WFAA-TV news anchor and reporter Cynthia Izaguirre will be honored at a luncheon for her dedication to and advocacy for children in foster care. The Children’s Council of Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) will present her with the 2022 Caroline Rose Hunt Cherish the Children award at a luncheon on Friday, May 6, at noon at the Dallas Omni hotel.
Dallas CASA recruits, trains, and supervises community members to serve as court-appointed volunteer advocates for child abuse and neglect victims in the state’s protective care.
The Caroline Rose Hunt Cherish the Children award recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding contributions to helping children removed from unsafe homes. The award, named after the Texas oil heiress and philanthropist Caroline Rose Hunt, symbolizes the legacy of dedication she embodied and gave to the most vulnerable in the community.
Izaguirre’s weekly television news segment, Wednesday’s Child, features a child or a sibling group available for adoption. She takes the time to get to know each child personally and shares with viewers what makes each one unique. She also shares what each child is looking for in a forever family. Izaguirre produces and hosts each segment, encouraging interested viewers to contact Child Protective Services about adoption.
The Dallas Express reached out to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to inquire about the adoption rate of children who have appeared on Wednesday’s Child. According to LaQueena Warren, while exact numbers are not available and there is a strict policy against providing information about children, approximately six or seven adoptions are completed each year. Izaguirre shares updates of all adopted children on Wednesday’s Child.
“Through her work and her life, Cynthia shines a light on the need every child has for a forever home where they will be loved and cared for,” said Kathleen M. LaValle, president and CEO of Dallas CASA. “It’s easy to think of children in foster care as the sum of their difficult circumstances. Cynthia instead focuses on children’s promises, dreams, and abundant and unique worth. Her Wednesday’s Child segment reminds us each week of our common desire to be loved and accepted and to belong.”
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra Young Strings will perform at a VIP opening reception for donors before the luncheon. Guests can participate in a silent auction for tickets to sporting events, a jazz concert, a spa package, and hand-painted children’s furniture. All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the children served by Dallas CASA. During the luncheon, a conversation between Izaguirre and Cynt Marshall, board chair of Dallas CASA and CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, will detail their personal experiences with fostering and adoption.
Contact Michelle Mai at 469-547-9456 or by email for ticket and table information. For adoption information, contact LaQueena Warren at 817-304-1272 or [email protected].
