CASA Kentucky Derby Hat Auction to be Held Monday

BY MELANIE BUCK –

Tickets are on sale now for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the Ouachita’s ever popular and ever growing Running of the Roses Kentucky Derby Fundraiser. Now in its third year, the event provides much needed funding for CASA to assist abused and neglected children in Polk, Montgomery, and now Sevier counties.

As CASA Director Cynthia Martin explained, the Department of Children and Family Services is overburdened. The three counties that the local CASA assists struggle to find enough foster homes to place children in that have been removed from their homes and their parents. In many cases, she explained, these children are sent to other foster homes or group homes all across the state, sometimes as far as Jonesboro and Fayetteville. And, their volunteers travel to wherever the children are, to provide a constant presence in the children’s lives.

“We don’t care where the children are, we will go visit them. Whatever the child’s needs are, we have the resources and we will advocate on their behalf to insure that they don’t fall through the cracks of the foster system,” said Martin.

CASA’s influence is highly favored by the courts because they solely represent the child. Specially trained, they are allowed to make recommendations on placement in future court proceedings. Along with the importance of that, CASA volunteers are a lifeline to these children. Suffering from abuse and neglect, it is the CASA volunteers along with DCFS who make regular check-ups with the children, celebrate birthdays and other milestones, providing constant reassurance that someone does care and love them. Unlike DCFS workers, CASA volunteers typically have only one case so they have more time to spend advocating for the children they are appointed to.

“Federal budget cuts are threatening our ability to ensure that abused and neglected children have a caring volunteer standing by their side, speaking up for their best interests and giving them hope for the future. Our approach works. When we can reach a child in need, his or her life changes, for the better. But for every foster child with a CASA volunteer, two others go it alone.”

CASA is a 501c3, meaning that all donations made to the organization are tax-deductible. All CASA volunteers are true volunteers and receive no compensation for their time. Cynthia said that their entire program is funded through state and federal grants and their fundraisers.

CASA of the Ouachitas served 90 children in 2014 with 22 active volunteers in all three counties in their region. Partly with the almost $8,000 raised at last year’s Derby fundraiser.

This year’s Derby fundraiser will be held on the patio at Stache’s Cookery, on Hwy. 71 N, in Mena, on Saturday, May 2, from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and include a meal, a signature Derby drink, entertainment by local band Brothers & Sons, and the opportunity to watch the Kentucky Derby on the big screen. Tickets can be purchased at CASA, on DeQueen Street, or at Arvest and Union Banks.

A new fundraiser they are planning to hold around two weeks before the Derby is a hat auction. It is well known that ladies and gentlemen who attend the Kentucky Derby have a tendency to wear fancy hats, and so do CASA’s attendees. Although finding a hat to wear isn’t always easy. This year, CASA is planning a Hat Auction to take place at Stache’s as well, where women will have the opportunity to purchase a hat for this year’s Derby fundraiser. Keep checking The Pulse for the release of the time and date of that event.

Martin said there are many ways to show your support to the children of CASA and hopes that anyone interested will contact her office to learn more at 479-243-9277 or visit the National site at mailto:http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301295/k.BE9A/Home.htm

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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