Metro East Surpasses $1 Million in Contributions With 20th Cars for CASA
The Metro East Division of the Dallas Builders Association has surpassed $1 million in contributions to Lone Star Casa with its 20th annual Cars for CASA auto show held May 18 at the
Rockwall County Courthouse.
Cars for CASA began in 2005 with 80 cars and raised $2,600. It has since become one of the largest auto shows in North Texas. This year’s show featured approximately 350 vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles despite the threat of severe weather, drew over 4,000 attendees and raised almost $110,000. To date, the event has surpassed the $1 million mark in total funds raised for Lone Star CASA.
“It’s hard to believe that we have been doing this for such a long time and that so many participants have been with us throughout the entire journey,” said Doug Bowerman of Susser Bank, a co-founder of Cars for CASA.
One-hundred percent of the event’s proceeds benefit Lone Star CASA, a non-profit organization that supports abused and neglected children in Rockwall and Kaufman counties. It is part of a national program that began in the late 1970s to provide volunteer advocates for children in the foster care system. In Texas, there are 72 local CASA programs with nearly 11,000 volunteers serving more than 30,000 children.
In 2024, Lone Star CASA advocated for 214 children in Rockwall and Kaufman Counties, and helped 88 of these children achieve permanency when their cases were closed.
“We’re proud to play a role in helping CASA kids rebuild their lives,” said co-founder Dave Hambley of Lee Lighting. “The Cars for CASA show has become a great way to support a worthy cause and raise awareness of the CASA role in our children’s lives.”
Metro East was recognized at the Dallas BA’s May 28 board of directors meeting for the outstanding success of the event. “It is simply phenomenal,” stated Association Past President Jerry Carter, “to think that 20 years ago, some of our members came together with this idea because they wanted to help some kids who needed help, and now look at it.”
Bowerman adds, “Everyone who supports this event is helping ensure that vulnerable children have someone to speak on their best interest in court, advocate for their medical well-being and educational success, and ultimately show them that the community cares for them.”
Join the Metro East Division at their July 17 luncheon at SpringHill Suites Rockwall for the check presentation to Lone Star Casa.
Top Photo: Auto show organizers Greg Paschall of Richardson Ready Electric, Dave Hambley of Lee Lighting, Doug Bowerman of Susser Bank and Larry Baty of Cadenhead Servis Gas gather with volunteers at the 20th Annual Cars for CASA, held May 18 in Rockwall.