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TANISHA NEEDED A HOME BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED

 

Tanisha turned four and then five while she was in foster care. She grew three inches and two shoe sizes. She celebrated two Christmases without family and moved to five different temporary foster homes, all before she started elementary school.

 

Thankfully, Dallas CASA volunteer Terry was assigned to her case and worked on Tanisha's behalf, clearing away the darkness of confusion and shining light on what Tanisha would need to grow, learn and thrive.

 

Tanisha's mother struggled with untreated mental illness and supported a drug habit through prostitution. After her mom abandoned her with a neighbor, Tanisha was placed in foster care. One by one, every foster home she lived in had to stop fostering children. One foster family's job situation changed. Another had a problem with day care. Another was being investigated by CPS. None of it was Tanisha's fault. READ MORE

DE STIJL HOUSE FINDS A HOME AFTER PARADE OF PLAYHOUSES
Dallas CASA playhouse brings joy to forever family.
Dallas CASA's Parade of Playhouses raises funds and awareness but this year one family's dreams came true when they won the De Stijl house.

Each summer Parade of Playhouses features imaginative children's playhouses on display and available to win by raffle. While most children dream of a playhouse to call their very own, abused and neglected children only dream of a safe place to call home.

This year's DE STIJL house found the perfect forever home in the shady Irving backyard of Jeff Fraley, Matt Lain and their six children. READ MORE
THE CLOSING PARTY AT PIRCH
Jana and Mike Brosin and Fran and Mark Berg at The Closing Party.
Dallas CASA kicked off the final phase of Abused Children Can't Wait - The Campaign for Dallas CASA at PIRCH July 23 with The Closing Party.

Launching both the final phase of the $37 million campaign as well as celebrating the 20th anniversary Parade of Playhouses, the party was hosted by the Dallas CASA Board of Directors and Dallas CASA's Young Professionals group.

Speaking to more than 300 guests, Kathleen LaValle, Dallas CASA executive director and president, said the campaign is less than $1.5 million away from the goal of $37 million. "The challenge is a personal one to us and we know it is to you too," she said. "These children truly deserve our care and concern."
NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY
North Texas Giving Day is Sept. 17. On this one special day, Communities Foundation of Texas matches a percentage of every gift North Texans make to their favorite charities.
In 2014, Dallas CASA supporters donated more than $62,000 on North Texas Giving Day to help us provide more advocates to children in need. It costs Dallas CASA $2,129 a year to provide a volunteer advocate to help an abused child, meaning funds raised in 2014 allowed us to provide an additional 29 volunteers for abused children. For 2015, an anonymous donor has issued a challenge donation. Every dollar given to Dallas CASA on North Texas Giving Day will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $25,000.

During the coming weeks, watch your e-mail inbox and social media sites as we tell you about Paige, a four-year-old girl who needed someone to speak up for her needs and the CASA volunteer who made a difference for the child. Children like Paige need our help and protection and we need your help to make that possible.

For more information, click HERE.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Ben Wilkins, program director, with Walter McInnis from Akerman LLP.

Dallas CASA wishes to say a special thank you to all our generous donors who provided school supplies for CASA children going back to school.

 

From pencils and pens to backpacks and rulers, Dallas CASA supporters came through for our children.

Akerman LLP * National Charity League's Heart of Dallas chapter * 

Outfront Media * Waldman Brothers * Young Agents of Dallas * 

Young Men's Service League * Zenith Insurance

NORTHPARK CENTER'S 50 YEARS OF GIVING BENEFITS DALLAS CASA
Beneficiary organizations of NorthPark50: 50 Years of Giving were announced at an Aug. 19 press conference.

For nearly 50 years, NorthPark Center has had the great opportunity to partner with numerous nonprofits organizations, helping them reach new audiences and raise funds for important causes. For 50 days, as part of ts 50th anniversary celebration, NorthPark Center will give back to local nonprofit organizations that help our community thrive. 
Dallas CASA was honored with NorthPark50's first gift of high-profile billboards advertising for additional volunteer advocates. One billboard alone, near Walnut Hill Lane and Central Expressway, receives more than 250,000 impressions every day.

"NorthPark's gift of well-placed billboards publicizing the call to become a child's advocate will have an enormous impact on our ability to recruit more community volunteers. A billboard message can plant the initial seed or deliver the final nudge that brings volunteers we need to be sure no child navigates the child welfare system alone," said Dallas CASA Executive Director and President Kathleen LaValle.
NorthPark Center's Fifty Days of Giving: Dallas CASA
NorthPark Center's Fifty Years of Giving: Dallas CASA

WELCOME NEW CASA VOLUNTEERS 
Members of the most recent training class with Judge Andrea Martin at their swearing-in ceremony Aug. 20.

 

We welcome our new volunteer advocates sworn in this August. Each of these volunteers has completed 30 hours of training, been sworn in by the court and are ready to take on new cases.

 

Cindy Adams * Brooke Aleksic * Katrina Austin Kamau * Brenda Balli * Mary Bester * Katie Borkowski * Karri Bertrand Bolton * Ashley Broadus * John Broadus * Meredith Caldwell * Jennifer Campbell * Aleshea Carriere * Brandi Carter * Rosemary Carter * Lucero Castillo * Sarah Christjans * Ashley Dixon * Colleen Durkin * Alexis Evanich * Mackenzie Frankenberg * Ashley Fridia * Laura Garton * Christina Gonzalez * Ashley Graves * Rhonda Greenberg * Corey Hamilton * Kelcey Hamilton * Sky Harrison * Joan Hass * Reasha Hedke * Laura Hoffman * Bionca Huey * Dawn Jobe * Catherine Keith * Lauren Lawson * Meyon Lawson * Alejandra Luna * Julia Macias * Walt Marston * Sarah Matteson * Nicole Nathan * Laura Ouin * Julie Picht * Sarah Pierson * Allen Pitts * Nikhat Qureshi * Priscilla Rhabbles * Allison Slomowitz * Michelle Slovak * Jeffrey Tapp * Jennifer Tauzel * Gracie Thompson * Tamma Walley * Thomas Washington * Barbara West * Candace Williams * Kimberly Wise
SAVE THE DATE


Dallas CASA is pleased to announce that AT&T and its employees will be honored with the prestigious Judge Barefoot Sanders Champion of Children Award at the 2015 Champion of Children Award Dinner Oct. 14 at The Fairmont Dallas Hotel. Join co-chairs Jana and Mike Brosin to hear speaker Ashley Rhodes-Courter, author of The New York Times best-selling Three Little Words, in a live on-stage interview with Gloria Campos. After nearly a decade in foster care in Florida, a CASA volunteer changed Ashley's life by advocating for a permanent home for her. Mark your calendars now to join us in thanking and honoring AT&T. For more information, click HERE.

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 protective care in Dallas by 2019.

Upcoming CASA volunteer information sessions: 

* 6 to 7 p.m., Sept. 3

* 12 to 1 p.m., Sept. 11

* 6 to 7 p.m., Sept. 17

* 12 to 1 pm., Sept. 18

For session schedule and registration, click HERE.

CASA ANGELS
Each year generous donors provide gifts at the holidays to the children served by Dallas CASA. In 2014, more than 1,400 children received gifts through our Angel Tree program. We project needing gifts for 1,800 children in 2015 and are seeking businesses, professional organizations and groups willing to pledge a specific number of gifts. For more information, click HERE.
ATTORNEYS SERVING THE COMMUNITY
Dallas CASA is honored to have been chosen as the 2015-2016 Attorneys Serving the Community (ASC) beneficiary. ASC began in 1987 when a handful of Dallas women attorneys pooled their talents and interests, joining together in the spirit of community service. Today, ASC's more than 400 members present a series of fundraising events throughout the year culminating in a luncheon, with all proceeds going to Dallas CASA. For more information, click HERE.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT


Heather Wellman, a Dallas CASA volunteer, is adding opportunities to impact children's lives and starting a new job at Teach for America this fall. As students head back to school this fall one Dallas CASA advocate is heading back to school as well. Heather Wellman will be starting a position with Teach for America, teaching sixth and seventh grade math at Sarah Zumwalt Middle School in south Oak Cliff. She's hoping lessons she's learning as an advocate will translate to success in the classroom as well. READ MORE

SNAPPY SALADS
As part of NorthPark Center's 50 Days of Giving, Snappy Salads will donate 50 cents for every Grilled Avocado Salad sold now through Oct. 10. Snappy's top-selling salad features lettuce, black bean and corn relish, grilled avocado, sliced tomato and a chipotle-lime vinaigrette. Snappy Salads will also donate all the contents of their "Change for Change" collection jar received during the 50 days to Dallas CASA. Thank you, Snappy Salads and NorthPark Center!
For more information about Snappy Salads, click HERE.
ELIE TAHARI
You're invited to support Dallas CASA and celebrate the 50th anniversary of NorthPark Center as Elie Tahari showcases its fall 2015 collection. Patrons will enjoy $100 off purchases of more than $400 and $250 off purchases of $800 or more.
The event is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at Elie Tahari at NorthPark Center and features cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. For more information, click HERE.
SMU THETA 5K

Join Southern Methodist University's Kappa Alpha Theta chapter Nov. 1 for the Theta 5K 2015 benefiting Dallas CASA. A one-mile fun run begins at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K run is at 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 through the SMU campus. To register, click HERE.

TEXAS CASA CONFERENCE

The annual Texas CASA conference will be Nov. 5 to 7 in San Marcos. With more than 26 workshops offered on topics ranging from human trafficking to trust-based intervention, the three-day conference promises to be a learning and bonding experience.

For more information, click 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.