Four years ago, Don Baggett had something up his sleeve that would help Vanderburgh County Court Appointed Special Advocates. Baggett’s wife Theresa serves as vice president of the board of directors for the nonprofit organization. The couple thought a magic show could garner more attention for CASA’s mission: to aid all physically or sexually abused, neglected, or abandoned children in court.
Baggett, who was featured in our March/April 2011 issue, performs more than 200 shows across the country a year. He knows the art of illusion can draw a crowd, so in conjunction with a trick-or-treat event on Main Street, Baggett and CASA organizers launched the first Magic Cares, a performance with magicians and entertainers. In the middle of the show held in the Victory Theatre, CASA’s executive director Suzanne Draper took the stage for the “CASA commercial.”
“It is a great opportunity for us,” Draper says. “We want everyone to have fun, but we also want people to know the importance of what we do.” The organization has been in Evansville since 1984, and currently, 150 volunteers serve the abused and neglected children.
The success prompted an annual event held the Sunday before Christmas. On Dec. 18, Magic Cares returns to the Victory Theatre, and the fifth anniversary celebration looks a lot like a variety show. Headlined by Baggett, the eight-act lineup includes juggling comedian Matt Jergens, award-winning dove act performer Robert Sode, and ventriloquist Stephen Knowles.
