Published: June 16, 2008 12:26 pm         

CASA to star Sonny Burgess

An old song admonishes mothers not to let their babies grow up to be cowboys, but at least one cowboy has a mother who can be proud that her son’s efforts will benefit CASA of North Texas — a local non-profit agency that provides volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children while they are in the care of the State of Texas. Recording artist, Sonny Burgess, known for his Texas country top ten singles “Cowboy Cool” and “Wild Hearts” will take stage at CASA of North Texas’ fourth annual Cowboys for CASA fund raiser.

Burgess, who grew up in Cleburne has been featured at Nashville’s Grand Old Opry, Billy Bob’s Texas, Nashville’s Fan Fare/CMA Music Festival and on Crook and Chase. Burgess, who inherited a musical ear (both his aunts and uncles made up a country group that toured throughout Texas) was hooked on performing from his first public performance in the second grade.

“I remember it was the only time I got the attention of my first real crush,” joked Sonny.

“But it was the reaction of my peers and teachers that made me feel like this was something I really wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Cowboys for CASA will begin at 7 p.m. on June 20. This country concert will also feature a barbecue dinner catered by Giles and Marlene Walterscheid and their Superior Manufacturing cohorts, a live and silent auction as well as dancing to the music of Sonny Burgess.

This fundraiser will benefit CASA’s work for Cooke County’s most vulnerable children — those who have suffered abuse and/or neglect and been taken into the care of the State of Texas.

As a non-profit agency, CASA is responsible for raising funds to carry out the work for the children. This funding comes from a variety of sources for funding including the Cooke County United Way, the City of Gainesville and the Cooke County Commissioner’s Court in addition to local fundraisers known as “Cowboys for CASA” and “Justice is Served.”

The agency has recently learned that their Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding will be cut approximately $17,000 for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2008. This funding is important in that it provides direct services to the children CASA serves.

“We’re working as hard as we can on our end to try and make Cowboys for CASA everything it can be and to (hopefully) make up at least some of what we lost in VOCA funding,” said CASA’s Director, Vicki Robertson. “We’re very happy to have Sonny coming to play and we hope that many will join us for a great evening.”

For more information, visit the Sonny Burgess Web site at www.sonnyburgess.com or the CASA of North Texas Web site at www.casant.org.