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Casa's for CASA Help Children in Need
Tuesday, September 26, 2000 •By Kathleen Burt •The Daily News
Volunteers from Home Depot and the state Department of Corrections have picked up hammers and nails to build playhouses for the third annual Count Appointed Special Advocate fund-raising event. The resulting Casas for CASA playhouses are on display at five Home Depot locations through Oct. 7. "Casas for CASA is designed not just to raise money for our organization, but to raise awareness of the problem of abused and neglected children here in Memphis. Children that are stuck in the foster care system and dont have the resources to get back into safe, secure, permanent homes," said Dan Michael, CASA executive director. Designs are submitted from various organizations for the playhouses, which can range from an eloquent Victorian to an elaborate fort, then designs become reality as wood, trim and paint take shape. Each Home Depot will be staffed with volunteers to tell passers-by about CASA and to sell tickets for a chance to win a playhouse. Other playhouses will be up for bids at a silent auction beginning at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Home Depot on Truse Parkway. Both the Truse location and the store at Giacosa Place near Wolfchase will host childrens parties. "This year, we hope to raise $15,000 for CASA," said Alicia Gallo-Kenoyer, Casas for CASA chairman. Founded in 1986, CASA provides a vice for abused and neglected children in Memphis courts. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to make recommendations in the childs best interest in such cases, Michael said. About 4,000 children in Shelby County need the services of a CASA each year. Casas for CASA is a nationwide program, which began in Texas. This the third year for the program in Memphis. "The guys and gals that do this work have a lot of fun designing the playhouses and building them," he said. "I was at a meeting of the Home Depot folks this year and they were really hot to get a hold of some new designs." In addition to Home Depot and the Department of Corrections, other sponsors are Summit Copy Services, the Junior League and Chick-fil-A. Michael said he was thrilled to see the connection with the department of corrections. "Its a good connection because if we dont do our jobs, if we dont get to those kids when we need to get to them, DOCs going to be taking care of them 15-20 years from now anyway," he said. Through this project is designed to raise funds for the organization, making the public aware of what CASA does and whom it serves is a larger goal, Michael said. "Public awareness is critical, were a small agency. Weve operated in Memphis for a long time. We serve that segment of society that has been marginalized, people just dont want to have to deal with it. "We have to do things to get our face out in front of the community. Special events go a long way to helping us publicize who we are and the plight of the children are in Memphis."
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