Photo and article provided by Stillwater Big Brothers Big Sisters
A team consists of five people and could be friends, work colleagues, a church group, a civic group, fraternity or sorority, a book club or your bunco group. If you don’t have a team, you can still sign up and be placed with a group to form a team. Bowlers receive two games of bowling, a free meal at the bowling alley, a Bowl For Kids’ Sake t-shirt for every $100 raised and are eligible for other gifts and prizes during the event.
“We laughed so hard!” said Big Brother Kyle Eastham. “I had my Little on my bowling team last year. He thought it was hilarious to see grownups lying on the floor pushing a bowling ball down the lane, or hiking a bowling ball like a football to try to win prizes.”
Teams are asked to raise $100 per team member. Board member and Bowl for Kids’ Sake event chair Alicia Schultz says, “This is one of only two big events we do all year as fundraisers to support our operations. It costs about $2000 per year to support a match for a Little Brother or Sister.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest and most recognized one-to-one mentoring program for youth in the United States. Kids from 6 to 15 years old, many of whom are from single parent households, are matched with an adult for at least a year. According to Big Brothers Big Sisters, youth who participate are more likely to avoid truancy, alcohol and drugs, teenage pregnancy, and are less likely to engage in violence.
Eastham added, “What’s it worth for a young person to have a positive, adult role model? Some of these Littles will tell you it changed the entire trajectory of their life.”
To sign a team up visit www.bfksstillwater.org, call 405-624-9922, or via email Alicia Schultz at aschultz@chickasawtel.com.