CLEVELAND, Ga. — Supporters from across Northeast Georgia packed the Meadows of Mossy Creek Monday for Enotah CASA’s annual Designer Bag Bingo Derby Night, an energetic fundraising event aimed at expanding advocacy for children in foster care.
The event — now in its third year — has become one of CASA’s signature fundraisers, drawing attendees from Lumpkin, White, Union and Towns counties, as well as nearby communities such as Hall and Habersham. CASA officials say the goal each year is not only to raise money but to increase public awareness of the organization’s work on behalf of abused and neglected children.
Fran Parks, CASA’s outreach coordinator, said the board plays a major role in organizing the event and supporting the mission. Parks, who has been with CASA for three and a half years, said the Designer Bag Bingo concept was brought to the organization by a previous director after seeing it succeed elsewhere. The event has since grown steadily.
“Our first year was hugely successful, and it’s just gotten more and more successful each year,” Parks said. “It’s kind of become our signature event.”
Although past years featured different themes — including a fiesta night — Parks said this
year’s Derby theme quickly became her favorite, with guests dressing in festive hats and attire to match.
Amy Rosser, who became Enotah CASA’s executive director full time in September, praised the energy of the night.
“I thought the whole thing was just very energetic and it flowed really well,” Rosser said. “Our goal was to raise around $20,000, but our main goal is to bring awareness to CASA, bring volunteers and people who are interested in supporting CASA. That’s our focus — awareness and education about what we do.”
Rosser said final fundraising numbers will be available once all totals are processed.
Attendees also heard from Annie Schraver, a CASA volunteer and board member who helps advocate directly for children in foster care. Schraver, who has been a CASA volunteer for five years, described the vital role advocates play.
“We follow children that are in the foster care system through the whole process until they’re in their forever home,” she said. “We follow them through school, visits, doctors — everything. Caseworkers have many cases. Lawyers have many cases. We are their only constant.”
Schraver emphasized that every foster child is supposed to have a CASA, and while most local cases are currently covered, volunteers are still needed — especially as children are sometimes placed far from the region due to a shortage of foster homes.
CASA volunteers undergo comprehensive training, background checks and court instruction before being assigned to a child. Advocates prepare detailed reports for juvenile court judges and serve as the child’s voice in the legal process.
“You develop a relationship with a child,” Schraver said. “We’re there to represent them. The love is constant.”
Enotah CASA serves the four counties of the Enotah Judicial Circuit — Lumpkin, White, Union and Towns — providing trained, court-appointed volunteers for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Rosser said she anticipates continued program growth and hopes events like Thursday’s will encourage more community members to step forward.
“Our staff is wonderful, our board is very involved, and we’re all in it for the right reasons,” she said.
More information about volunteering with CASA or supporting its mission is available at enotahcasa.org.
