Brattleboro, VT–Families, friends and teams from work are invited to celebrate the 33rd Annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake to benefit Youth Services’ Big Brothers Big Sisters program on Saturday, April 5. The fundraising event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with teams signing up for a one-hour time slot at Brattleboro Bowl on Putney Road.
The 4-5 p.m. time is reserved for teams of teens and “Bigs and Littles” and will have a special “Cosmic Bowling” atmosphere. The financial goal of the event is to raise $65,000 in pledge money and business sponsorship to help cover the cost of running the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Brattleboro Ford Subaru is again the top event sponsor this year with People’s United Bank and the Windham Southwest Teachers’ Association renewing as presenting sponsors. Bowl for Kids’ Sake is the primary fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters, a Youth Services’ program that matches youth in Windham County in need of one-to-one relationships with caring adult mentors.
National research demonstrates that “mentoring” – pairing a caring adult volunteer with a young person for a mutually rewarding friendship – is an effective method of addressing all sorts of youth-related issues, from combating drug and alcohol use and violence to getting along better with their families and peers.
Nearly 150 hundred children in Windham County and nearby New Hampshire benefit from the program each year and are matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister. Thirty youngsters, from all towns in the county, are eagerly waiting to be matched with an adult mentor.
Many area businesses help contribute to reaching the $65,000 goal by supporting the fundraiser. Youth Services’ Pacesetters sponsors for 2014 are TransCanada and Entergy. TransCanada is providing a match of up to $5000 for any funds raised for Bowl for Kids’ Sake in the greater Bellows Falls area. This year’s event is dedicated to Johnny’s Gutter Kings team from Massucco & Velto, P.C. of Bellows Falls, who are celebrating their 20th year support this event.
To date, sponsoring at the Corporate Sustainer level are Brattleboro Savings & Loan; Edward Jones Investments; David Manning, Inc.; River Valley Credit Union; Swiss Precision Turning; Twombly Wealth Management; and Vermont Country Deli.
The following businesses: Ammirato Allstate Agency; AT&T/Prime Communications; Barrows & Fisher Oil Co.; C & S Wholesale Grocers; Crispe & Crispe Law Firm; Durand Toyota Ford; Friends of the Sun; Hotel Pharmacy; Members 1st Credit Union; New Chapter; MVP Healthcare; The New England House; Palmiter Realty; Sandri Oil; Side Hill Farms; Verizon/Wireless Zone; Vermont Vinyl and the Windham Regional Career Center are sponsoring the event at the Corporate Patron level.
Corporate Associate sponsors are A.L. Tyler & Sons, Blue Cross Blue Shield of VT; Brattleboro Bowl; Golub Foundation of Price Chopper; Putney General Store and World Learning.
Call Youth Services at (802) 257-0361 for pledge sheets and to reserve a lane or for more information about becoming involved. To learn more or to sponsor your favorite bowlers with an on-line donation, visit www.firstgiving.com/youthservices or mail donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Windham County, 32 Walnut St., PO Box 6008, Brattleboro, VT 05302-6008.
