ARTICLE
CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties received a substantial donation from Mike and Sara Dent, owners of Wings, Pizza, N Things in Temple, today, Tuesday, August 10th, 2021. The donation, a result of the largest fundraiser in CASA history, was the outcome of an event sponsored by Mike and Sara Dent. The Dent’s presented a check for $26,550.17 to representatives from CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties to support CASA’s efforts in working with local children in the foster care system. The funds will go directly to support the services that are provided by the volunteer advocates assigned to work with the children that CASA represents. The gift is a result of a highly successful golf outing that was held Monday, August 2nd at Sammons Park Golf Course. The tournament was sold out with 32 teams entered as well as support from 43 local sponsors including the title sponsor, Wings, Pizza, N Things. The tournament was conceived and organized by the Dent family after choosing to support the work that Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA’s) do to represent, mentor, and serve the children in foster care in Bell and Coryell Counties. Mike Dent stated, “As a survivor of the foster care system, I love the work that CASA does because it shows these children they are not forgotten or left behind by the system.” Dent added “CASA also teaches these kids that there are hopes and dreams they can reach for and helps show them how to break the cycle they are caught up in and prove they don’t have to be defined by their current situation.” Sara Dent coordinated a huge raffle for the fundraising event that far exceeded even her big expectations. “Mike and I were amazed at the love and support shown to us and for this wonderful event by our friends and customers,” said Sara. “We are so blessed to have a successful restaurant in a town full of people who are willing to share their support and love for these children who need help and direction, and it was our honor to use our resources to sponsor this event as a way to give back to the community.” Sara added, “I was overwhelmed by the donated items, the raffle ticket sales, and the generosity of people we serve daily. We are hopeful that this donation will enable CASA to serve even more children with their volunteers and staff who help these children in the foster care system.” The “big check” was presented to representatives from CASA on Tuesday, August 10th at Wing’s, Pizza, N Things in Temple. CASA Executive Director, Kevin Kyle, thanked the Dent family for their vision and commitment to creating an event that could be highly successful and beneficial to CASA in building awareness for CASA’s role in the local community. Kyle shared, “Mike has an incredible personal story and we are so fortunate that CASA aligns with his hope and dedication to having an impact on young children to help them realize they can strive to be better than the circumstances they just happen to be in at the moment. Mike says it “took a village” to get him to where he is today and that is an awesome message to share with these children to give them hope and desire to become successful, young adults as they mature and enter the real world of their futures.” Kyle added, “Another wonderful benefit for CASA was the opportunity to explain to the people at the golf outing and dinner what CASA is and what we do for the children in our community. After Mike told his story and Judge Cheryll Mabray spoke at the dinner event to echo the importance of our mission, I had 3 people stop me and tell me that they want to become volunteer advocates to help make a difference. To me, that was just as important as the money raised and the fun created by this wonderful event.” CASA Board President, Lee Ann Deal, noted that “the money will make a huge difference for us, enabling us to recruit and train more volunteers, increase our efforts and awareness opportunities, and directly affect the lives of many children. CASA is always in always in need of new volunteers since we are currently serving less than 20% of the need, consequently, this kind of event and the publicity generated by it is invaluable to CASA. On behalf of the board of directors, we are sincerely grateful for Mike and Sara, their entire family, and the Wings, Pizza, N Things staff for stepping up to make this incredible difference for our program and the children we serve.”
CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties received a substantial donation from Mike and Sara Dent, owners of Wings, Pizza, N Things in Temple, today, Tuesday, August 10th, 2021. The donation, a result of the largest fundraiser in CASA history, was the outcome of an event sponsored by Mike and Sara Dent.
The Dent’s presented a check for $26,550.17 to representatives from CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties to support CASA’s efforts in working with local children in the foster care system. The funds will go directly to support the services that are provided by the volunteer advocates assigned to work with the children that CASA represents.
The gift is a result of a highly successful golf outing that was held Monday, August 2nd at Sammons Park Golf Course. The tournament was sold out with 32 teams entered as well as support from 43 local sponsors including the title sponsor, Wings, Pizza, N Things. The tournament was conceived and organized by the Dent family after choosing to support the work that Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA’s) do to represent, mentor, and serve the children in foster care in Bell and Coryell Counties.
Mike Dent stated, “As a survivor of the foster care system, I love the work that CASA does because it shows these children they are not forgotten or left behind by the system.” Dent added “CASA also teaches these kids that there are hopes and dreams they can reach for and helps show them how to break the cycle they are caught up in and prove they don’t have to be defined by their current situation.”
Sara Dent coordinated a huge raffle for the fundraising event that far exceeded even her big expectations. “Mike and I were amazed at the love and support shown to us and for this wonderful event by our friends and customers,” said Sara. “We are so blessed to have a successful restaurant in a town full of people who are willing to share their support and love for these children who need help and direction, and it was our honor to use our resources to sponsor this event as a way to give back to the community.” Sara added, “I was overwhelmed by the donated items, the raffle ticket sales, and the generosity of people we serve daily. We are hopeful that this donation will enable CASA to serve even more children with their volunteers and staff who help these children in the foster care system.”
The “big check” was presented to representatives from CASA on Tuesday, August 10th at Wing’s, Pizza, N Things in Temple.
CASA Executive Director, Kevin Kyle, thanked the Dent family for their vision and commitment to creating an event that could be highly successful and beneficial to CASA in building awareness for CASA’s role in the local community. Kyle shared, “Mike has an incredible personal story and we are so fortunate that CASA aligns with his hope and dedication to having an impact on young children to help them realize they can strive to be better than the circumstances they just happen to be in at the moment. Mike says it “took a village” to get him to where he is today and that is an awesome message to share with these children to give them hope and desire to become successful, young adults as they mature and enter the real world of their futures.”
Kyle added, “Another wonderful benefit for CASA was the opportunity to explain to the people at the golf outing and dinner what CASA is and what we do for the children in our community. After Mike told his story and Judge Cheryll Mabray spoke at the dinner event to echo the importance of our mission, I had 3 people stop me and tell me that they want to become volunteer advocates to help make a difference. To me, that was just as important as the money raised and the fun created by this wonderful event.”
CASA Board President, Lee Ann Deal, noted that “the money will make a huge difference for us, enabling us to recruit and train more volunteers, increase our efforts and awareness opportunities, and directly affect the lives of many children. CASA is always in always in need of new volunteers since we are currently serving less than 20% of the need, consequently, this kind of event and the publicity generated by it is invaluable to CASA. On behalf of the board of directors, we are sincerely grateful for Mike and Sara, their entire family, and the Wings, Pizza, N Things staff for stepping up to make this incredible difference for our program and the children we serve.”