Houston, Texas (July 8, 2008) Hundreds of bowlers from experts to amateurs will take part in one of the largest fundraisers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston (BBBS) on July 12th at Palace Lanes in Houston. With nearly 1,000 children waiting for a mentor, never before has Bowl for Kids’ Sake been so critical to the mission of BBBS, which is to find and match adult volunteer mentors with local children to positively impact our community.
The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Teams choose one of three two-hour periods, then come out and bowl two free games. Each bowler is required to raise at least $110 from family and friends.
The money raised from BFKS supports finding and matching volunteer mentors with local children. Currently, more than 900 children are ready to be matched with a mentor; 615 of them are boys waiting for a Big Brother. The cost to find, interview, and match a volunteer with a child for a year is $1,000.
“The cost of making matches lies in the trained staff who recruit volunteers and then carefully match them with children who match their interests,” said Rob Walter, Director of Marketing and Communications for BBBS. “We’re hoping to serve 2,800 children with a mentor in 2008. It’s a big goal, but we’re hoping BFKS will bring us closer.”
One-to-one mentoring has a big impact on children, helping equip them with the tools they need to make good decisions in life. “Mentoring is a preventative solution to many of the problems children in our community face,” said Walter. “Imagine if you could prevent a child from committing a crime by just listening to what they have to say? Having a mentor instills confidence in children, the confidence they need to stay in school, go to college, and reach their full potential.”
This isn’t the only BFKS event. Many companies choose to host their own private bowling events for employees, giving them a chance to help impact the lives of Houston’s children. Merrill Lynch, Chase, Waste Management, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas are just a few who have already held their events. Often, companies use BFKS as a team-building opportunity, encouraging employees to form teams and compete to see who can raise the most money. Workers at Merrill Lynch this year raised more than $40,000 for BBBS.
What: Bowl for Kids’ Sake All-Day Bowling Event
When: Saturday, July 12th, 2008
10:00 a.m. – noon
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Palace Lanes, 4191 Bellaire Blvd., Houston
Photo/interviews: Hundreds of community bowlers; children who are waiting to be matched with a mentors will be available during each period for interviews.
For more information contact:
Rob Walter
Director, Marketing and Communications
rob.walter@bbbs.org
(713) 860-8216
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston creates successful one-to-one mentoring relationships for all local children and teenagers who need and want them resulting in better schools, brighter futures, and stronger communities for all. Our mentoring relationships have a measurable impact on children. A national study found that children in the BBBS program are less likely to skip school, less likely to try drugs and alcohol, less likely to use violence to solve problems, and are more likely to get along with their families. In 2007, BBBS served 2,300 children in the Greater Houston area. For more information about how we are changing what it means to grow up in our community, head to our website, www.gobighouston.org. BBBS is a United Way Agency.
