SOCIAL REGISTER Upcoming Events
OUR HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOUR SOCIAL CALENDARS
Charlotte & Craig Benson with daughter Christiane and son Garland
20TH CASAblanca Gala
CASA OF TRAVIS COUNTY CASAblanca, the fundraising gala known for its luxurious style
and mission-focused appeal to help abused and neglected children, is making a big move. On February 11th, CASA of Travis County will celebrate their 20th CASAblanca Gala in a new location at the Hyatt Regency, where a growing guest list will have plenty of room to play casino games and dance to the sounds of Vendetta Big Band! Gigi Edwards Bryant, chairwoman of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Council and a charismatic businesswoman and community leader, is this year’s honoree. She will be given spe- cial recognition at the gala for her fierce advocacy of the rights of children in foster care. CASAblanca supports CASA of Travis County, a nonprofit organi-
Date Night with Keith Urban BEYOND BATTEN DISEASE FOUNDATION
Beyond Batten Disease Foundation was founded by Craig and
DATE NIGHT WITH KEITH URBAN February 10 ACL Moody Theater
beyondbatten.org
Charlotte Benson in August 2008 after their then five year old daughter, Christine, was diagnosed with the disease. After months of testing and inconclusive results, they learned that Batten dis- ease is an inherited, neurodegenerative disorder that affects several hundred children in the United States. Without warning, children with this disease suffer from vision loss and seizures, ultimately impairing the child’s cognitive and motor skills. Today, there is no known treatment or cure for the fatal disease. “I’ll never forget that day. In a single moment, a disease we had never heard of changed our entire life,” said Charlotte Benson. “As a parent, it’s difficult to imagine a worse fate for your little girl than Batten disease.” The Foundation is committed to finding a
cure for this rare disease. As well as raising awareness and money to accelerate research to find a cure, they have developed a single, inex-
pensive blood test to detect the gene mutations for Batten disease and hundreds of other so-called “orphan” diseases. According to Craig Benson, “There are hundreds of these condi-
tions that, individually, are very rare. However, when taken as a group they are much more commonplace. It is the Foundation’s goal to make the test a standard of care for all young men and women as part of their routine health screening.” Craig is President of Rules- Based Medicine, a bio-technology company in Austin. Date Night with Keith Urban will be held February 10, 2012 at
9 p.m. at the Austin City Limits Moody Theater. Tickets may be purchased online at
beyondbatten.org. The event will begin with a “can’t miss” VIP pre-party and an interactive auction featuring unique items and experiences. Funds from the gala will be used to launch the genetic test.
zation that speaks up for children who have been abused or neglected. By empowering our community to volunteer as advocates for them in the court system, CASA take ups the causes of those who have few champions. Guests will experience the moving stories of these children and meet the dedicated CASA vol- unteers who stand by their side. The CASAblanca Gala promises to live
up to its storied name. Unique live auction items include a vacation to anywhere in the world, a $5,000 jewelry shopping spree and travel packages to Costa Rica, Los Angeles, Santa Fe and more. Last year, guitars signed by Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones sold for $10,000 each! Guests will also enjoy the downtown skyline view in the swanky casino, a delicious dinner with a regional flair and the flavor of a variety of exquisite coffees in the after-dinner espresso lounge! CASA hasn’t forgotten that their event is scheduled for Valentine’s weekend, so watch for heart-felt special touches. This year’s gala is chaired by Gisela Hermes Herver, Assistant
Controller at DMX, Inc., who has served on CASA’s Board of Directors since 2010. “I’ve always had a passion for serving my commu- nity and in particular, its small- est constituents,” Gisela shares.
“I want to ensure that every child in need has the powerful voice of a CASA volunteer, and I know that CASAblanca can help achieve that.” Created in 1985, CASA of
Travis County is now one of the top ten CASA programs in the nation, supporting 500 volun- teers who advocate for approxi- mately 1,300 children a year. Purchase your CASAblanca
tickets at
casatravis.org or by calling (512) 539-2677.
Gisela Hermes Herver
austinlifestylemagazine.com 23
20TH CASABLANCA GALA February 11, 6:00pm
Hyatt Regency Austin
casatravis.org
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