BRATTLEBORO — Bowl for Kids' Sake, a community-wide Youth Services event that raises money for Windham County's Big Brothers Big Sisters program, grossed more than $61,000 on April 21, handily surpassing its goal of $50,000 to fund the mentoring program. It was the second time in two years the group exceeded its fundraising goal.
According to organizers, close to 500 individuals bowled this year. Teams were made up of friends, families, colleagues and students from local schools.
Linda Thurber of Brattleboro was the top individual fundraiser, raising close to $2,000 from friends and colleagues in pledges, followed by Emily Tinkham at $1,500 and Liz Richards at $1,400.
Entergy's two teams brought in the most pledges from a business, raising more than $2,000, followed by World Learning's two teams which raised more than $1,500.
“We'd like to thank all our corporate sponsors, prize donors, our bowlers, and those who sponsored a bowler,” said Rob Szpila, program director at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“It really takes all four groups to pull off our successful bowl-a-thon,” he added. “We're very grateful for the importance this community places on the work we do matching youth in need of a one-to-one relationship with a caring adult volunteer.”
Bowl for Kids' Sake is the primary fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters, a Youth Services program which provides children facing adversity in Windham County with strong, and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
National research demonstrates that “mentoring” – pairing a carefully screened volunteer with a young person for a mutually rewarding friendship – produces measurable outcomes, such as higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships, educational success, and avoidance of delinquency, and other risky behaviors.
Nearly 200 children in Windham County and nearby New Hampshire are part of the program and are matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister.
Currently, 26 youngsters from all towns in the county, are on the waiting list, eagerly waiting to be matched with an adult mentor. Call Youth Services at 802- 257-0361 for more information about how you can become involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is still collecting pledges and donations. Go to www.youthservicesinc.org/bowling to make an online donation.