Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine invites businesses, organizations and individuals to participate in its annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake event sponsored by Camden National Bank, Hannaford, Emera Maine and A-Copi.
Bowlers raise pledge money to support youth mentoring in Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Somerset and Waldo counties. The agency will hold four events throughout the six counties:
- March 28-April 2 at Family Fun Entertainment Center in Bangor, and Bangor-Brewer Lanes in Brewer.
- April 4-14 in the Midcoast at Oakland Park Lanes in Rockport, All-Play Family Entertainment Center in Belfast and Waldoboro, and Point Lookout Lanes in Northport.
- A special Bowl For Cassidy’s Sake event will be held April 11 and April 17 to honor the memory of 17-year old Cassidy Charette of Oakland, a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer who was within weeks of becoming a Big Sister when she lost her life in a tragic hay ride accident last October. Bowling teams from Messalonskee High School, where Cassidy went to school, and other high schools in Kennebec Valley will bowl on April 11 and members of the Central Maine United soccer teams will bowl on April 17. Hammond Lumber and New Balance are the major sponsors of this community event.
- April 28-May 9 at Sparetime Recreation Center in Waterville and Augusta, and April 28-May 9 at Central Maine Family Fun Center in Skowhegan.
Both weeknight and weekend dates and times are available in all regions.
Bowl for Kids’ Sake is the agency’s largest fundraising event of the year and involves hundreds of teams raising pledges to support Big Brothers Big Sisters youth mentoring program. Last year’s event raised approximately $210,000 for the agency. Event coordinator Cathy Hardy said the agency hopes to top that figure this year and engage more than 550 teams.
“Bowlers can go to our website, bbbsmidmaine.org, to select their bowling date and time, and create their team roster sheet. They can also set up an online pledge page so friends and supporters can make online donations to sponsor them,” she said. “We’re encouraging everyone to join us. Businesses, service and community organizations, public health and safety workers, sports teams, school clubs, teachers — we welcome them all. This is a fun way to support Big Brothers Big Sisters by raising pledges and bowling for an hour.”
Local businesses also can support the event by becoming event and lane sponsors, donating prizes for the event and encouraging employees to form a team. Bowlers raise money by soliciting pledges from people they know.
Each team is encouraged to raise a minimum of $300 in pledges. Individual bowlers who raise $100 or more will be entered in raffle drawings. Teams that reach the $300 goal will receive Bowl For Kids’ Sake T-shirts.
Costumes, clever team names and friendly competition are encouraged. Business teams will be joined by Big-Little matches who participate in Big Brothers Big Sisters Community-Based Mentoring, so bowlers can meet some of the children who benefit from the program.
For information or to register a team, go to bbbsmidmaine.org, or call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine at 236-2227 to receive a Bowl for Kids’ Sake packet.