Greetings!
 December is a time for counting our blessings and sharing our heartfelt appreciation with others. I would like to take the opportunity to thank many, many people for their support of CASA and the children we serve. First, I'd like to thank our dedicated volunteer advocates, over 200 of you who provide countless hours of support and ensure every child has a powerful voice in their search for a safe and loving "forever home".
Our dedicated Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Staff devote their time and talent to ensure CASA has the resources, training and support we need to serve every foster child under jurisdiction of the Collin County Courts.
Our donors and supporters include many, many generous businesses, foundations, civic groups, individuals and children and their families! Without your financial support and your donations of much needed items for our children, we wouldn't be able to weather the challenging economic times. We appreciate the opportunity to work alongside many community partners including the District Court Judges, The DA's Office, Law Enforcement, attorneys, CPS workers, and many partner agencies. I thank you for walking side by side with us in the fight against child abuse. Remember, it is the collective efforts of all that ensures our children have hope for a brighter future. Thank you and may 2011 bring hope and healing to our children!
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Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas
As we get ready to say goodbye to 2010 and ring in a new year, please consider making a year-end donation to CASA of Collin County. Gifts can be given online or mailed to our office. For questions about your year end gift, contact Kathy Blank or call 972-529- 2272 ext. 103.
There are several ways you can help CASA provide a trained volunteer advocate for children in Collin County that find themselves in foster care during the holidays and for the foreseeable future.
- Nathan's Challenge, our 2010 Annual Campaign, was inspired by a 9 year-old McKinney boy who has raised over $2,000 for CASA throughout 2010. He's an inspiration to all of us and we hope he inspires you to give during this holiday season. Donate Now.
- Super Bowl Raffle Tickets make great stocking stuffers! For a Once In A Lifetime chance to attend a Super Bowl, you can purchase raffle tickets for an amazing Super Bowl package including tickets, VIP parties and dinners.
- Support our 10th Annual Voice for Children Gala held on February 12, 2011! Purchase a ticket ($250) or table ($2,500) now!
- CASA Capital Campaign: Purchase a commemorative brick for our Pathways to Permanency Walkway in honor or memory of a loved one. Bricks available for $250 4" x 8" or $1,000 12" x 12". Contact Kathy Blank for more information.
- Party with a Purpose: Host your own holiday event and ask your guests to join you in donating to CASA! Contact Sharon Margulieux to get started!
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Gather your family or friends and join us in support of abused and neglected children in our community. This year is our 10th Annual Voice for Children Gala! Join in the fun and Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez - "let the good times roll" as we enjoy a festive evening complete with all the fun of Mardi Gras with strolling entertainers, incredible silent auction items, a delicious dinner and an exceptional live auction.
Exceptional Live Auction Items
Exquisite Sheared Mink Jacket by Bill Blass, donated by Neiman Marcus Willow Bend. More details and pictures to come!
2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Final Four Experience!- 2 Tickets to NCAA National Semifinalist Game on Saturday and
- 2 Tickets to Championship Game on Monday, April 4, 2010 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
- Package includes 3 night stay at Hyatt Summerfield Suites Houston and
- 2 American Airlines round trip tickets
New York Luxurious Weekend Package
- 3 night hotel stay at the Luxurious Andaz 5th Avenue
- Dinner for 2 at your choice of one of five popular upscale NY Restaurants
- 2 orchestra or front mezzanine seats for Broadway Show of your choice, including Wicked, Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, A Little Night Music, Memphis, Billy Elliot and many more.
- 2 American Airlines round trip tickets.
U2 360 Tour Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 at 7p.m. U2s massive 360 Tour wasn't just the biggest trek this year in terms of sheer size: the band's latest jaunt supporting No Line on the Horizon has also been named the year's most successful show!
Package includes Premium Lower Level seats at the Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL with a 3 night hotel stay at Hyatt Regency, Miami and 2 American Airlines round trip tickets.
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Brightening the Holidays for Children
Jared Jewelers in Plano passed along some donated Bears, which were delivered by James and Cindy Wells. Thank you Jared Jewelers!
On right, Tina Berger from the Mayfair Neighborhood in McKinney, brought in a huge box of donations from their holiday party, including cash donations, gift cards, clothing and toys for our children!
Nathan Bush, back center, visits with children from Riddle Street Montessori School to sh are about CASA and encourage children to help other children in need!
On right, Chantel Marshall from Alcatel-Lucent brought in over 35 bags of toys and clothing and even a bicycle for the children served by CASA. Thank you to all of our friends at Alcatel-Lucent for collecting hundreds of toys for hundreds of children over the past two years!
One of our youngest supporters is McKinney Christian Academy Kindergarten Student, Mia Norman. Mia donated toys and PJ's as part of her Birthday Celebration for Baby Jesus. Mia posed in front of the Christ mas tree with Susan Etheridge, CASA Executive Director.
On right, Tammy Watts and her daughter, Dannie, and son, Chris, help collect Christmas presents for the eight children she serves as a CASA volunteer advocate. Thanks to the generosity of CASA donors, no foster child will go without over the holidays!
 Recently, the Young Professionals of the McKinney Chamber hosted a holiday after hours at Churchill's in McKinney. They collected gift card and monetary donations for the children served by CASA. Thank you, Young Professionals, for taking care of abused children over the holidays! Pictured from left, Bryan Steger, Emerson, Holly Beckerley, CASA Casework Supervisor, Beth McGuire, McKinney Chamber, and Marcelo Castenada, AXA Advisors.
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Blankets provide warmth and snuggles to local charities
 CASA of Collin County was one of eleven charities to receive hand-made quilts, receiving blankets and pillowcases at the JVP Quilters 3rd Annual Christmas Coffee held on November 30th at the First Baptist Church, Plano. CASA received 30 quilts, 20 receiving blankets and 34 pillowcases all lovingly made by the quilting members.
Pictured are Beverly Hartin (left) and Ann Haney (right) holding a quilt that Beverly made especially for CASA. This past year, JVP Quilters made 266 quilts, 618 pillowcases, and 89 crochet edge receiving blankets throughout the year to donate to charities servicing children and veterans.
 The fifth grade classes at Mitchell Elementary school in Plano ISD made comfort blankets for the kids that CASA serves. The fifth graders learned about volunteering while making these blankets for kids that find themselves in foster care during this holidays season.
Sharon Margulieux spoke to the classes about volunteering and how appreciative kids, who have been removed from their home, are for something soft and huggable to call their own. Many times, kids leave their home with just the clothes they're wearing and leave behind their toys and other possessions. Many thanks go out to Leanne Sivec for organizing this activity and thinking of CASA as a worthy recipient of the blankets. |
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 Nathan's Challenge Update
As of December 20, 2010, The CASA 2010 Year End Campaign called Nathan's Challenge has raised $11,421 for CASA. This year, the children of our community are making a difference, but we need the help from adults and children alike, to reach our goal of $25,000 before the campaign closes in January.
Just today, we received a donation from 13 year old Kristen Fronmuller, who raised $560 in support of CASA by asking her birthday party guests to donate to CASA in lieu of presents. Thank you, Kristen, for your youthful philanthropy! Join Nathan, Kristen and many other of our young donors and Donate Today to become a part of Nathan's Challenge!
 Nathan Bush displays some of the jewelry he is selling for CASA with his proud mother, Jacqui Bush. If you would like to contribute to Nathan's Challenge, visit the CASA website or stop in at Jacqui's store, Stained Glass of McKinney at 214 N. Kentucky Street, McKinney, 75069.
Nathan has raised $2,170 for CASA, many of the funds from the beautiful $5 glass rings he is selling. Each and every donation is changing lives of CASA children for the better. You can make a difference, too! Donate Now
Thank you for supporting Nathan's Challenge!
Harry LaRosiliere
2010 Annual Appeal Chair
CASA Advisory Board Member
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| Upcoming Beneficiary Events |
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Motorcycle Ride Exclusively Benefiting
CASA of Collin County
Sunday, April 10, 2011
For more information, please contact Sharon Margulieux or call (972) 529.2272, ext. 113.
Download Event Flyer - Registration Form - Letter of Invitation
Sponsorship Opportunities - Auction Donation Form
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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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CASA 2011 Super Bowl Raffle Package |  | |
A Super Bowl Package will be raffled at the VIP pre-Gala Sponsor Party on January 15, 2011.
$50 per ticket or 3 for $100
 2 tickets to the Super Bowl
2 tickets to Friday night party hosted by Leigh Steinberg
2 tickets to Saturday night party hosted by Kevin Costner
Dinner for 2 at Bella
Dinner for 2 at The Place
Autographed jersey from one of the Super Bowl quarterbacks, your choice
Raffle Tickets Form
Proceeds benefit CASA of Collin County |
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Thank you to our generous sponsors for our 10th Annual
Table Host
(table of ten)
$2,500
Ad in Program $500 half pg
$1,000 whole pg
Sponsorships start at $3,000
Sign up to be a sponsor NOW to be listed on the invitation!
Bourbon Street
Title Sponsor
Royal Street Presenting Sponsor
Danya & Mike
Anderson
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CASA of Collin County Receives Bruton Smith Speedway Children's Charities Founder's Grant
Jaime Carlin, Executive Director of Speedway Children's Charities (right) visits the CASA office to select the perfect location for the Speedway Children's Charities' Executive Wing Plaque. Jaime is pictured above with Susan Etheridge, CASA Executive Director and Randy Roland, Assistant Chief of Police for the City of McKinney and CASA Board President.
Thanks to the generosity of Speedway Children's Charities, CASA received the Bruton Smith Speedway Children's Charities Founders Grant for $150,000 this month. We have now raised 78% of our $1.2 Million Capital Campaign that was started in 2008. These generous capital campaign donors have ensured we have adequate office space and child dedicated rooms to better serve the hundreds of abused and neglected children we see every year!
Special Thanks to the following Capital Campaign Donors at $10,000 and above:
David and Tina Craig Speedway Children's Charities CASA Board of Directors The John Victor Lattimore
Foundation The Rees-Jones Foundation Harold Simmons Foundation
Hon. David Dorman Anonymous Foundation # 1 JCPenney Geico Mario Sinacola and Sons Dr. Donald Chester Family The Embrey Family Foundation | |
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During National Adoption Day, a child's adoptive parents and grandparents celebrate along with Judge Cynthia Wheless (center), Attorney Lee Bean(left) and CASA Volunteer Advocate, Virginia Barrett (right). Finding a forever home is the joyful result of the combined efforts of everyone working on behalf of a foster child. It often takes a year or longer to help a child through the lengthy and complicated legal process for placement in a safe and loving "forever home"!
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Welcome Deacon!
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Celebrating a new arrival for CASA Supervisor, Sally Howard Deacon Howard was born on December 8th, and weighed 8 pounds and 13 ounces and is 21 ½ inches long.
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