Dallas CASA‘s Young Professionals once again partied to the hilt with black tie looks, games, signature drinks and dancing the night away on Friday, February 7, at The Hall on Dragon. The only thing missing from the annual CASAblanca evening was Co-Chair Hannah Harpole, due to being under the weather. But never fear. Her Co-Chairs Brooke Farrelly, Vivian Satterfield and Seth Stukalin carried on with Dallas CASA President/CEO Kathleen LaValle helping to greet one and all. Here’s a report from the field:
Dallas CASA’s CASAblanca, hosted by the organization’s Young Professionals group, hit all the high notes on Friday, February 7, at The Hall on Dragon.
With almost 400 attendees, the event attracted Young Professionals members, their friends and longtime supporters of Dallas CASA for an evening of casino games, dancing and fun – all for a good cause.
Guests at the party came dressed in tuxedos and brightly colored gowns and were greeted with the evening’s signature drink, an espresso martini with chocolate swirled on the bottom of the glass and a decorative gold coin. Passed appetizers included mini patty melts, chicken and waffles and honey walnut shrimp, alongside a vegetable fried rice station and fresh donuts being made all evening. Guests left the party with a honey butter biscuit from Whataburger for the ride home.
The Special Edition band played throughout the night, exciting the crowd with rousing hits like Bruno Mars’ “APT.,” getting everyone from the blackjack, poker, roulette and craps tables to the dance floor.
Guests perused an extensive silent auction, which included a guitar signed by Post Malone, a wine class for 20 people, art, staycations, a performance bicycle and tickets to a Kendrick Lamar concert, foreshadowing the rapper’s performance at the Superbowl halftime that same weekend.
Co-chairs for the evening were Brooke Farrelly, Hannah Harpole, Vivian Satterfield and Seth Stukalin. Dallas CASA board members in attendance included Corey Anthony, Dallas CASA President and CEO Kathleen LaValle, Nicki Stafford, Linda Swartz and Jack Zeringue, who also serves as president of the Young Professionals.
Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers to advocate for children in protective care. The Dallas CASA Young Professionals supports the work of Dallas CASA’s volunteers through awareness and fundraising events aimed at young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40. The group has grown tremendously in the last five years and boasts almost 300 members today. All funds raised at CASAblanca support the agency, which has proudly served 100% of Dallas children in need for the last six years.
In 2024, 1,009 Dallas CASA volunteers were assigned to advocate for 2,042 children in protective care. Dallas CASA serves more children than any of the more than 900 CASA programs nationwide.
* Photo credit: Ray Carlin ** Photo credit: Haley Cox