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BECAUSE CASA WAS THERE

 

At only ten years old, Tyrone was already struggling in life.

 

After being removed from his home due to neglect by his drug-addicted mother, Tyrone was living in foster care and needed someone to look out for his needs.
Dallas CASA volunteer Doug was assigned to Tyrone's case, and he began working on Tyrone's behalf right away.

"When I visited him at the foster home, he was polite, well-mannered and well-behaved," he said. "It was one glowing report after another."

But school was a different story. The school reported to Doug that Tyrone was disruptive, not paying attention, a distraction in class and academically below grade level.

 

"So I sat him down and said your teacher tells me you're not paying attention. What's up with that?" Doug asked. "And this child says to me he doesn't care about school because he can't see anything on the board anyway.

And a light bulb went off in my head." READ MORE.

GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD BENEFITS DALLAS CASA
Kate Lacina and friend Allison Chaffin delivered hundreds of children's books to Dallas CASA.

For Dallas high school student Kate Lacina, literacy and foster care were the dual inspirations for her Girl Scout Gold Award project.

Kate wanted to increase literacy for children in foster care by putting books in their hands. Through book drives at her church, her school and in her neighborhood, Kate collected about 850 new books. She delivered them in June to Dallas CASA, where they will benefit abused and neglected children living in protective care.

 

Since 1916, the Girl Scouts Gold Award has been the highest achievement for Girl Scouts. The award challenges and inspires girls to improve their communities or solve a problem.

BENEFIT CONCERT FOR DALLAS CASA
Musicians of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performed June 14.

The Musicians of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra came together June 14 at Southern Methodist University's Caruth Auditorium for a free concert benefiting Dallas CASA.

 

Soloists Ann Marie Hudson Brink and Angela Fuller Heyde, both professional musicians, spoke about the impact they have been able to make in the community as CASA volunteers.

 

"One of the most valuable lessons I have learned as an advocate is that every challenge in a child's life is an invitation for me to affect change, an opportunity to chart a new course in their lives," said Ann Marie Hudson Brink, a Dallas CASA advocate.

 

Gerhardt Zimmerman, music director and conductor of the Canton (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra, conducted the concert, which featured music by Felix Mendelssohn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Camille Saint-Saens.

 

"That is the best I can do for these kids - promise not to let them down," Collin County CASA volunteer Angela Fuller Heyde said. "But in the end, no matter how many miles I drive, hours I spend or conversations I have, these children give me way more than I give them.

 

"I merely give them a voice. They give me purpose."

WELCOME NEW CASA VOLUNTEERS 
Members of the June 2015 training class with Judge Andrea Martin at their swearing-in June 26.

 

Dallas CASA's largest volunteer training class ever completed training and began swearing-in ceremonies in June. A record-breaking 50 new advocates completed 30 hours of training and are ready to give voices to children in need.


 

Traci Baar * Amber Bagwell * Laura Basurto * Mindy Baxter * Renee Beard * Shalundria Bell * Abby Borino * Rebecca Briscoe * Hanna Brown * Janice Buckley * Courtney Capshaw * Nancy Cherwitz * Taleatha Clark * Caroline Croley * Evan Currie * Amanda Davidson * Marty Davidson * Nneka Eni * Mollie Fabian * Neha Gaddam * Laura Gallichio * Naomi Garrett * Clara Garza * Randi Gordon * Brittany Guest * Amber Guevara * Emily Hoad * Patricia Kelly * David Komp * Deborah Mays * Maria Monteverde * Adrianna Moore * Karen Moore * Stephanie Nickerson * Dale O'Donnell * Dimple Patel * Liz Record * Cathy Reece * Pat Reed * Jennifer Rogers * Emily Sloan * Crystal Stutes * Joan Swearingen * Gracie Thompson * Jessica Tipton * Min Vasquez * Daniela Walker * Linda Weld * Sandra Wheeler * Cyndi Williams
DON'T FORGET

Dallas CASA's 20th annual Parade of Playhouses, presented by Crest Cadillac / Crest Infiniti and ORIX Foundation, is at NorthPark Center now through July 26. Sixteen unique and creative playhouses are on display and available to win through a raffle. Many children dream of having their very own fantasy playhouse. Abused and neglected children dream of having safe places to live. Help make dreams come true for abused children.

 

For more information or to purchase raffle tickets, visit HERE.

PLEASE JOIN US

Please join Dallas CASA at The Closing Party from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 23 at PIRCH at NorthPark Center. We will be launching the closing phase of Abused Children Can't Wait - The Campaign for Dallas CASA and celebrating the final days of the 20th annual Parade of Playhouses.

 

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit HERE.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Sharon Gardner's commitment to advocacy with Dallas CASA can be told in numbers. 


 On her latest case, she dealt with five children, five parents, seven attorneys and four caseworkers. She attended more than a dozen school meetings, participated in two mediations and made more than 100 entries in Optima.

READ MORE

CASA IN THE NEWS

Dallas CASA has been making headlines lately.
 

WFAA's Daybreak reported from Parade of Playhouses.

 

The Dallas Morning News' Steve Blow wrote about Parade of Playhouses builder Brad Thurman.

 

AIA Dallas featured Dallas architect and Parade of Playhouses designer Bob Borson.

 

The Dallas Morning News wrote about Dallas CASA's Parade of Playhouses.

VOLUNTEER  INFO SESSIONS

Spread the word about Dallas CASA to help abused and neglected children. Tell your friends, family and colleagues how they can become volunteer advocates and help us achieve our goal of serving every child in Dallas by 2019.

Upcoming CASA volunteer information sessions: 

* 12 to 1 p.m., July 31

* 6 to 7 p.m., Aug. 6

* 12 to 1 p.m., Aug. 14

For session schedule and registration, visit HERE.

ABOUT DALLAS CASA

When kids can't speak for themselves, CASA can.
 

On an average day in Dallas County, more than 2,000 abused and neglected children live in foster care because they cannot live safely at home. These children need powerful voices to speak for them. Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a non-profit organization of volunteers who are voices for abused children in court. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in protective care.


Sadly, Dallas CASA can only serve about half of the children who need CASA volunteers. You can help. A child is waiting for your voice.

To learn more about helping abused children, please visit Dallas CASA.

CASA and Court Appointed Special Advocates are registered trademarks of the National CASA Association.