As Christmas approaches, some children will find more gifts under their trees thanks to KSAM’s annual Make A Smile Happen (M*A*S*H*) event, which works with local community volunteers (i.e., the LEAP Ambassadors) to collect toys, food, pet supplies, and necessities for families in need.
For the sixth year, LEAP students assisted with the event, covering 21 hours of shifts, participating in “sign and wave…”
LEAP Students with HISD Asst Superintendent Paul Trevino
…help with unloading vehicles…
…and organizing, sorting, and counting items donated…
…doing some radio interviews…
…while also having fun with social media to help advertise the event.
Over the course of a cold and rainy day, this led to a lot of fun, spurred on by a lot of generosity by sponsors and local residents. Indeed, the community’s generosity kept LEAP students busy and resulted in full tents!
Over the course of the two days KSAM’s event generated 1,628 food items, 1,057 toys (including what was probably a record number of bikes!), 300 pounds of pet food, and $6,149 in cash.
The SHSU Lowman Student Center Orange Ballroom was filled with the warmth of holiday spirit and community generosity this past weekend, as CASA of Walker County hosted its annual “Christmas in July” Bingo Fundraiser.
With nearly 500 attendees–including, of course, LEAP students–there to support CASA, the event was a reflection of the community’s commitment to children in foster care.
The event featured 15 lively rounds of bingo…
…which was expertly MC’d by Terrence Bell…
…a silent auction, and a live auction of artwork created by children involved in CASA programming.
Raffle prizes included high-value items such as a $1,500 VISA gift card and diamond jewelry, while (some) guests embraced the evening’s “Gingerbread Christmas” theme with the contradictory summer holiday attire.
The fundraiser supports CASA’s ongoing efforts to recruit, train, and supervise volunteers who serve as advocates for children involved in the child welfare system. And while CASA is a national organization, it is managed locally, with dedicated staff such as Kim Weiser (Director)…
…Laura Green (Development Director/Event Planner)…
Rachel Drake (Program Director), Sharee Brabits (Advocate Supervisor) and Katy Thompson (Advocate Supervisor) overseeing Walker, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties.
Also on hand were many of its board members, including SHSU’s own Victoria White, who helped MC the event–she also won a Bingo game!
…and Malori Martin, Assistant District Attorney with the Walker County District Attorney’s Office…
…among many others.
For LEAP, it was a great opportunity to bring together students who have spent at least part of the summer in disparate places. Michelle Cardenas spent much of the summer interning in Austin for Governor Greg Abbott; Makenna McDaniel moved from internship (in Austin, with Rep. Will Metcalf) to another (Huntsville, with Rep. Trey Wharton)…
Olivia Discon has worked at the City of Huntsville; Sofia Soto moved to Huntsville to intern with the City;
Michelle Moya is still living in Montgomery County, while commuting to Huntsville and working for Rep. Trey Wharton; and Olivia McCaughan drove in from Prosper, TX, specifically for this event.
Together, we had the opportunity to see many leaders of the University and the community. We spent a little time with President White…
…whose husband, Elliott…
…helped sponsor the event and gave everyone a Christmas ornament!
We also saw Mayor Humphrey and City Manager Scott Swigert;
…had a chance to catch up with Jolynn Wharton;
…said hi to council members Karen Denman and Vicki Mackenzie;
…caught up with Chamber President and CEO Jason Brandolini and his wife, Kendra Windisch…
…as well as many other community leaders.
And, of course, we had a chance to see a lot of people celebrate their victories in Bingo, including our own Stephanie Fors!
With events that are much fun, it’s sometimes difficult to remember that the true spirit behind the event is to do good for the area youth. But with the presence of the many good people in the Walker County community, much good did occur: more than $130,000 was raised for CASA, funds that will go to expand training and support for volunteers, bolster outreach efforts to underserved regions, and provide essential resources for children in need.
For these children, and for all who care about others, the event was truly a Christmas in July.
It’s no secret that the future success of a community rests heavily on its leaders and its children. With that in mind, CASA of Walker County created its “All About Kids Expo” in 2024, an event designed to educate the public about children’s health services, local activities, education, and even financial investments that can take care of educations and other contingencies.
The event was a success, and this past weekend, CASA brought it back for its second year–and LEAP was there to document the good things the community has to offer to children and families.
The event ran smoothly, reflecting the deft touch of event coordinator Laura Green. More than 80 organizations set up booths, with groups from the Huntsville Memorial Hospital…
In addition, there were numerous children’s activities, with bouncy-houses, balloon artists, several games involving Velcro projectiles, and a mini-train.
Not to mention a petting zoo.
In short, there was fun for everyone!
There was also entertainment. Following an introduction to the event, attendees were able to see Maggie Collum’s Dance Studio participants perform…
…enjoy the colorful, joyful, and lively steps of Ballet Folklorico…
…and groove to the moves of the Junior GGs of Mance Park Middle School…
…and the Grenadier Guards of Huntsville High.
Of course, one of the key promoters of children’s success in Walker County is the entity that organized the Kids Expo: CASA of Walker County.
Established nationally in 1977, CASA provides crucial support to children who need “a voice” while in the custody of Child Protective Services.
Our local CASA covers the counties of Walker, San Jacinto, and Trinity Counties, while promoting events such as All About Kids Expo that make communities stronger.
Those interested in supporting or attending one of the aforementioned events, or who would like become an advocate, or who would like to donate should contact Laura Green at 936-291-2272 (ext. 105).
More than 450 people turned out to advocate for CASA–a worthy organization that advocates on behalf of children in Walker, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties. Once a year, they bring supporters together for their annual “Christmas in July” fundraiser, and this year the result was a sell-out.
The evening began at 5pm, with an hour of mingling, “shopping,” dining, and other festivities. It gave us a chance to catch up with each other and our table mates.
Our tables consisted of: Ken and Nicole Holland, Michelle Spencer and Jessica Twardesky, Judge David Moorman and Christie Moorman, Mac and Leanne Woodward, Mike Yawn and Stephanie Fors, Victoria McClendon-Leggett, Roxana Woychesin, and various LEAP Ambassadors.
In addition, we had a chance to run into community friends. One of the nice aspects of volunteering for different organizations, for example, is that we get to see people we volunteer with elsewhere! We had the opportunity to chat with Dottie, a committed member of the Lion’s Club, who joins us at 6 am to put out flags on major holidays.
We also ran into Nancy Ormsby, who was volunteering, which is no surprise. She and her sister, Lois Stehlik, volunteer everywhere–they are great community assets.
At 6pm, the Bingo commenced. Rob Hipp was on hand to emcee;
CASA board members and advocates volunteered;
…team members from SHSU football served as auction spotters;
…SHSU Volleyball members helped put up tables and chairs at the end; and LEAP Ambassadors were on hand, not only as paying guests, but also to assist with the auction and take photographs.
There were 15 games of Bingo in all, with variations on the game in full force.
Hipp did a good job of moving things along, and about halfway through, we took a “game-break” for a live auction (thank you Kevin McMillian!) of children’s paintings.
Some sold for more than a thousand dollars!
Additional funds were raised through “adoptions,” a silent auction, and a call for donations. Last year, the event raised more than $100,000, a testament to the generosity of the community and to the staff at CASA.
In addition to the funds raised for a good cause, there was a whole lot of fun going on. There were, of course, 15 bingo winners, and there were winners for “Best Dressed,” “Best Christmas-Spirit Costumes,” and “most generous table.”
The winners were typically thrilled, and they were gracious, although the “bingo-offs,” which occur when two or more individuals “bingo” on the same call, could get heated…
But, of course, everyone ended up friends.
People returned to the many stations to meander to, seeing what could be bid on, tables of friendly people to converse with, and a photogenic selfie station.
This led to much fun, as did winning. One of our table members, Michelle Spencer, Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Walker County, won the blackout contest!
As noted, with 15 games of Bingo, there were many winners, and that doesn’t include those who won the raffles, the drawings, or the silent and live auctions. Of course, the biggest winners are those who most need some wins in their lives: the children whose families are caught up in court actions. The funds raised from this event go to support those children, ensuring they have outcomes that provide them with the best chances in life.
And, in a larger sense, everyone who attended the event was a winner in that they were all contributing to a cause that helps our community become stronger–and that’s a big win!
Our local CASA organization has an important mission, which is to have a safe, permanent, nurturing home for every child. Accordingly, every summer, CASA hosts Christmas in July, a fundraiser that we had the opportunity to attend and, in a small way, help positively impact children’s lives. Thanks to sponsorships by Wes and Karen Altom of Postcards Magazine and Professor Mike Yawn, we were able to attend–dressed in our Christmas and luau attire, we got ready to play (and hopefully win) bingo!
At my table, I had the honor to sit with TX Representative Kyle Kacal and his wife Marci Kacal, who were joined by Richard and Dorothy Yawn and Mac and Leanne Woodward.
To the right of us, LEAP Ambassadors Morgan and Jessica sat with School Board Trustee Ken Holland and his wife Nicole Holland; Michelle (Director of Boys and Girls Club) and Winston Spencer; and Becca (Director of Communications for Academic Affairs at SHSU) and Miles Griffin. In between bingo rounds, we learned from each of them about how their jobs impact Huntsville!
Rob Hipp with KSAM was the bingo caller for the night, and he did a wonderful job of keeping the crowd involved and entertained. By the last round of bingo, with some practice and prompting, we were pros whenever Mr. Hipp shouted “lets play…” we all answered: “BINGO!”
We all enjoyed the food provided by the City Hall Café, and we were able to participate in the raffles, silent auctions, and biddings. Unfortunately, although I put all my tickets in the drawing for a free spa, I was not very lucky.
On the other hand, Mrs. Michelle Spencer was the luckiest of us all! Just before the final round of bingo, Mrs. Spencer won a game! The prize for the win was, a free Airbnb travel package and gas card. (Photographer’s note: for those of us at her table, it was a very suspenseful few calls until the winning combo was called. We were able to snap a few candids of the Spensers before and after they won!)
As the night went on, more games were played and more winners were announced. The room was buzzing with anticipation whenever someone stood up, signifying there were only one number away from a win. “BINGOs” were heard around the room and prizes were awarded by amazing sponsors.
What we all agreed to find more enjoyable, along with the bingo of course, was the live bidding. I have personally never seen one before. This bidding was very special since the auction items were paintings created by the children who are part of the CASA program. Each painting delivered a strong message. The one I fell in love with was the painting of a silhouette of a person speaking, and the words drawn outside of the shape were “I’m fine.” Within the profile were words of how the child actually felt not having a home and being mistreated.
As the bidding went higher, some even up to $5,000, our jaws dropped, and our hearts were filled gratitude for how kind and generous the citizens of Huntsville are.
As we wrapped up the last game of bingo, we were told by the end of the night how much money was raised from this event, and once they said over $106,000, the room was filled with joy, knowing that we all were able to give back to children in need.
Many thanks to our table mates, the wonderful community of Huntsville, and, of course, many congratulations to CASA for such a successful night.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 