Dueling Pianos Brings Music, Memories, and Meaningful Support to Casey Cares Families
An evening of music, laughter, and generosity brought the community together at Michael’s On East in Sarasota on Friday, October 9th, for Casey Cares’ Dueling Pianos fundraiser. Guests enjoyed live entertainment while helping create little moments and lasting memories for critically ill children and their families.
Through sponsorships, raffle ticket purchases, auction bids, and donations, supporters helped fund moments of joy, connection, and respite for families navigating a medical crisis. To put that generosity into perspective, the support generated from this one evening could provide any one of the following:
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Over 120 family experiences at Myakka Elephant Ranch
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More than 700 family visits to Mote Marine Aquarium
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250 families cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers together
One of the evening’s most meaningful moments came when Jaime and Evan, parents of 3-year-old Owen, shared their son’s story and his journey with leukemia. They did an incredible job helping guests understand what families face during a serious illness and why ongoing support matters. We are deeply grateful for their openness and for allowing our community to connect with Owen’s story.
Every dollar raised helps Casey Cares continue supporting critically ill children, their siblings, and their parents throughout their journey. These experiences do more than create lasting memories, they remind families that they are not facing that journey alone.
The evening would not have been possible without our generous sponsors. A heartfelt thank-you goes out to our Spotlight Sponsor, the MITER Foundation/PGT and our Hero of Hope Sponsor, STOCK Homes/Wild Blue at Waterside.
We also extend our sincere thanks to The Drizos Family, Susan Hendrix, and Jonathan & Michele Schaechter. Jonathan and Michele joined us for the celebration, and although they are new to Casey Cares, they are already supporting our mission in a big way. We are grateful to welcome them into our community.
Our event partners added special touches that made the celebration even more memorable. Thank you to Lakewood Ranch Play Cafe for the beautiful balloon displays, Paradise Moments for the fun photo booth, and Mama G’s Bakery for the delicious soft pretzels served as a late-night snack.
The excitement isn’t over yet! Our $10,000 Raffle is still open. Tickets are $100 each, only 500 tickets will be sold, and the winning ticket will be drawn on October 24. You do not need to be present to win!
Purchase your $10,000 Raffle ticket here.
Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us, supported our mission, and helped make a meaningful difference for the families we serve. Your generosity helps bring little moments and lasting memories to families when they need them most.
