It was a pretty darn gorgeous and fun-loving crowd that hit the gaming tables on Saturday, January 20. No, it wasn’t in Vegas. It was at The Hall on Dragon. And the high rollers weren’t Ocean’s 11. They were Dallas CASA‘s Young Professionals for the Third Annual CASAblanca. Here’s a report from the field:
The glittering young were out in force for Dallas CASA’s third CASAblanca casino night, hosted by Dallas CASA’s vibrant and growing Young Professionals group to raise funds for and the abused and neglected children Dallas CASA volunteers serve.
Clad in gorgeous gowns and dapper tuxedos, the young people played casino games and danced the night away to ten-piece Special Edition Band. The event sold out the day before the event, held at The Hall on Dragon on Saturday, January 20.
2018 CASAblanca games*
Guests munched on hearty appetizers, with passed macaroni and cheese balls coated in crispy panko and topped with truffled ranch being a main hit. The third annual event featured a silent auction for the first time, with a beautiful diamond and gold necklace from Susan Saffron Boutique and restaurant gift cards from Water Grill, Del Frisco’s Grill and Jalisco North drawing top bids.
But it wasn’t all fun, games and food – the “fund the need” board allowed guests to fund specific needs for kids living in foster care and raised nearly $2,500 for things like coats for cold weather and cribs for babies.
Kathleen LaValle, Emma and Mark Hiduke and Hannah and Greg May*
Bloggers Lexi and Kelsie Aziz of Pizza and Champagne were there, along with sponsors Emma and Mark Hiduke, Angela Yotides, Melissa Bednarz and Bela and Chase Cooley. Sponsors this year enjoyed a VIP area with their own blackjack and poker tables.
Kay Weir and Nick Barr*
Angela Yotides and Melissa Bednarz*
Carlos and Carla Zarazua*
Nick and Melissa Bednarz, Nate Bednarz and Alyssa and Chase Mayeux*
Also in attendance were Dallas CASA Executive Director/President Kathleen LaValle, Austin Fennema, Hannah and Greg May, Carla and Carlos Zarazua, Kay Weir, Nick Barr, Michele Morris and Tucker Robinson.
The Dallas CASA Young Professionals is a vibrant and growing group of professionals under 40 interested in supporting abused and neglected children living in foster care. Last year, more than 1,300 Dallas CASA community volunteers advocated for the best interests of these children in court.
Reasha Hedke, Kelcey Hamilton and Dana Swann*
The event was co-chaired by Kelcey Hamilton, Reasha Hedke and Dana Swann.
Sponsors included Presenting Sponsors Emma and Mark Hiduke, Christine and Jonathan Bassham, CultureMap, Angela and Chris Yotides, Bela and Chase Cooley, Kay and Bob Schleckser, Sewell Automotive Companies and an anonymous donor.
* Photo credit: Steve Bither