Casa of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Is Proud to Present
CASAblanca – Dancing with the Local Stars
When: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Where:
Par-A-Dice Hotel Ballroom
21 Blackjack Boulevard
East Peoria, IL 61611
Get Directions: Google map
What: CASA’s primary fundraising event of the year is a fun-filled evening featuring local celebrities dancing with local dance instructors and competing against each other. Local celebrity judges will rate each couple’s performance, and with audience votes added in, determine the “Critics’ Choice Award” winners. Sponsorships, ticket sales, online votes and Sponsor A Child donations determine the “People’s Choice Award” winners. The event not only offers a dance competition but good food, drink and music.
The Annual CASAblanca: Dancing With the Local Stars is an event not to be missed!
Why: Proceeds from the event support the work of specially trained CASA volunteers who advocate for children in the Tenth Judicial Circuit who have experienced abuse and neglect.
TICKETS
$300 per person
$2,500 per table of 10
SPONSORSHIP opportunities are available!
Download the sponsor levels and form.
Find out more about CASAblanca!
Contact CASA at casa@peoriacounty.org or 309-669-2939 for more information or to purchase tickets.
CASA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Pamela Perrilles
EMCEES
Ryan LaCosse
Ryan LaCosse is a husband, father, Area Director for Best Buddies in Central Illinois, and lover of exploration. Ryan believes in inclusion and a more accessible world for all people, especially with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ryan also helps lead the Barbell Buddies Special Olympics Powerlifting team with The House Barbell Club, is a board member for the Central Illinois Autism Association, and board member with the Downtown Peoria Rotary Club. When Ryan isn’t volunteering, he is camping around Michigan and the Upper Peninsula with his family, or hosting monster truck events for Monster Jam around the country. If you find him actually resting, you are probably at his funeral. Ryan has appeared on HBO’s “Ballers” with The Rock, MTV’s Fantasy Factory with Rob Dyrdek, and The Diesel Brothers on Discovery Channel. Ryan has also hosted events for Make-A-Wish, Dravet Syndrome, and has danced, judged, and co-hosted CASABlanca. “I look forward to having an amazing time with everyone for such a powerful organization. I love coaching my boys’ sports and watching other kids grow and develop with them. My hope is that CASA can help every child find a place for growth, development, love, and happiness! Together, we can make CASABlanca extra special for children who need us right now!”
Ryan Hite
I am a husband to my amazing wife Molly, who uses her gifts to help deaf and hard of hearing children in public schools and I’m a proud Dad to Elijah (12) and Piper (10). My professional life is in Talent Acquisition at RLI Insurance Company. In my spare time I love to help coach kids’ activities, support several non-profits that are near and dear to our family’s hearts (JDRF, St. Jude, and CASA) and I’m an active member of a local cooking club. As a past participant (and WINNER!) of CASAblanca I’m very excited to Co-Host this year. I believe in and have seen the “why” behind CASA’s mission. We have very close friends that are CASAs, and my brother and sister-in-law have advocated for kids in the court system, been foster parents, and have now formally adopted two girls.
PRESENTING SPONSORS AND CO-CHAIRS OF CASABLANCA 2024
Tim & Peggy Crane
Tim and Peggy Crane have been in Peoria for 11 years. They have two sons, ages 20 and 12. The oldest attends Baylor University (their alma mater, and where they met). Peggy has practiced law since graduating from Tulane Law School. Tim works for Caterpillar. They have been married for 27 years and care deeply about their community and justice work. Tim and Peggy were led to CASA by dear friends and are honored to support the amazing work that CASA does.
HONORARY CO-CHAIRS
Adam & Laura Hawks
Adam and Laura are happy to be back as a part of CASA’s flagship fundraising event for 2023. They are excited to continue to help CASA in their fundraising efforts this year and are humbled to support the work the CASA volunteers do for the community’s most vulnerable.
Adam is a financial planner with Hilltop Wealth Management of Raymond James and Associates and has been in the business for 23 years. He participated in 2017 CASAblanca, winning both the People’s Choice Award and the Critic’s Choice Award. He was a member of the Class of 2014 40 Under 40 Leaders. He is a proud and active member of the Rotary Club of Peoria North. Through the club, he is involved with leadership of their literacy efforts with the Ford Allen Academy in Peoria. These programs include the in-person Reading Buddies and the Book Buddy Pen Pal programs. Laura is a pediatric nurse who spent 15 years working at Lurie Children’s Hospital in downtown Chicago before moving to the Peoria area. They are big believers in giving back and staying engaged for the betterment of the local community. They are the proud parents of 5 awesome and talented kids, Ryan, Claire, Elle, Isabella, and Joshua.