CASA’s Fire & Ice Gala goes virtual

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The goal of the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program is to have a “voice” in court for every child who needs one.

Thanks to cooperation from sponsors and ticket holders, the virtual contest (in lieu of in-person) was still able to be held this year.

Participants could purchase a $15 raffle ticket to win a one carat diamond from Riddles Jewelry, $500 in orthodontics from Meyer and Dana Orthodontics, or a 12 inch sport Strider bike from Strider Bikes.

The online event will bring in about a third of the funds that is typically does, so the organization is also asking the community to pledge toward child advocacy. It cost about $1,000 a year to advocate for a child in court.

“This leaves our agency really vulnerable, finishing out this year and going into next year really not knowing what our fundraising potential is through distance, through the economic hits that our area is taking and uncertainly about planning future events,” said Kehala Two Bulls, Executive Director at Seventh Circuit CASA.

CASA is serving about 25% of children in custody, the rest of the children don’t have individualized advocacy.

Two Bulls says she hopes that people make a New Years resolution to connect with children in the foster care system. CASA will host a new volunteer training next month – click here to sign up.

Two Bulls adds, “It is important to come up with some alternative fundraising so that we can sustain through this period and we see the need for our service increasing and increasing. So we are trying to strike a balance and be team players in rebuilding the whole community.”

The 2020 event was held on Facebook Monday at 2pm (MST). The Fire and Ice Gala is scheduled for September of next year for an in-person event, fingers crossed.

Click here for the CASA Facebook or call 394-2203.