Douglas County CASA hopes to raise $25,000 with playhouse display

How to enter the drawing

Visitors to the Casa4CASA playhouse display sites can enter to win the playhouse, and a $1 donation is suggested. The winner will be announced at the Casa4CASA fiesta, which is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. July 18 at Cielito Lindo, 815 N.H. Admission to the event is $40 and includes food, drinks and a silent auction.

The playhouse display schedule is as follows:

• Saturday to July 2, and July 7-9: The Community Mercantile Co-op, 901 Iowa

• July 3-6: Wal-Mart, 3300 Iowa

• July 10-15: HyVee, 4000 W. Sixth St.

• July 16: The Downtown Lawrence Sidewalk Sale, Ninth and Massachusetts streets

• July 17-18: The Lawrence Farmers’ Market, 800 block of New Hampshire

CASA is taking applications for Court Appointed Special Advocates. The next training begins Aug. 4.

For the 18th year, Douglas County CASA Inc. will be displaying its Casa4CASA playhouse at various sites around Lawrence, starting Saturday and running through July 18.

The yearly fundraising event for CASA, which trains and matches volunteers to work as advocates for area foster children, includes the chance to win the playhouse. Visitors to the playhouse can enter to win the playhouse at the display sites, and a $1 donation is suggested.. The winner will be announced July 18 at the Casa4CASA fiesta at Cielito Lindo, 815 N.H.

This year, the display will feature environmentally friendly features as well as life-size cut-outs of “Forgotten Children,” each featuring a message from a foster child.

The event is aimed at increasing awareness about the need for advocates for those in the foster care system, said CASA executive director Diana Frederick.

“The CASA playhouse and the life-size displays are powerful reminders of children in our community who are especially vulnerable…” Frederick said.

The 2009 playhouse, which uses recycled materials, was designed and built by Denton Nichols of Treanor Architects and Kenton Knowles of Global Homes Design.

There is an extra need to raise money and awareness for the program this year because of the poor economy, Frederick said, noting that “it’s been a hard time for social service agencies.”

Last year’s event raised more than $20,000. Frederick said the goal for this year is $25,000.