Casa of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Is Proud to Present
CASAblanca – Dancing with the Local Stars
When: Saturday, November 4, 2023
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
$250 per person
$2,000 per table of 10
SPONSORSHIP opportunities are available!
Download the sponsor letter. (Available in October 2023)
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
Ashley Bradshaw
I am a mother of 3 amazing children. Two girls and one boy that are the light of my life. I am a wife to a wonderful man who supports me in everything that I do; he is my better half and my true love. And I am for the Child. The one thing I have always known, was I wanted to be a mom. I cannot imagine a child not being happy. Or being in a happy home. Or being loved unconditionally. So I give my time to CASA to raise money for the Child. Giving my time to help one child is worth every single minute I get to give to bring them into a happy home.
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.
HONORARY CO-CHAIRS
Tim & Peggy Crane
Tim Crane is the Vice President and General Manager of the Autonomy & Automation group at Caterpillar, leading a talented and forward-thinking team to scale technology solutions in mining, construction, quarry and aggregates, and beyond to support customer safety and productivity goals. Building on 30+ years of leading innovative tech, autonomy, and robotics the Autonomy and Automation team helps Caterpillar customers build a better world – every day.
Tim joined Caterpillar in 2011 when the consulting company he owned was acquired by Caterpillar, becoming one of its customer-focused solutions businesses. Under his leadership as General Manager, the Cat Solutions and Services portfolio included fleet management, productivity and safety consulting, safety technologies, and Caterpillar’s mining machine health and analytics business. The team achieved global expansion and significant growth, while developing processes and technologies that keep Caterpillar customers on the leading edge of safety and operational management.
Tim sat on the board of Seeing Machines, publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange (AIM). Seeing Machines is a leader in computer vision technologies which enable machines to see, understand and assist people. Seeing Machines harnesses human factors science to create artificial intelligence (AI) technology that observes driver and operator attention – reliably, unobtrusively, and in real time – intervenes when necessary.
Tim and wife Peggy share two boys (19yrs, 11yrs). Tim is a pilot, fly fisherman, FPV drone pilot & builder, snowboarder, water-skier, car enthusiast, and outdoorsman. Tim was the winner of the CASAblanca 2021 People’s Choice Award!
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.
CO-CHAIRS
Karoline & Teri
Teri Cook
Teri Cook is the Owner of Cook Travel, which recently celebrated its 31st year in business. Over the past 31 years, Teri has tried to make a difference in the community. She received a Presidential Citation during her term as President of Rotary Club of East Peoria and Paul Harris Fellow recognition from Rotary International. Teri was a recipient of the 40 Leaders under 40. She was recognized by Illinois Jaycees as one of the top 10 Outstanding Young persons in the state of Illinois. Teri has instructed fitness and dance classes for EP!C. Her biggest passion is working with children in Central Illinois. She served on the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Community Relations Committee and was a VIP for Children’s Miracle Network. Teri served on the Peoria Ballet Board from 2008 – 2015 and held the position of President from 2010–2013. She is currently on the Heartland Festival Orchestra’s Board of Directors. She is a member of CASA of the Tenth Judicial Circuit’s Board of Directors and has chaired CASAblanca Dancing with the Stars for the past ten years. She was the 2013 Dancing with the Stars winner. Teri enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. As she looks back on the years past, she is filled with enormous gratitude to be a member of the CASA family, for the opportunity to again be a part of CASAblanca and for sharing this experience with such a talented group. This year is no exception, especially because she is once more co-chairing this year’s event with the immensely talented Karoline Seitz-Goddard!
Karoline Seitz-Goddard
Karoline is a retired banker working part-time with CIBM Bank. She spent the bulk of her career in banking working with commercial clients and enjoyed all of the relationships that she built. She is a member of the advisory board of Illinois CancerCare Foundation, an organization committed to funding research, education and awareness in the fight against cancer. Karoline is also a team member and Treasurer of CREW309, an organization whose mission is to give survivors of breast cancer the opportunity to interact, become active in their recovery and gain support from fellow survivors. Skiing, cars, rowing and running are some of Karoline’s favorite pastimes to enjoy with her family. Karoline sees children as our future which makes CASA a very special organization to her. She has been involved with CASA for a number of years and is honored to be able to co-chair this year’s CASAblanca with Teri Cook!