CASA Birthday Carnival: FREE!

Child Advocates of Northeast Oklahoma, the court-appointed special advocate (CASA) program serving Rogers, Mayes, and Craig Counties is celebrating 20 years of dedicated volunteer service to abused and neglected children.

To mark the occasion, CASA is hosting a unique and fun event just for children: a 20^th Birthday Carnival on Saturday, August 22, 2015, at the Gazebo Park in downtown Claremore from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children throughout the community will be invited to come “play” all day free of charge.

The Gazebo Park will be full of bounce houses, rides, games and food trucks. Children young and old will be entertained with a Pet Pageant, magician, balloon artist, clown, Fun Bus, City of Claremore police cruiser, fire engine and much more! And of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without cupcakes from the Pink House.

If you would like to enter the pet pageant, shoot an email to ashley@moreclaremore.com and we can send you an application.  All pets must have a talent and a costume. Owners must come onto the Gazebo Stage to tell the audience about their pet. Pageant begins at 10a and registration forms must be turned in by 9:30a.

CASA is seeking local sponsors to underwrite the costs of this event. Any residual funding will help defray the expenses of the new Therapy Dog Program. CASA’s first therapy dog is Maggie, a black Labrador Retriever who has been working with special needs children at a Rogers County elementary school. CASA is partnering with District Attorney Matt Ballard’s Office and the William W. Barnes Children’s Advocacy Center to help children who need a special furry friend while testifying in court. Maggie loves her little friends and she especially loves being read to and petted. Maggie will be on hand to meet with children at the 20^th Birthday Carnival.

This past fiscal year, 53 CASA volunteers served 165 children in the 12th Judicial District. Currently, CASA is expanding into unserved areas of the state. More than 11,000 children are in custody at this time throughout the state and the Oklahoma CASA Association, of which CANO is a part, is expanding to serve more children.

For more information about CASA’s 20^th Birthday Celebration or volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate, please call 918-923-4570. CANO is a member agency of the Rogers County United Way.