Bowling for a cause

by Jolene Perron

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windsor Essex held their county bowling sessions for Bowl for Kids Sake Feb. 23.

Over 100 people showed up from the county area at Empire Lanes in Ruthven Ont. and raised nearly $11,000.

Bowl for Kids Sake is the organizations longest and largest running fundraiser. Although it’s a national event, the money raised stays in Windsor and Essex county.

“We’re committed to the process and we’re committed to the kids,” said John Sutton, executive director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windsor Essex. “So what the fundraisers do helps us to do that, and it helps that our number of teams is trailing upwards.”

The money raised will help the organization recruit and train volunteers. The volunteers are then matched with a child to mentor.

Two bowling events are scheduled each year. One is within the county and one is in Windsor.

“It’s lots of fun, you don’t have to be a good bowler to play,” said Hayley Morgan, development officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windsor Essex. “There’s no competition for top score, it’s just a really great way for businesses to come out with their staff or families to come out and just have a couple hours of fun.”

The event has raised between $40,000 and $50,000 in it’s previous years. Morgan said she hopes this year they will go above that. With $11,000 to start, their goal is in reach.

A minimum of $40 is required for individuals to raise, but most of their participants go above and beyond that. Two particular participants raise more than $1,000 each year.

The first participant is Peter Quick who has been with the agency for over 30 years. He has mentored different children and continues to come and support the cause every year.

Shad Grieve is a member of the United Communties Credit Union and is the top fundraiser this year. Morgan said he likes bowling and he wanted to join their team. This year he raised about $1,100.

“It makes me feel good,” said Grieve. “I like helping people”

The pledges required for each person to participate include the shoe rental, pizza and a pop at the event. Everyone at the event also gets to participate in the best dressed contest.

“This year it’s our one hundredth anniversary of Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada so we encouraged everyone to come in a ‘through the decades’ kind of theme,” said Morgan.

“This year in Ruthven, Tim Hortons won the best dressed contest. Hopefully since the city has a lot more teams, more people will do it.”

March 1 will be the first city session and also the largest. More than 400 people are registered. The second city session is scheduled for March 2 and nearly 300 people are registered for that day as well.

“It’s great, we have a lot of loyal businesses that come out year after year and then we have a few new ones that come and it’s great,” said Morgan. “We have a lot of loyal supporters in the community that we’re really lucky to have.”