Philanthropy Spotlight: Rock the CASA

Are you ready to rock?! For the past two years my chapter has held Rock the CASA as our fall philanthropy event to benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). CASA volunteers speak on behalf of children going through the court system. This battle of the bands competition that brings in the school and surrounding community to raise money for a great cause

My chapter has tried everything from a 5k to a capture the flag tournament, but we just couldn’t find a philanthropy that fit our chapter and our school. In 2013 we decided to try something new. Unlike most of the daytime sports-related philanthropy events at our school, our Chief Marketing Officer Katie decided to mix things up. She organized a battle of the bands competition for a Friday evening. It included campus bands and bands from the local Tacoma community. The gamble paid off and the inaugural Rock the CASA was a huge hit.

Rock the CASA 2013

Philanthropy events are all about raising awareness and raising money. This year, we increased awareness of CASA by inviting a CASA volunteer, and stepmother to one of our sisters, to come speak to the campus community about being a voice for children. To raise money, we charge admission, sell shirts or stickers, and have a fan favorite award. To vote for your favorite band, spectators just place money in the jar labeled with the band’s name. It’s a fun way to raise money and get people involved.

Fan Favorite Voting Table

Unlike other philanthropic causes like the American Heart Association or the Girl Scouts of America, most people don’t know much about Court Appointed Special Advocates. Having events like Rock the CASA helps people recognize our cause more. This year even marks Theta’s 25^th anniversary with CASA. If you want to know more, click here.

Rock the CASA 2014

If your chapter is looking for a new philanthropy idea, why not try a battle of the bands?