Judge John Herndon drew the winning ticket for the CASA playhouse on Friday, July 4 at Shannon Springs Park.

The ticket belonged to Kelly Burgess of Rush Springs. Kelly has two daughters who most assuredly will enjoy this playhouse.

CASA board members, staff and voluntters have raised about $5,000 by selling tickets for the last several weeks for CASA Voices for Children Inc. Mary Kay Garrison, Executive Director, said, “this money will help us continue to serve the abused and neglected children of Grady County.”

The local CASA(Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a nonprofit organization that is affiliated with the Oklahoma CASA Association as well as National CASA. Grady County citizens donate their time to speak for children who find themselvesin the court system through no fault of their own. The local organization has already served more than 100 children in Grady County this year.

There are many more children in the county who need an advocate. Volunteers must be 21 years old, receive 32 hours of training, and be sworn-in by Judge Herndon before they are assigned to a case. But the most important qualification is the desire to help children.

Applications needs to be turned in by August 26 for the next training class, which begins in September.

Call the CASA office at 224-0404 or visit the website at casav4c.org for more information about how you can be a part of the solution and stand up for an abused or neglected child.