Bowl For Kid’s Sake | Big Brothers Big Sisters

Written By: Danielle Hernandez-Juarez | Issue: March 2023

BBBS Staff (L to R): Stephen Hunter, Danielle Hernandez, Morgan Harris, Lelia Duncan, Dorian Palmer

It’s that time of year again – Bowl For Kids’ Sake, happening in March 2023 to raise important funds for the mentoring programs coordinated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina. Teams should start the new year by getting organized to have some fun and, at the same time, provide support to local youth.

Money raised during this annual event helps community children by enabling BBBSWNC staff to recruit and vet prospective “Bigs’’ who commit to being a steadfast presence in the child’s life for at least a year. Supported by professional BBBS staff locally in each of the 18 Western North Carolina counties that BBBSWNC serves, these matches have shown that they improve a child’s success in school and in life. 

The theme of this year’s Bowl For Kids’ Sake – “Once Upon A Time” – reflects BBBSWNC’s commitment to improving its Littles’ reading skills. BBBSWNC is enlisting literacy partners locally to make books and reading more available to Littles here at home. The literacy initiative is meant in part to help local children make up ground they lost during the pandemic. Plus, reading is fun!

As in former years, Bowl For Kids’ Sake invites bowlers to raise money and create or join a team online (bowlers are already registering at secure.qgiv.com/event/bfks2023/). Bowlers are asked to raise at least $50 each from their friends, family members and co-workers, so that the four- to five-member teams raise at least $250. Bowlers will bowl for two hours (shoe rental is included) while having a blast. There will be door prizes and contests. Costumes are encouraged (in keeping with the “Once Upon A Time” theme, bowlers can consider their favorite book characters for inspiration). 

BBBSWNC’s goal this year is to raise $100,000 to further its mission to create and support mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. BBBSWNC has dozens of children waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister. Bigs spend as little as an hour every couple of weeks with their Little, just hanging out and talking. Some Bigs start out with their Little at school, during school hours. Some matches move on – or begin – as Community-Based Matches and do things like hike, bike, get a snack, or participate in other activities, many of which BBBSWNC organizes or has discounts for. 

BBBSWNC has served thousands of children since it began more than 40 years ago. An affiliate of the largest, most trusted child empowerment organization in the country (BBBS of America), BBBSWNC places the child’s safety first and works with the parents/guardians to find a Big who will make a difference in a child’s life. Caregivers and prospective Bigs can learn more at www.bbbswnc.org. 

The place to register and learn more about Bowl For Kids’ Sake is secure.qgiv.com/event/bfks2023/.