Pete’s Corp. of Erie raised $100,000 this year at its convenience stores in three states for the Court Appointed Special Advocates program that operates in many of the same cities.
Pete’s stores in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri raised money for their local CASA programs. The money was divided among the CASA programs; the 31st Judicial District, which includes Wilson, Neosho, Woodson and Allen counties, took home $71,308.53.
On Tuesday, Pete’s employees and some CASA representatives convened at the Parsons Conference Center at the Holiday Inn Express, 1500 Cattle Drive, for an awards presentation as well as a recap of the annual CASA fundraiser. Dustin McCrary of Pete’s served as emcee and Aimee Daniels, executive director of CASA’s 31st Judicial District program, helped give out awards. The event also served as the fourth quarter managers meeting for Pete’s, as many store and district managers attended.
Pete’s stores offered customers the chance to add a donation to CASA to their purchases at the checkout counters. Stores also conducted fundraisers on top of this.
Judge Daniel Creitz, the chief judge for the 31st Judicial District, spoke about CASA and its importance to children and the court.
Creitz said his predecessor, Judge Fred Lorenz, started the CASA program and asked Creitz to keep it going. CASA’s primary purpose is to serve as an advocate for children who have been removed from their homes and are in state custody.
“Our advocates provide an unbelievable service,” Creitz said. “What they do is remarkable. These funds allow them to be the voice, be the advocate, for those kids.”
The judge said he’s seen unbelievable drug abuse cases in his tenure, cases that exposed children to controlled substances and various forms of abuse. Children and women have been used as prostitutes, for lack of a better term, he said, for a parent or spouse to control so he or she could satisfy their habit.
“I have nightmares about these things, to be honest with you. But I live with them. It’s just part of the job,” Creitz said.
What Pete’s stores provide to CASA help provide advocates for the children who get pulled into a parent or parents’ cycle of drug addiction.
See CASA, Page 3.


CASA volunteers undergo 40 hours of training and travel many miles to appear in courts throughout the districts they cover.
“So they can be the voice. They have access to everything for these kids. So I just thank you, praise you for all your wonderful work. It’s going to be put to good use once again.”
McCrary then announced awards for the highest dollar amount raised for CASA.
First place went to Tracey Cook, manager of the Pete’s in Humboldt, which raised $14,926.70. Second place went to Carthage, Missouri’s Pete’s, which raised $5,408.29. Third place went to a Pittsburg Pete’s that raised $4,958.40.
The second set of awards calculated the money raised by the percentage of sales. The new Pete’s in Altamont took third place, raising $1,654.33. “They really embraced the fundraiser. Got involved. And they did their best,” McCrary said. Second place went to Pete’s in Frontenac ($2,968.57) and first to Pete’s in Baxter Springs ($4,029.22).
West District supervisor Sabrae Yeoman collected the first place award because her district raised the most money for CASA, $24,331.81. Second place went to the North Central District, $22,271.01.
Daniels presented the two awards for the most original fundraiser. The Chanute Pete’s store won first place. She presented the award to manager Jennifer Waller.
“They had an event that included race cars and their drivers. Motorcycles and BACA (riders), which is Bikers Against Child Abuse,” Daniels said. Emergency vehicles were included and their crews. “So all the kids could come and have their pictures taken and talk to the people who operate these vehicles for a donation.”
Pete’s also had a costume contest for the kids in four age divisions. The contest was the weekend before Halloween. There were other games as well and a dunk tank that included Chanute Mayor Jacob LaRue, among the volunteers. Volunteers also agreed to have pies thrown at them.
“So that’s pretty original,” Daniels said in announcing the award.
Second place went to Coty Jarrett for having a golf tournament in Crawford County. Volunteers fed those participating.
“I was absolutely astounded with the array and differences, unique and wonderful fundraisers that came out of all the different stores this year. This was a very hard decision to make,” Daniels said.
Checks from the fundraisers were then distributed to the CASA programs: $1,138.63 to Eureka and Severy in Greenwood County; $1,418.82 to Burlington in Coffey County; $6,478.63 to Fort Scott in Bourbon County; $12,365.30 to Jasper County, Missouri; $7,290.09 to northeast Oklahoma; and $71,308.53 to the 31st Judicial District.
“So we’re proud that we could raise this money. It goes toward a good cause,” McCrary said in closing.
Pete’s stores raised $74,250 las CASA.