Author: Jacob Wallin
Published: 4:43 PM CDT May 29, 2025
Updated: 4:43 PM CDT May 29, 2025
TEMPLE, Texas — CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties received a record-breaking donation this Thursday, as two Central Texas business owners made the single largest donation the local office has ever seen.
Mike and Sara Dent, owners of Wings Pizza n Things in Temple, presented a $70,000 donation to CASA at their restaurant on May 29. The money was raised through the Wings Pizza n Things/CASA Classic Golf Tournament, which is held each year to raise money for the organization.
This year’s donation marks the fifth year in a row the tournament has topped its previous earnings, netting the new largest donation the CASA office has received. The tournament was held at Sammons Golf Course on Monday, May 12.
CASA said the financial impact of the tournament has allowed to the organization to enjoy “record growth” in new advocates and children served in Central Texas, being able to add staff members and serve more children in the foster care system.
CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, is an organization that works to support abused or neglected children by providing a trained volunteer to “be the voice for the child’s right to safety in placement, permanence in family life and a loving home,” primarily by being a voice for the child in the court system, according to the organization.
“I came up as a child in the foster care system- but I did not have a CASA advocate working on my behalf,” Mike Dent said. “I see the work these volunteers do for the children that CASA serves and it just makes me want to raise more money each year to help provide more support for so many kids who don’t have a voice. We are so thankful for the local people who help support this event because people are moved to support CASA and help them advocate for more kids.”
CASA Board President Ashley Clapper Bennett thanked the Dent family for their donation and dedication to the organization.
“Our CASA office is growing and impacting more children each year,” Bennett said. “To continue our growth requires funding for recruiting new volunteers, training and new staff to support the added volunteers. We appreciate the dedication to CASA that Mike and Sara have shown and the ability to serve more kids thanks to their generosity.”
