Parade Of Playhouses Closing Party Was Highlighted By The Reveal Of A Newly Created Award

While Dallas CASA‘s 2024 Parade Of Playhouses was nearing an end at NorthPark Center, there was a gathering to celebrate the builders, designers and teams who had volunteered their time, talents and materials to create the fundraising showcase of 13 munchkin-friendly houses. Taking place at the center’s Breadwinners on Thursday, June 27, the crowd included such longtime supporters as Presenting Sponsor Crest Cadillac’s Mike Brosin, Butscher Construction’s Amy Butscher and LRO Residential.

The evening also provided a special announcement about the creation of a new award that would be presented annually to the team that attracts the most raffle tickets. It was created to honor creative playhouse builder Jeff Kindig, who passed away this past May. Here’s a report from the field:

Dallas CASA celebrated the end of Parade of Playhouses with a special closing party to thank all the volunteers, builders, designers and sponsors like Yvette Hightower, Polly McKeithen, Bruce Bernbaum, Paige Langum, Jonathan Campbell, Manuel Calderon, Rafael Cordero, Ryker Wallace, Geoff Reiner, Alfredo Padilla, Zach Hill and Sophie Moss who helped make the 29^th event possible.

The evening featured a mix of creative types, builders and supporters mingling together at Breadwinners at NorthPark Center for a shared purpose: to support the child victims of abuse and neglect served by Dallas CASA’s incredible child advocates.

Parade of Playhouses features custom-designed and built playhouses on display in the hallways of NorthPark Center for 17 days every summer. The event raises both funds and critical awareness for the agency, which counts more than 900 Dallasites who have been professionally trained as child advocates and are currently serving children in foster care.

Presented by Crest Cadillac and with KDC serving as Grand Marshal, this year’s event featured 13 houses built by both longtime veterans and some rookies.

Dallas CASA CEO Kathleen LaValle acknowledged two builders, Amy Butscher with Butscher Construction and LRO Residential, for each completing their 15^th house for Parade of Playhouses, and thanked all participants for their dedication to the children served by Dallas CASA,

“I’ve had the honor of being CEO for ten Parade of Playhouses now, and I’ve learned one key truth in those years: just when I think the playhouses could not be any cuter, more creative, detailed, surprising or fun, there you go and do it again,” she said to laughter.

New designers and builders this year included: Stainback Construction, Jacobs, Hensel Phelps, Espedal Design Construct and Swinerton.

Dallas CASA board member Dave Kroencke announced a new award named for longtime builder and dear friend of Dallas CASA Jeff Kindig, who passed away in May. Jeff built his first playhouses with his company marketing team as a teambuilding exercise, but later he and his son, Jordan, joined forces to build some of the most creative, unique and personal houses, often based on shared travel experiences or interests. They built a playhouse based entirely on Nerf toys and ninjas, an Alaskan adventure cabin after they took a special father-son fishing trip to Alaska and so many more, including an African safari adventure and an outdoor adventure playhouse.

“In honor of Jeff’s legendary status as a master playhouse builder, we’ve created the ‘Jeff Kindig One-of-a-Kind Award’ which will be presented annually to the playhouse team who receives the most raffle ticket sales,” Kroencke said.

The first award would be announced on social media upon the close of the raffle.

Dallas CASA board members in attendance at The Closing Party included Christie Carter, Jamal Carty, Janice Z. Davis, Veree Hawkins Brown, Kroencke, LaValle, Retta A. Miller, Scott Orr, Gina Porter, Nicki Stafford and Linda M. Swartz.

* Photo credit: Ray Carlin
** Photo credit: Rosanne Lewis