Williamson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) announced this week, Voices for Children benefiting its organization raised more than $130,000 in May. That is money that will serve its mission to find safe and permanent homes for abused and neglected children in the court system.
The 4th Annual Voices for Children fundraiser, sponsored by Jackson, brought in $132,232 through ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and auction proceeds. Williamson County CASA (WCCASA) Director of Public Relations and Development Danielle McMorran estimates that nearly $120,000 will go straight towards program support—a significant increase from last year’s event, which raised just over $100,000.
“Each dollar we receive goes to our vision of providing every abused and neglected child a safe and permanent home. The money netted from this event will enable us to serve around 120 additional kids this next year,” said Marianne Schroer, WCCASA executive director. “We set a goal to gross $115,000 and are proud to say we soared over that. We are thrilled that the community continues to respond in this way.”
The non-profit organization’s yearly Voices for Children benefit on May 7, 2015, featured an evening with the Music City Hit-Makers, a one-of-a-kind “where song meets symphony” music event with Nashville’s hottest songwriters, including 2014 Music Row Magazine Songwriter of the Year Brett James. ACM Award-winner Charles Judge arranged performances so that Nashville Studio Symphony musicians accompanied each song.
Voices guests kicked off the night with a cocktail hour that included hors d’oeuvres compliments of MStreet Nashville and wine, provided by Harvest Beverage Company. A unique silent auction, as well as a live auction held prior to the musical performance, also contributed to raised monies.
The non-profit says the large increase from last year is due in large part to both its auction committee and its 2015 sponsors, which included: Jackson; CLARCOR; Coyne Oral Surgery; Jim and Cheryl Sanders; Neal & Harwell, PLC; Daugherty, Haas & Associates, PLLC; EDGE; FirstBank; C.B. Ragland; PwC; Barlow Builders; First Farmers and Merchants Bank; Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon, Inc.; The Ora Family; Mark and Ruth Gunning; HCA TriStar Health; and DURA Automotive Systems, LLC. Food and beverage sponsors included Harvest Beverage Company, MStreet, Little Harpeth Brewing, and Strategic Hospitality.
“Voices for Children” is Williamson County CASA’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and all proceeds from the night go towards its mission. Past events have included performances by Kix Brooks and Wynonna Judd.
Williamson County CASA is an organization that advocates for the best interests of children in the judicial system, and works with volunteers to provide a permanent home for each one. The non-profit independently trains its volunteer members to investigate each situation, and report findings to the court.
For more information about its mission, or to learn how to volunteer, go to www.williamsoncountycasa.org.
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