ANDERSON — East Central Indiana CASA will host a fundraising event called the Black and Red Gala on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Hoosier Park Racing and Casino.

This event will also recognize the 2009 Volunteer of the Year in Hancock County and Madison County, and posthumously honor David Hopper, who served several terms as Madison Superior Court 4 judge before his death early this year.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres. Dinner and program will follow at 6:30 p.m. The cost to attend the event is $35 a person. The dress is business attire. Individuals interested in attending can RSVP until Thursday, Oct. 29. Anyone wishing to attend can call the CASA office at 649-7215.

CASA is a volunteer program that recruits and trains community volunteers to be the voice in the court for abused and neglected children. A CASA volunteer thoroughly examines a child’s case and makes recommendations to the judge. Volunteers are trained to advocate, investigate, evaluate, and monitor with respect to what is in the best interest of the child. There is a great need for volunteer advocates in Madison County. There are currently 263 children assigned to the program waiting for a CASA volunteer. Money raised at this event will go toward ensuring that children assigned to CASA will have an advocate.

— For The Herald Bulletin