CHEYENNE, Wyo. — An upcoming night of casino games, dinner and silent auctions is helping to uplift a critical community organization that aids families and children in the foster care system.
CASA of Laramie County is holding its annual Casino Night from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at Red Lion Hotel. Attendees can expect to play blackjack, poker, roulette and other gaming tables. On top of the games, Casino Night will delight attendees with a plated dinner, wine and beer and a silent auction.
The fundraiser began in 2013 and has been held nearly every year since, according to Sarah Urbanek, executive director of CASA of Laramie County. In years past, the event has raised an average of around $70,000 per event. She anticipates around 250 people making it to CASA Casino Night this year.
Volunteers with CASA — which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates — work with children in the foster care system to build trusting connections and serve as figures who will protect their rights. Advocates complete training with Urbanek and her team so they can serve as a point of contact for children and their parents in the Laramie County court system. The organization strives to reunify children with their guardians.
“People in our community believe in CASA’s mission,” Urbanek told Cap City News via email. “When the event first started over 10 years ago, it was out of necessity. CASA was struggling to keep its doors open in our community and an event was needed to save the program, and it did. Every year after that, the event continued to grow in the number of people, the quality of auction items and incredible speakers.”
Urbanek said that in the wake of budget cuts and difficulty securing grant funding, community members have greatly supported the life-changing work at CASA through fundraisers like Casino Night. Funds raised by CASA are put toward holding advocate training sessions, advocate recognition events, giving away Christmas presents and shoes for the children and securing essential items like hygiene products.
Individual event tickets are $75 and can be purchased here. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for CASA Casino Night.
CASA of Laramie County is holding its next training orientation Monday, Sept. 23 at both noon and 5:30 p.m. Training sessions will take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from Oct. 1 to Oct. 24.
