CASA event raises funds for local kids

More than 200 people showed up to support the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) fundraiser at the county fairgrounds Saturday evening, fetching $3,000 this year.

Peg McCarthy, one of the organizers of the 4th Annual CASA Ice Cream Social, said people had a great time and it was a successful fundraiser taking in twice as much money as last year. The ice cream social is one of three annual fundraisers for the nonprofit organization. They also run a booth part time during the Sanders County Fair and hold a Chili Feed at St. James Catholic Church each February. Organizers changed the name of the summer fundraiser from Music in the Park to Ice Cream Social this year, when they moved the event from E.L. Johnson Memorial Pool Park to the fairgrounds.

Sanders and Lake Counties share CASA responsibilities, which is staffed with volunteers that act as advocates for children involved in court cases.

The CASA volunteers investigate cases of abused or neglected children and report their findings to a judge, who makes the final decision on behalf of the children, according to Ann Marie McNeil, CASA's executive director. The program began in Lake County 13 years ago and in Sanders County in 2014 by Betty Boehler and Polly Cavill of Plains. Cavill was Sanders County's first advocate. She presently resides in Washington, where she is a CASA Guardian ad Litem. However, she continues to serve as a board member in Sanders County.

Cavill supported the program Saturday by volunteering her musical talents with Brett Barber of Paradise and Craig Barton of Hot Springs. For nearly three hours, the trio performed a mix of country and rock music from the 1970s to current, along with eight of Cavill's original songs. She also donated three of her CDs to the silent auction, which had 29 items from gift certificates to a large lawn chair, all donated by locals. An original Montana painting fetched the highest amount at $220, said McCarthy, who is also a CASA board member. Thirty-five businesses and individuals donated services, auction items, water, and foodstuffs for the event. McCarthy said they wouldn't have a successful fundraiser without the generosity of the donors and volunteers.

Tom Peterson, owner of Ripples Ice Cream Parlor in Plains, donated nearly 15 gallons of ice cream. McGowan Grocery donated the toppings. Volunteers gave out ice cream sundaes and homemade brownies in return for a donation to CASA. McCarthy said that by the time the fundraiser ended, almost all of the tubs of ice cream were empty.

Adam Aguilera of Paradise conducted children's games while Haylee Barkley, who is interning in Plains, gave free face paintings to children and adults.

The money raised Saturday will go toward training Sanders County CASA advocates, said McNeil, who was also on hand to educate people about the roll of CASA. While Lake County has 14 advocates, Sanders County has only four – Linda Wilson of Plains, Becky Azure of Trout Creek and husband and wife team Marissa and Kawika Ilac of Hot Springs. McNeil said they'd like to have additional advocates in Sanders County, including at least one in Thompson Falls.

The CASA program receives its money from three sources: the state, private grants, and fundraisers. McNeil said they couldn't exist without the fundraisers. However, the event isn't just to raise money. It's also to let people know the mission of CASA and for people to meet the local advocates, said McNeil.

The advocates don't need a social work background or legal expertise, said McNeil, but each new advocate goes through 30 hours of training.

"The advocates are very involved with the children and their families. They're right on the front lines," said McNeil, who's been with the program for five years. "Part of the CASA program's success has been its diversity of volunteers, the training and guidance we provide, and on-the-job experiences."

Anyone interested in becoming an advocate can call McNeil in Polson at 883-0158.