Casa de Esperanza is bringing hope to children and families across Fort Bend County and on Wednesday January 20 they will celebrate a few of the amazing people who have helped make their work possible. ‘Wish Upon A Season’ is this year’s theme for their third annual holiday extravaganza and gala which will benefit the Casa de Esperanza.

Originally scheduled for December 4th, the festivities were postponed due to inclement weather. The gala will now take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, January 20 at Safari Texas Ranch in Richmond. The gala will start with a cocktail reception followed by dinner and entertainment along with an auction board called Gifts to Go featuring over 20 items. At the end of the night someone will be crowned king or queen by Casa de Esperanza and they will receive a special thank you – an art piece created by the children who have received help from the organization.

The event will also feature a live auction that you don’t want to miss featuring tickets to a Jonas Brothers concert, a barbecue with 99 friends, tickets to a Rockets home game with an autographed basketball and a night at a hotel, and dining with a group at three fun homes.

Casa de Esperanza is a non-profit organization which relies solely on the generosity of the community. Now in its 27th year the organization has been a safe place for children in crisis due to abuse, neglect and HIV/AIDS. They are the only organization in Texas to recognize and respond to the need for specialized residential care of children infected with HIV/AIDS and they have been providing this care longer than any agency in the country.

They offer hope and help to foster and adoptive children and their families throughout Fort Bend County as they support 15 foster and 10 adoptive families. The organization offers free residential, medical and psychological care to meet the needs of individual children and families, ranging from special-needs infants to children ages 6 and under.

The theme for this year’s gala is Stars of Today and Tomorrow, and honorees are Fort Bend fathers and daughters who provide vision and commitment in support of civic and charitable organizations in the county, giving selflessly of their time and talents. Among them are Don Kerstetter and daughter Grace, Dr. Scott Breeze and daughter Ava, Quinn Wright and daughter Caylin, Will Hardee and daughter Heather Gobert, and Chris Breaux and daughters Kimberly and Aimee.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the Casa de Esperanza 2010 Annual Gala “Building Hope for Children” on Sunday April 25, 2010 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. This event, hosted by Lucia and Michael Cordua and chaired by Julie and Dr. David Brown and Brenda and Tom Koch, will honor volunteers and contributors for their hearts, time and commitment.

The 2010 Annual Gala will present the Michael Cordua Spirit of Hope award to Kathy O’Neil and Phil Ferguson, the Volunteer of the Year award to Robert Malinak, the Corporate Honoree award to Bracewell and Giuliani, LLP, the Volunteer Group of the Year award to the Rotary Club of University Area, the Young Professionals of the Year award to Ben Brown and Alan Falik, and the Teen Volunteer of the Year award to Colin Bassett.

For information, tickets, or to find out how to become a volunteer or sponsor please contact Gina Miller at 281-491-6440 or 281-773-5700 or visit www.casahope.org

Sponsors for the Wish Upon a Season Casa de Esperanza Fort Bend Gala include Safari Texas Ranch; Classic Chevrolet; Richmond Bone and Joint Clinic; Carolyn and Neil Banfield; Dr. Kim Gee, DDS; Marilyn and Albert Glover; Libby and Clyde King; Null-Lairson; Tami and Dan McGuire; Medcare Pediatric Group; Butch and Gina Miller; Quail Valley Exchange Club; Richmond Rotary Club; Nina Schaefer, attorney at law; Dr. May W. Tape, DDS; Tate Moerer & King; Tax Tech; University of Houston System-Sugar Land; and Wharton County Junior College.