REDLANDS – CASA of San Bernardino County will host their annual Munchin’ at the Mansion at Edwards Mansion on September 29 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. All proceeds from this event support the Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, which trains community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children living in foster care.  CASA recruits, trains and supervises volunteer adult advocates who provide a stable and consistent presence in the often turbulent lives of foster youth. Dr. Phil, National CASA Spokesperson, says “CASA volunteers also help to alleviate the constant upheaval faced by foster children. When a CASA volunteer is involved, a child is less likely to move from home to home, and they are 95% less likely to re-enter the foster care system.” Currently, there are 4500 foster children in San Bernardino County and 130 children on our waiting list. Join us at the 2010 Munchin’ at the Mansion and learn more about becoming a CASA.

Festivities will begin at 5:30, when guests enter through the fabulous Friends of CASA Walk and are greeted by the San Bernardino Sunset Rotary Club and The Pauley Maddin Trio. A fly-over by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department helicopter will help kick off the event. Renee Rojanaro will be performing with an all-star band, bringing high energy and a deep groove that makes you want to hit the dance floor!  Her players include Drummer Ty “Tystikz” Fleming, Keyboardist Eddie Gib Noble, Guitarist Jim Henken, and Bassist Patrice “P-Bass” Jonz. These top notch musicians have backed up such artists as Pink, Mark Anthony, Celine Dion, Shakira, Bon Jovi, Earth Wind and Fire, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Bette Midler, & Tony Bennett, to name a few.  They also have TV and Film credits, including Saturday Night Live, Letterman, Oprah Winfrey and The Tonight Show. Guests will also be entertained throughout the evening by Illusionist Robert Michaels as well as California Swing Dance Hall of Famer Erik Robison and partner Carla Hernandez. Visit the Silent Auction area to bid on season passes to the Sturges Center, RCI World vacation, a variety of dining experiences, and more goodies throughout the evening.

Be sure to come hungry and have your taste buds ready for an exquisite array of gourmet food, wine, premium beers, and coffee. Great tastes include a wide variety of international foods from San Bernardino Counties’ BEST restaurants, chefs, wineries/breweries: Corbett Catering & Washington Produce; Dhat Island Foods Caribbean cuisine; Eating Room & Dough’lectibles homemade goodies; Kool Cactus Café Mexican fare; Isabella’s famous Italian cuisine; Las Fuentas’ authentic Mexican cuisine; Michelle’s Bakery special cakes; Mikan’s delicious Teppan & Sushi; Mill Creek’s American cuisine; Ruben’s Fiesta Maya Yucatan cuisine; Uncle Howie’s delicious pizza; Anheuser-Bushe; Hangar 24 Brewery; Time in a Bottle; J. Filippi Winery; and Coffee Bean & Leaf Co. The “People’s Choice Award” will be presented by Inland Empire Cooking Guru, Entrepreneur and Auctioneer Extraordinaire Martha Green and the Minister of Culinary Awareness and host of Out To Eat Television (PBS) Cliff Young.

Individuals wishing to purchase tickets to Munchin’ at the Mansion may do so by calling (909) 909-881-6760 or visiting the website www.casaofsb.org. Tickets are $50 each and $500 for a table of 8.

*Event Sponsors: Edwards Mansion; Children’s Network; Redlands Magazine- Don Sproul; Alta Vista CU, Century 21 Lois Lauer Realty; Loma Linda School of Pediatric Dentistry; P & R Paper; AboutRedlands.com; and Dameron Communications. TBM Fire & Security – Friends of CASA Walk; and The Bountiful Basket-Silent Auction display. Christina Loves The Bloom Room- VIP centerpieces.

Background- Court Appointed Special Advocate’s (CASA)
In 1977, a Seattle judge conceived the idea of using trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. This program was so successful that soon judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates. In 1990, the US Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA programs with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act.

Today, CASA has grown to a network of more than 59,000 volunteers that serve 243,000 abused and neglected children through 900+ local program offices nationwide. CASA advocates, also known as volunteer guardians ad litem in some jurisdictions, are appointed by judges and act as officers of the court. Judges rely on the information these trusted advocates present.  For more information, please visit www.nationalcasa.org <http://www.nationalcasa.org/> .

San Bernardino County has over 5000 Foster care youth. Child Advocates of San Bernardino County are currently serving approximately 95 of these children. For more information on becoming a CASA call 909-881-6760 or visit www.casaofsb.org <http://www.casaofsb.org/> .