Shimmering ornaments with a special touch of originality will be put up for auction to raise awareness of Garland County's nonprofit organization Court Appointed Special Advocates.
CASA is transforming The Regency, 714 Central Avenue, into a decoration extravaganza at the 12th Annual Ornamental Affair. Patrons will be able to bid on approximately 60 handcrafted ornaments and miscellaneous items in silent auctions from 7-10 p.m. Dec. 11. The Shady Grove Band will provide live music and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. Attire is business casual.
Tickets are $15, which can be purchased by calling 321-9269, email [email protected], or at http://www.garlandcountycasa.org.
"I would like for people to leave with an awareness of our program, what we do for the kids in Garland County and our continued need for volunteers," Suzanne Herron, executive director, said.
Several local and celebrity artists have donated ornaments to raise funds to help recruit community volunteers for CASA. The volunteers work with a 12-month case and are typically the only consistent person children in foster care have in their life. A child could move five or six times in the duration of a case and the volunteer is there to help play a role as a mentor through the process.
"We recruit community volunteers to advocate for our children," Herron said. "It costs us $1,000 a year to recruit, train and support a volunteer for the duration of a case."
According to CASA's website, Garland County ranks among the worst in the state in the per-capita rates of child abuse and neglect. Over the past two years, CASA has expanded to Hot Spring and Grant counties, the only two counties in the state that were without the program. The program serves approximately 200 to 300 children a year in Garland County alone.
"We only serve about 60 percent of the children that are in the foster care system," Herron said.
CASA got it's start in Garland County after former Circuit Court Judge Vicki Cook saw an existing CASA program and recognized a need for the program. Cook is a honorary chairperson as she was instrumental in the starting of the program in 1995 and later restructuring it in 1997.
"She welcomed us into her court room and utilized our volunteers," Herron said. "She has always been one of our biggest advocates of what we do and has always supported us through the court system."
Last year, they raised $6,000 and hope to raise $10,000 with this year's event. Local artists include Marci Lowery, All Things Arkansas; Ann Gilbert, American Art Gallery; Suzie Burch, Garvan Woodland Gardens; Wayne Summerhill, Gallery Central; Lori Arnold; and Jan Briggs, Artist Workshop.
Celebrity artists include Cook; first lady Susan Hutchinson; Tiffany Thornton, KLAZ and former Disney star; Alyson Courtney, anchor for KATV; state Rep. Laurie Rushing, R-District 26; and state Sen. Alan Clark, R-District 13.
"Richard Stephens, who is an artist, has always done ornaments for us in the past," Herron said. "However, this year he did all the artwork for advertising and we want to thank him for his contribution."
Sponsors include Gregg Orr Marine, Gregg Orr Toyota, Gregg Orr Honda and Gregg Orr Pre-Owned. Attendees can bid on many items donated by several local businesses such as a pearl necklace from Adrianne Kahn Jewelers, a Razorback tailgate basket from Southern Bancorp, and a liquor basket from The Wine Rack.
CASA also thanked all the sponsors and artists who have donated and shown their support for the organization.
Local on 11/25/2015