Derby Day to raise funds for CASA

CASA volunteer Helen Pate stands by a painting by Barbara Smock of Newport that she sold to CASA for its first Derby Day fundraiser.
CASA volunteer Helen Pate stands by a painting by Barbara Smock of Newport that she sold to CASA for its first Derby Day fundraiser.

NEWPORT — Gateway CASA, which serves the 3rd Judicial District, will bring the Kentucky Derby closer to home with the organization’s first Derby Day fundraiser, which will take place from 3-6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Newport Country Club.

CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, pairs volunteer advocates with abused and neglected children so the court system can make informed decisions regarding the children. Volunteers keep in contact with each child and travel to meet the child for monthly visits.

“We knew of other Derby Days that were held for other charitable organizations in different parts of the state, and we thought it’s something we’d like to do,” said Judy Felts, who serves on Gateway CASA’s board of directors. “We wanted to have a fun day and, hopefully, a good day for the children in our area.”

During Derby Day, which welcomes those in four counties — Jackson, Lawrence, Randolph and Sharp — attendees will participate in games and auctions that will provide funding for the volunteer-led, donation- and grant-funded organization.

CASA volunteers “act as an extra set of eyes and ears for a juvenile judge,” Felts said.

“We are strictly volunteers acting in the best interest of the child and report it to the judge,” she said.

At 3 p.m., horseshoe pitching will begin and continue throughout the evening. The event’s hat contest will also be ongoing, and the winner will be announced at 4:30 p.m., which is when the live auction will begin and the silent auction will end. At race time, complimentary champagne will be handed out, and attendees will view the event on a big-screen TV at the country club. Food will be served throughout the evening.

Felts said some aspects of Derby Day are still being determined.

“We’re still adding prizes that will be not only auction items, but door prizes,” Felts said, “but there’s a chance to win all kinds of things.”

Felt said the event, which is geared more toward adults, took months of preparation.

“We got the idea last fall, and we’ve been working toward that goal ever since, trying to get ideas, get things together, see what will work,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of ideas. We’re hoping this will become an annual event.”

Based on current ticket sales, the organization is expecting about 150 attendees, Felts said.

“We have 300 tickets, so we can still sell more,” she said.

Felts said there is no set amount of money the organization hopes to raise.

“Since this is our first time to do this, we haven’t set a goal like that per se,” she said.

Funds generated from the event will help CASA volunteers reach children and provide necessities for kids. The only compensation volunteers receive is reimbursement for gas mileage, if they request it, Felts said. The organization also provides duffel bags filled with needed items for children.

“If they’re removed from the home, they really have to leave with not much of anything,” Felts said.

Felts said her vision of Derby Day includes a lot of social interaction, and she hopes the event will inspire future CASA volunteers, who must be interviewed, undergo a background check and receive training.

“We hope that it will be a time for people to interact and meet each other from different counties,” she said. “We want interaction so we’ll get to know each other a little better and see that we have a common goal of bettering the lives of children.”

Tickets to CASA’s Derby Day are $35. To purchase a ticket, call CASA’s Ash Flat office at (870) 994-7844 or visit www.gatewaycasa.org.

Staff writer Syd Hayman can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or shayman@arkansasonline.com.

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