Dallas CASA’s Parade of Playhouses
Open at NorthPark Center July 9 to July 25
Dallas CASA’s annual Parade of Playhouses takes place July 9 to 25 at NorthPark Center. The event raises critical funds and awareness for Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and children who have been abused or neglected.
This year’s event, presented by Crest Cadillac / Crest INFINITI / Crest Volvo, will include eight custom-designed playhouses available to win by raffle. The host of Parade of Playhouses is NorthPark Center, which will display the houses in the hallways of the center as it has since 1996.
Raffle tickets to win a playhouse can be purchased for $5 each or five for $20 on the Dallas CASA website at dallascasa.org. Winners will be randomly selected on the final day of the event on July 25.
Dallas CASA recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who advocate for children who have been victims of abuse or neglect and are living in the protective care of the state. In 2020, 1,527 Dallas CASA volunteers were assigned to advocate for 3,374 Dallas children. In an overwhelmed child welfare system, a child’s CASA volunteer is often the only constant and consistent adult by their side during a frightening and confusing time.
“Living in protective care can be unsettling for the children we serve,” said Kathleen M. LaValle, president and CEO of Dallas CASA. “Parade of Playhouses allows us to spread the word about the needs of children in the Dallas community, while raising funds to help us continue to provide volunteer advocates for every child. We want every child in protective care to know they are seen and heard and that they matter to all of us.”
Last year in Dallas County, 1,077 children were removed from unsafe homes due to abuse or neglect. For the past two years, Dallas CASA has been able to provide an advocate for 100% of cases assigned by all 10 Dallas County courts that preside over child welfare cases. Parade of Playhouses serves as a fundraiser and recruitment tool to engage more volunteer advocates to help all children who are placed in the protective care of the state year after year.
Now in its 26th year, Parade of Playhouses has become a beloved and well-known event for the Dallas community. The 2021 playhouses have been carefully designed and constructed by local home builders, architects, construction companies and individuals and represent months of work planning and building the houses. This year’s designs include a mini horse stable, a functional car wash, a castle and a Dallas Mavericks mascot headquarters. Some designs are modern and some are traditional, but each is unique to the Parade of Playhouses.