For Iris, marching band meant everything. Her band friends saw through the fact she was in foster care to the kind, nurturing girl underneath.

Iris' Dallas CASA volunteer Kathryn advocated for Iris to stay in marching band, even through multiple placement changes and a challenging cross-town commute.

For Ishfaq Ahmad, a faith-based call to love all of God's creation brought him to Dallas CASA. As a Muslim, he also hopes to share with other volunteers how best to serve children in protective care who are Muslim.

Dallas CASA's signature fundraiser and awareness raising event Parade of Playhouses runs through July 30 at NorthPark Center. This year's collection of 13 children's playhouses include a spaceship, a movie theater, a Hobbit house, a seaside sanctuary and many more. You can also enter to win a $1,000 NorthPark gift certificate and a Dallas Mavericks package including four tickets and autographed items. The houses are available to win by raffle, and all funds raised go to children served by Dallas CASA.

Dallas CASA's annual Champion of Children Award Dinner is Thursday, October 12 at the Fairmont Dallas. Dallas CASA will honor Francois Reihani with the prestigious Judge Barefoot Sanders Champion of Children Award. With a passion for providing foster youth aging out of the foster care system with employment, Francois opened his first La La Land Café in 2019. Since then, he's expanded to 11 locations. Some cafes are staffed by former foster youth who receive social support and mentorship, in addition to critical work experience. Speaker David Ambroz, author of memoir "A Place Called Home," will share his personal account of an early life of poverty and homelessness.

Event chairs are Stephanie and David Krahe, Retta A. Miller and Megan and Tom Sterquell. Honorary chairs are Fran and Mark S. Berg. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Megan Dion.

Community-based care is coming to Dallas, but what exactly does that mean for Dallas CASA volunteers and the child victims of abuse and neglect served by the agency’s volunteers? It's part of a movement being implemented by the Texas Legislature and means changes for children in care, their placements and Dallas CASA volunteers.

For sworn advocates interested in learning more about the transition to community-based care, visit Dallas CASA's continuing education webpage for an important webinar offering.

Dallas CASA is grateful to every volunteer who serves children, and we celebrate especially those reaching service milestones. We'd like to recognize and thank the following volunteers for their years of dedicated service.