CASA of Cameron and Willacy Counties, a nonprofit organization that serves children in the child welfare system, will host a Royal Ball fundraiser April 28 at the Brownsville Event Center.
CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, provides “trained community volunteers to be a voice for children within the courts,”according to the organization’s website.
Lacey Ambriz, communications director for CASA, said the first fundraiser was hosted in 2019, and this year’s theme will have activities for all children and families.
“Before COVID, it was the Fairy Dust Princess Ball, so it was … only for little girls and families,” Ambriz said. “And this year, they wanted to make sure everybody was included … so they have it for, you know, little girls, little boys, and, of course, families.”
She said the Royal Ball will have a medieval, fairy, Disney, and kings and queens type of theme.
Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased by contacting the organization’s office, 546-6545.
Jessica Miller, a volunteer supervisor, said the organization focuses on establishing a bond and connections with the children.
“By establishing a relationship with them, a lot of the times they do end up telling us a lot of things that we can bring to the court and speak on their behalf,” Miller said.
Jocelyn Esparza, a volunteer supervisor, said part of CASA’s advocacy for the children is to serve their best needs.
The Rider asked Esparza and Miller about their change in perspective of social work as volunteers for CASA.
Esparza said her perspective changed when she realized and understood that, sometimes, parents of the children made mistakes.
“Through the services that were provided, [parents] were able to learn not only of their wrongdoings, but why they got there,” she said.
“You get to a point where through a lot of training … you get to see how, although these people are the aggressors … they were also a victim at some point,” Esparza said. “And so that’s where I really had to think about the mentality I took … when I worked with my cases and their parents.”
She said one of CASA’s goals is family reunification when it’s safe and possible.
Miller said reunification does not always happen, but she tries to make connections with parents as well.
“A lot of them, if you really get to know them, they’ve gone through things themselves,” Miller said. “So if we really come alongside these parents as well as the children and let them know that this is a family unit … we want everybody to get better and be better for the sake of their family.
“You know, it’s beautiful to see the parents throughout … the case and to see them really work, to get better and to see them have a different life.”
Esparza said those who volunteer at CASA become consistent in children’s lives, and it comes with many other things.
“I think, like, the moral and ethical challenge of what it actually entails to be a part of this process is what scares people,” she said. “But, I think it allows for a lot of opportunity for personal growth.”
Miller said the Royal Ball will help the children have a good time and be a distraction from their situation.
“For the entirety of the event … they’re in the spotlight,” she said.
Ambriz said the public’s response to the event has been a positive one.
She said the goal is to raise enough funds for the year and bring awareness to the program.
Ambriz said CASA still welcomes sponsors for the event and has a personal goal for the fundraiser as well.
“We have 224 children that we serve,” she said. “ … And if we could get enough tickets to sponsor all of them, I mean, that’s my personal goal.”
To find out more about CASA of Cameron and Willacy Counties and how to volunteer, call or visit casaofcameronandwillacy.org.
