BRATTLEBORO — Bowl for Kids' Sake, a community-wide Youth Services event that raises money for Windham County's Big Brothers Big Sisters program, grossed over $61,000 on Saturday, handily surpassing their goal of raising $50,000 to fund the mentoring program. This is the most successful year for Bowl for Kids' Sake in its 30year history. Big Brothers Big Sisters is still collecting outstanding pledges and donations.
According to organizers, Bowl for Kids' Sake attracted people from all walks of life, ranging from friends and colleagues who formed teams to entire families.
Many area businesses and residents annually take part in Bowl for Kids' Sake, and close to 600 individuals bowled this year, despite glorious temperatures outdoors. Teams from local schools made an impressive sight, filling many lanes throughout the day.
Linda Thurber of Brattleboro was the top individual fundraiser, raising $1,500 from friends and colleagues in pledges. Entergy's three teams brought in the most pledges of any business, at $2,066, followed by People's United Bank's five teams, which raised $1,360 in pledges, and Massucco Law firm, which raised $1,323 between their two teams.
“We'd like to thank all our corporate sponsors, prize donors, our bowlers, and those who sponsored a bowler,” says Rob Szpila of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “It really takes all four groups to pull off our successful bowl-a-thon. 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.”
Many area businesses contributed to the surpassing of the $50,000 goal by supporting the fundraiser. Brattleboro Subaru was again the top sponsor this year, with People's United Bank and the Windham Southwest Teachers' Association continuing as lead sponsors. They were joined by Integrated Solar, new to the event as a lead sponsor this year. Sponsoring at the Corporate Sustainer level was Brattleboro Savings & Loan and Ford of Brattleboro.
The following businesses were sponsors at the Corporate Patron level: Brattleboro Bowl, Friends of the Sun, Members 1st Credit Union, River Valley Credit Union, MVP Health Care, The New England House, the Steak Out Restaurant, Windham Regional Career Center, Wireless Zone/Verizon, Union Institute and University, Vermont Country Deli, Vermont Vinyl, and WTSA.
Corporate Associate sponsors were A.L. Tyler & Sons, Brattleboro Food Co-op, Durand Toyota Ford, Golub Foundation of Price Chopper, Landmark College, and Palmiter Realty.
The raffle at Bowl for Kids' Sake raised $1,150 for the program's coffers, thanks to donations from many businesses. Lori Cornelier won the iPod Shuffle donated by Brown Computer Solutions; Deborah Brown won a two-night stay at the Holiday Inn Express; Marjie Wellman won the greens fees for four at the Brattleboro Country Club; and Kim Seppalla won a birthday party at the Brattleboro Bowl.
You can call Youth Services at 802-257-0361 for more information about how you can become involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters. You can also go to www.youthservicesinc.org/bowling to make an on-line donation.