Curated Texan
CASABlanca Gala Raises Over $1.9 Million For Children In Need
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Ben Porter Photography
THE SCENE: The JW Marriott in Austin was the recent setting for a night of great fun and fundraising. Over 800 of the Capital City’s most notable sociables, philanthropists, and advocates were on hand for the CASA of Travis County’s CASAblanca gala and were treated to an epic night of great food, great conversation, and great fun all for a worthy cause.
THE VIBE: The black-tie crowd featured an elegant mix of tuxedos, with metallic and sequin ballgowns, which created a fun vibe from the second that guests entered the foyer of the venue for the VIP reception and cocktail hour. As guests sipped on their favorite spirits, partygoers had the chance to peruse the live auction items while catching up with old friends and making new friends in the process.
The festivities then occurred into the ballroom for the main program. As the crowd dined on their multi-course meals, they heard touching tributes on how CASA Travis County has positively impacted the Austin community. Next came a spirited live auction which raised over $400,000 with some of the top items including an ATXclusive package and excursions to St. Martin and Tuscany. The night was capped off with a casino after party where guests played their favorite games of choice well into the night, with casino prize drawings being awarded at the end of the evening.
THE NON-PROFIT: The event, co-chaired by Keri Walling and Michael Ward, raised over $1.9 million for CASA of Travis County. The organization acts as an advocate for children of abuse and neglect in the court system through a network of over 800 volunteers, who each go through a rigorous 39-hour training program and are sworn in by a judge upon completion. The trained volunteers are appointed to a case by a judge once the state has to step in to protect the safety of a child. One of the top 10 CASA programs in the United States, CASA of Travis County serves over 1,400 children in Travis County each year.
