Dallas CASA Classic raises $1.3 million to help abused kids in foster care
On an average day in Dallas, more than 2,700 abused, neglected children live in foster care because they cannot safely live at home
AT&T, Goldman Sachs and Pioneer Natural Resources joined forces on April 25 to host the Dallas CASA Classic, a charity golf tournament that contributed $1.3 million for the abused and neglected children Dallas CASA serves.
Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) provides volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
Volunteers gather information that helps judges decide where children can safely and permanently live.
The tournament, which draws 700 golfers from around the country, is the largest single-day, non-PGA golf fundraiser in the country.
“The golf tournament is the reason Dallas CASA has been able to dramatically increase the number of abused and neglected children we serve,” said Kathleen LaValle, Dallas CASA executive director and president.
Held simultaneously at Brookhaven Country Club and the Four Seasons Resort & Club in Las Colinas, the tournament features a full day of golf with both morning and afternoon sessions.
“We now serve five and a half times the number of children we were helping when the tournament first began. Last year alone, revenue from the tournament allowed us to recruit and train 334 new volunteer advocates and supervise and support 921 volunteers who advocated for 2,680 children – all record highs,” said LaValle.
The Dallas CASA Classic has raised critically-needed funds and awareness for CASA since 1998. Since the tournament’s inception, it has raised nearly $15 million for the children served by Dallas CASA. Next year’s 20th anniversary tournament will be held on April 24, 2017.
On an average day in Dallas, more than 2,700 abused and neglected children live in foster care because they cannot safely live at home.
Only about three out of five of those children have a CASA volunteer who can speak for them, but funds from the golf tournament will allow Dallas CASA to recruit, train and supervise more volunteers to serve more children.
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