The future of CASA of Lafayette County is very bright. We are currently in the process of growth, with plans to expand to serve children from all of Northern Mississippi. These efforts will begin in Lee County and spread to the surrounding counties in the near future. This expansion has been in the works since Erin Smith founded CASA at the end of 2017, and we’re now seeing her dreams for CASA come to fruition. As we settle into our work, having gained a foothold in Lafayette County, it has come time to branch out. As the only CASA program in Northern Mississippi, we have so much potential to help more children throughout the state, but this will not hinder our focus on the community surrounding Oxford. As we gain more volunteers and more momentum, we are able to reach more people. Of course, we can’t do this without your dedication and willingness to rise to the occasion. There are always more children in need, and we will always need more volunteers. As we look toward the future, it is easy to see that we are on the precipice of something more expansive and invaluable than we could have dreamed of when this program opened almost two years ago. We will keep all of you updated on our path to expansion, and, as always, we thank you for believing in us.
In looking toward the future, it is essential to take time to reflect on what we have done as a community. The community we have built around this CASA program is like no other, and to celebrate that community, we are hosting an event on New Year’s Eve to cheers to all that we have accomplished and all that we can look forward to in 2020. This event, our CASAblanca Gala, will be held at the Powerhouse on December 31st, and will feature great food, great music, plenty of casino games, and the best company you could ask for to ring in the new year. Early bird tickets for this event will be available starting August 1st and are $50 a piece. After Labor Day, tickets will be $75 each. Drawdown tickets will be $100, with a chance to win $5000. Ticket includes admission, as well as dinner and a champagne toast at midnight. We hope to see all of you there!