(REDLANDS, Calif.) Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of San Bernardino County hosts their annual Munchin’ at the Mansion event at Edwards Mansion on September 28 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

“The event features a wonderful variety of samplings from the area’s finest purveyors of food and drink, terrific entertainment, opportunities to win fabulous prizes, (including a custom diamond ring worth as much as $5,000), and more,” said Kara Hunter, CASA executive director.

Munchin’ at the Mansion is as much of an awareness-building event as it is a fundraiser with all proceeds benefiting 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.  Munchin’ at the Mansion is the ideal opportunity to learn more about this terrific program and the many personal rewards of becoming a CASA, as well as discovering the delicious treasures San Bernardino County restaurants have to offer.

CASA recruits, trains and supervises volunteer adult advocates who provide a stable and consistent presence in the often-turbulent lives of foster youth.  Currently, there are about 3,700 foster children in San Bernardino County and 104 children on CASA’s waiting list.

Dr. Phil McGraw national TV talk show host, and national spokesperson for CASA says, “CASA volunteers 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.”

Judge Glenda Hatchett and R&B singer Anthony Hamilton also serve as national spokespersons for CASA.

Munchin’ at the Mansion begins at 5:00 p.m. on September 28. Guests will enter through the Friends of CASA Walk and will be greeted by CASA of San Bernardino County Board of Directors.

“Be sure to come hungry and have your taste buds ready for the exquisite array of gourmet foods, wines, beers and coffees from San Bernardino Counties’ BEST restaurants,” said Hunter.

Participants include: local chefs, wineries/breweries: Anheuser-Busch ; Augie’s Coffee House ; Bon Appétit; Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf  ; Corbett Catering & Washington Produce; Dhat Island Food; Dough’Lectibles Bakery; Eureka Burger ; Gourmet Pizza  Hangar 24 Craft Brewery ;  Kiddough’s Bakery  ; Kool Kactus Cafe  ; Isabella’s Ristorante Italiano  ; Las Fuentas Mexican Grill  ; Joseph Filippi Winery ; Michelle’s Bakery  ; Mikan Teppan Sushi Lounge ; Mill Creek Cattle Company  ; North of Cabo ;  Pharaoh’s Adventure Park; Sticky Buns Bakery; Sucrée Pastries and Tea ; State Street Winery ; The Curb Mobile Espresso Bar; The Eating Room ; The Stockyard; Time in a Bottle Wine Merchants ; and Uncle Howie’s Pizza.

All guests vote for their favorite purveyor and the “People’s Choice Award” will be presented by Inland Empire Cooking Guru, Entrepreneur and Auctioneer Extraordinaire Martha Green.

Renee Rojanaro performs 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 Mayes Lucas, Keyboardist Eddie Gap Noble, Guitarist Jim Henken, and Bassist/Vocalist Hilliard “Hill Street” Wilson.

“These top notch musicians have backed up such artists as Pink, Mark Anthony, Celine Dion, Shakira, Bon Jovi, Earth, Wind and Fire, Johnny Guitar Watson, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Bette Midler and Tony Bennett to name a few. They also have TV and film credits, including Saturday Night Live, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey and The Tonight Show,” said Hunter.

For more information or to purchase tickets to Munchin’ at the Mansion at the website www.casaofsb.org. Tickets are: $50 Individual – Two Tickets: $90 – Table of 8: $350.

Event Sponsors include: Edwards Mansion , Children’s Network , Exigent Systems , AboutRedlands.com , Rochford Foundation/Burrage Mansion, Loma Linda School of Dentistry-Pediatrics  , Alta Vista Credit Union  , B & G American Contractors , P&R Paper , Creative Business Strategies, Lois Lauer Century 21 Realty  , Supervisor Josie Gonzales and Dameron Communications, LLC.

About Court Appointed Special Advocate’s (CASA)
In 1977, a Seattle judge conceived an idea to use 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 70,000 volunteers that serve 243,000 abused and neglected children through 1,000 plus 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 .

San Bernardino County has over 3700 Foster care youth. Child Advocates of San Bernardino County are currently serving approximately 104 of these children. For more information on becoming a CASA call 909-881-6760 or visit www.casaofsb.org .