the event.
Featured artists were: Jodie Baldwin, Ginny Bitting, Gail Delger, Jake Dobscha, Daryl Duit, Belle Homme, Gaye Kelly, Babs Light, Kathryn Petroff and Gail Sloan.
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Bachendorf's Event Features Store Opening
 It was all glamour and glitz at a party celebrating the opening of the new Bachendorf's at the Shops of Legacy last month benefitting CASA.
Invited guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and beverages sponsored by Papercity Magazine while they shopped for jewelry and watches.
Bachendorf's Lawrence Bock and Steve Bock assembled an assortment of items for the silent auction with proceeds supporting CASA of Collin County. The jewelers have also provided a piece of jewelry for the live auction at the February 7 "My Funny Valentine" Gala at Hotel InterContinental, as well as several silent auction pieces.
For additional photos, please visit Scrapbook.
[Kim Patterson, left, general manager of Ewing Autohaus, title sponsor of the 2009 My Funny Valentine Gala and Gala Chair Danya Timmons plan for the February 7 event at Hotel InterContinental. (Photos by Bruno for Holly Kuper Photography)] | |
Dignity U Wear Provides Clothing
 CASA children are the beneficiaries of new clothing donations from Dignity U Wear, a nonprofit agency which collects and distributes new clothing to individuals in hopes of positively impacting their lives.
Several boxes of children's clothing were unpacked and arranged by CASA volunteers in preparation for a "shopping" event for all CASAs to select items for children with open cases. Other new clothing from various donors was also available.
Children removed from their homes often leave with few or none of their own belongings.
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Groups Benefit CASA
 A big thanks to Grande Communications for a grant award to CASA last month, courtesy of their Passion and Commitment Investment Fund.
Also thanks to Lisa Hammett of Southern Living at Home for the silent auction and open house for CASA, as well as the vendors who donated to the event.
We appreciate you for thinking of the children. |
 30 Children Join FamiliesA joyous group effort combined 30 children and families at the Collin County Courthouse for National Adoption Day November 15.
This was the fourth year for the event, sponsored by partners from the Bench Bar, judges, court teams, private law firms, CPS, Collin County Child Welfare Board and Collin County Children's AdvocacyCenter.
The children received gifts, food and shared in activities for a fun morning as their adoptions were finalized by personnel donating their time for the ceremony.
[Judges kick back during National Adoption Day at CollinCounty Courthouse. From left, Judge Robert Dry, Judge Cynthia Wheless, Judge Greg Brewer and Attorney ad Litem Lee Bean.] |
 Thetas Rock for CASAThe University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta hosted its "Battle of the Bands" competition, an annual fundraiser for CASA held on campus drawing hundreds of students for a fun evening.
CASA is Kappa Alpha Theta's national philanthropy with local chapters supporting local CASA programs. The proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit CASA of Collin County. The UTD Theta chapter has worked hard through the years to build a very successful event, one the entire campus looks forward to attending.
Thank you, Thetas for your continued support! |
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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Dr. Sandra Moore
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December Volunteer |
 Dr. Sandra Moore, CASA's December Volunteer of the Month, knew for years she would have to help children and even learned Spanish in preparation for her role as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
"This is a world of child abuse, neglect, courtrooms and lawyers, dysfunctional parents, drug addicts and governmental system bureaucracies. But it is also a world of truly gratifying experiences," the surgeon said.
Dr. Moore has been an advocate since 2006 and like many advocates, has a feeling of making a difference.
"Fortunately, she said, "it seems to matter what we do and say. Even though we are just volunteers, people actually listen to us."
CASA Casework Supervisor Sharon Lloyd calls Sandy a dedicated advocate.
"She frequently comes to court after already completing her surgical duties for the day. Recently she has a hugely-contested hearing that was scheduled the same day she herself was going to be a patient for eye surgery. I didn't expect her to show, but when the case was called, there she was - eye patch and all - sitting in court," Sharon said.
Sandy Moore reflects on her most difficult case. "I am a person that likes an answer, so the most difficult case for me is where there just isn't a good solution."
She has a case of twins that have been in and out of the system for years and will age out in two years. They are not living with their grandparents, who Sandy considers their best role models.
"They have a mother that is a cold fish and a father that sells them on the internet, she said. "I don't see them getting a good picture of relationships."
She considers her best case one in which a child's life was saved.
The child was taken into the foster system and her parents relinquished their rights. "She has medical problems," the doctor said, "and would not have survived her natural parents."
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| The CASA office will be closed from Wednesday, December 24 until Monday, January 5. |
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CASA STORE OFFERS GIFT IDEAS
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Looking for perfect but unusual gifts? Original, handmade CASA lanyards are great for anyone who wears an ID card. These cute and colorful badge holders feature polymer clay beads of children's faces and are available only through CASA programs.
Priced at only $14, they are great for teachers, church workers or anyone who loves children. They separate and can also serve as key chains.
The CASA store also offers bracelets from the beads, watches and magnets as well as the original CASA t-shirt, designed by and available only from CASA of Collin County. For a look at the original items, shop here.
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COMMEMORATE FAMILY WITH BRICKS |
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Honor your family, friends and others in the new CASA of Collin County building at 101 E. Davis St., McKinney.
Bricks and paving stones will be engraved with your message to become a permanent part of the facility.
Two donor levels are available. The Crystal Level, at $1,000, is sized at 12" x 12" and the Turquoise Level is $250 for a 4" x 8" brick.
Please show your family's commitment to the children of CollinCounty. For more information, please call the CASA office, 972-529-2272, extension 103.
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