,
 April
is a time of rebirth and beauty in Texas. After a long and especially
harsh winter, we are all enjoying those long lost 80 degree days, when
we feel like kicking off our shoes and enjoying the beauty of the Texas
outdoors. Bluebonnets, flowering trees and the seasonal color that we
plant in our gardens are all signs of rebirth and renewal.
April is
also a time to stop and remember our children suffering the horrors of
child abuse, as we commemorate Child Abuse Prevention Month. Take time
to think of these innocent children who are desperately looking for some way to
escape the harsh reality of an abusive life and begin the path to
renewal and rebirth. Thankfully, CASA is there
to help these young victims find hope for a brighter future in a safe and
loving home. Our 200 CASA volunteers are part of a national volunteer
base of over 50,000 CASA volunteers nationally, speaking up for abused
children all over the country.
We thank each and every
one of our Volunteer Advocates and all of our caring volunteers that help
CASA provide a safe and promising future for our most vulnerable
citizens...our children.
Susan Etheridge
Executive Director
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Voice for Children Gala
The Voice for Children Gala, held on Saturday, March 6th was an exciting evening of glitter and
glamour as guests enjoyed the Hollywood extravaganza, presented by the CASA of
Collin County Voice for Children Gala Committee, sponsored by Ewing Autohaus, the
Mercedes Benz dealer of Plano. The award winning evening included silent and
live auctions, celebrity impersonators, gourmet dinner and entertainment by the
Think Big! With Bulletproof Brass Band - benefiting the abused and neglected
children of Collin
County.
The gala Hollywood
theme derived from the Academy Awards held the following night. Guests entered
the InterContinental Hotel Dallas passing down the red carpet flanked by two
oversized gold Oscar statues. A silent
auction with fine art, sports memorabilia, jewelry, clothes, accessories,
services and restaurant gift certificates enticed guests to spend freely in
support of Collin
County foster care
children. Celebrity impersonators - Elizabeth
Taylor, Groucho Marx, Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart entertained guests.
Read more and view the photo gallery from this special event!
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 Diane Chester Wins National
CASA Award
Recognized
for her exceptional board leadership and support of CASA volunteer
advocates,
Ms. Chester will receive this prestigious award during the National CASA
Conference-Awards
of Excellence Recognition Banquet held on Saturday, April 17, 2010 in
Atlanta GA.
Ms. Chester will be provided complimentary registration and air fare to
the
National CASA Conference and CASA of Collin County will receive a $1,500
cash
award in Ms. Chester's honor.
"Diane
has brought in many new board members, donors and donor prospects to
CASA of
Collin County", shares Susan Etheridge, Executive Director of CASA of
Collin County. "Her leadership has ensured our fiscal success in the
purchase of our own office, which has provided and enhanced the space
needed
for child visitation, staff offices and training for volunteer classes
of up to
30 new advocates."
View the complete press release.
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Donor Highlights
Children were the real winners of the 14th
Annual McCraw Oil/Kwik Chek Golf Tournament that was held at Webb Hill
Country Club this past November. Local CASA programs located in the
same communities as Kwik Chek in Texas benefited from this tournament,
as did the state association, Texas CASA. Kwik Chek operates 46
convenience stores in North and South Texas and Southern Oklahoma .
CASA of Collin County was one of the
beneficiaries of this generous donation. Thank you to owners Doyce Taylor, Kevin Smartt, and to
everyone from McCraw Oil/Kwik Chek!
Accepting a generous
donation from McCraw Oil/Kwik Chek are, from left, Heather Parsons, Development Director of Texas CASA, Sandy Barber, Executive Director of Fannin County Children's Center, and Kevin Smartt,
co-owner of McCraw Oil/Kwik Chek Convenience Stores.
Pam Dunlap, second grade teacher at Trinity Christian Academy, was
surprised on her birthday when the entire class donated toys and games
to CASA in honor of their beloved teacher. Thank you to Mrs. Dunlap's
class of kids who care!
During Child Abuse
Prevention Month, please step up to help Collin County's
abused and neglected children find better lives! Donate Now!
$50 provides for a
CASA/foster child initial visit
$100 provides a CASA
for a foster child for 1 month
$250 provides a CASA for a foster child for 2 1/2 months
$500 provides a CASA
for a child for 5 mos.
$1,200 provides a CASA for a child for 1 year
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During Volunteer
Appreciation Month, CASA will host our
second training class of 2010. The class will begin on Saturday, April
10th
and be completed on Thursday, April 22nd. Already this
quarter, we have seen at 33% increase in the number of children needing a
CASA
volunteer. There will be two more trainings held later in 2010. We hope
you will consider joining our effort and Speak Up for a Child!  JCPenney Volunteers will
be highlighted at the Volunteer
Center of North Texas Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast entitled " The Lone Star Salute". Held on Thursday, April 22nd at The
Plano Centre, the breakfast features hundreds of volunteers from Collin
County
whose service makes a difference in lives in Collin County.
CASA of Collin County appreciates JCPenney for their
enthusiastic volunteers that helped provide abused children with a fun and fanciful indoor and outdoor play
space
during parent visitation. |
Presidential
Proclamation:
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Want
to
learn more
about Child Abuse Prevention Month?
Child Abuse Prevention Month
 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and caring CASA supporters are offering ways for you to make this month meaningful for children in need. One of our local supporters, Megan Eidson of Megan Eidson Photography, is offering free photo opportunities for foster children during our local bluebonnet season. Megan is also a mother of 4 foster children (all soon to be adopted!) . She would love to donate some of her time to any foster parents wanting pictures in the bluebonnets to send with their kids upon permanency (whether that's in an adoptive home or reunification). Please contact Megan if you know of any foster parents who would be interested in taking advantage of this priceless photo opportunity within the next few weeks. Megan has a few Saturdays and some weekdays available during bluebonnet season to take portraits. Check her out on facebookor contact Megan via email.  Chicken Kabobs... Shrimp Kabobs... Famous Roll-ups... or Marinated Chicken. Which will it be tonight? Just say "CASA" when you purchase your dinner for 4 and Zoe's Kitchen will give back $5 each time.Take out only. Park & Preston location only. 972-248-1010. Visit www.zoeskitchen.comor email casa@casaofcollincounty.org Golf TournamentSave
the Date: Monday, September 27, 2010 For
more information contact Susie Addison,
Events Manager |
Local Organizations Host Events for CASA
 Kiwanis Club of McKinney's Triathlon
Sunday, May 2, 2010
This year's event will include a
Health and Wellness Fair on May 1st and a Triathlon and 5K
on May 2nd.
For more information, contact: Kent Paluga, Kiwanis President at 972-542-2202 or Mark Carswell, Event Coordinator at 214-717-9212.
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Thanks to all those who sponsored, attended or donated to our 9th Annual Voice for Children Gala. Your support will help CASA change the lives of hundreds of abused and neglected children this year. Please join us next year for our 10th Annual Voice for Children Gala!
Best Picture Presenting Sponsor Best Actor SponsorDanya and Mike Anderson
  
  The Kravitz Group
Best Musical Score
Media Sponsors
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CASA
of Collin County receives
a variety of federal, state and local grants to help provide services to
100%
of children removed from unsafe homes in Collin County.
Please take the time to fill out the 2010 census questionaire and return
promptly.
Our local community relies on the census count to get our fair share of
governmental funds! Here's some facts you might not have realized:
Funds
Allocation and Congressional Apportionment
More than $400 billion in federal funds distributed each year to states and communities based in part on
census
population data.
435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be apportioned according to the 2010 Census.
Article 1,
Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution requires a census once a decade.
For more interesting
facts about the 2010 Census, visit The US Census official publication
online 2010 Census: By The Numbers.
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Our Mission is to train community volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children involved in the court system so that each child is placed into a safe, loving home where he or she can thrive.
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