Where can one buy a house for $5 and contribute to a good cause at the same time? At the 28th annual Parade of Houses at NorthPark Center.
Now through July 30, 13 themed playhouses are on display at the mall and are free to view. The miniature houses will be raffled off at the end of the month, with proceeds benefiting the children served by Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Raffle tickets are $5 each, or five for $20.
The custom-made children’s playhouses were created and donated by builders, architects, corporations, and volunteer organizations. This year’s collection includes a yellow submarine, a seaside cottage, a spaceship, a hobbit house, a playground city, a golf hut, and more.
The raffle also includes a chance to win a $1,000 NorthPark gift card and a Luka Doncic prize package.
CASA is a non-profit social service agency that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children.
“CASA volunteers get to know the children, review records, research information, and talk to everyone involved in a child’s life — social workers, attorneys, judges, parents, teachers, and family members. The volunteers then make recommendations to the court that help judges decide the best permanent home for the children,” the organization’s website explains.
The website adds that “the ultimate goal is to help ensure that all of the children in protective care find safe, permanent homes where they can thrive.”
The playhouses are a fitting symbol of the organization and its mission.
“The playhouses are a visual representation of the dreams of children in foster care who simply want permanent homes where they are safe and loved,” Dallas CASA wrote in a statement.
To view the whimsical playhouses online and buy raffle tickets, click here. Ticket sales close Sunday, July 30, at 3 p.m., and winners will be drawn beginning at 4 p.m. Click here for a list of participating sponsors, architects, and builders.
Those who wish to make an outright donation in lieu of purchasing a raffle ticket can do so at the CASA website.
