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Creators of A Perfect Christmas Market, Kristin Sullivan and Nicole Franklin presented a check of $1000 to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) after raising funds for the organization. 

The funds will allow CASA representatives to give the children in their care a special holiday season. 

A Perfect Christmas Market performed phenomenally amidst facing weather difficulties. Sullivan and Franklin were forced to change the event from two days to one due to bad weather along with changing the location.

“Mother Nature was our biggest challenge,” Franklin said. “It started out as a two-day event and ended up converting to a one-day event in a different location and we had to scale down.”

Though there were complications, the Christmas market ultimately accomplished its goal of bringing the community together to enjoy holiday cheer. 

“When we started out planning the event, the biggest drive for us was that we wanted it to be a free event and we wanted to give back to the community,” Frankin said. Casa ended up being the organization that we selected and its for a good cause, so we’re just excited.”
CASA will be helping to facilitate funds to support foster families as they celebrate this Christmas. With the funds from the market, the organization and its partners can better advocate for all children in their care as well. 

“We are so excited and just thrilled at CASA Troup County to be a part of this event, to have helped at the event, and to receive proceeds from it to help our children that are in care and bring extra smiles to them at Christmas time,” Director of CASA, Shannon Lawson said. “To be thought of during this time, as a nonprofit here in the community is just a special joy and Lagrange has such a giving community.”

In the coming year, CASA has many plans to help support its children with one them being to enlist ten new vetted and trained volunteers in a two month long class. The program will equip the volunteers with the skillset they need to be successful helpers for the organization.

“At the end of this 2023 season, we are very thankful for a giving community and we are just looking forward to 2024 because we have a lot in store,” Lawson said. “We have a new volunteer training class starting in mid January, and other opportunities for our community if they want to plug in at CASA located on out website.”