Emotional CASA tailgate party includes stories of sacrifice, triumph

While the jovial theme of a tailgate party brought team colors and spirit to the annual CASAblanca fundraiser for the Hall-Dawson CASA program Friday night, stories of sacrifice, hardship and triumph silenced the room with the speakers often in tears.

 

This year's spotlight for the Court Appointed Special Advocates program was Blanca Sanchez Whidby.  During her young life, she has spent 2,601 days in foster care in 12 different homes.

 

Blanca's seven years in the child welfare system included hospitalizations, group homes and numerous case workers and schools.  One constant was a CASA volunteer who advocated for her through the entire ordeal.

 

Before introducing Blanca, "the Blanca in Friday's CASAblanca," her CASA, Scott Lippman, said her story has meaning to all children the organization helps.

 

"There is a similar gut-punching narrative for every child CASA serves.  Not all of the children have the resiliency and determination Blanca does.  Tonight, she is our poster child."

 

Blanca has found her forever home, in the family of Steve and Angela Whidby.  She took to the stage at the Chattahoochee Country Club to thank the people who have poured into her life.

 

"I just want to say thank you to my mother and my dad for being here for me.  My mom and my dad are my heroes.  She never gave up on me, and Mr. Scott (Lippman), you never gave up on me either.  So thank you, I love you guys."

 

Prior to Blanca's story, CASA presented its annual awards.

 

Foster parent Kate Lovell was honored with the inaugural Impact Award.  Hall-Dawson CASA Program Executive Director Janet Walden said Lovell has a love for fellow foster parents, helping coordinate meals, clothing and other help for them.  Walden said she also spends countless hours rocking drug-addicted babies and time in pediatric intensive care units with sick babies.

 

"She finds balance in the chaos, or, maybe she thrives in chaos," Walden said.

 

Lovell passed on the acceptance speech, instead offering a rap about life as a foster mother to the tune of the theme song of the show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

 

The Champion for Children Award went to Cathy Drerup, who served as the longtime executive director of Challenged Child and Friends, now known as Sisu.  Drerup, who has also been a foster parent, said over the years children have taught her that they want consistency.

 

"What they really mostly want is a very regular, basic routine...healthy, accepting, forgiving, boring (life)."

 

In addition to the evening-long silent auction, the night concluded with a live auction.  The live auction alone raised roughly $58,650, according to Walden.  The grand total is expected next week.