Fundraiser allows community to ‘Start Something’ to help children who face adversity
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County is appealing to everyone who cares about kids to support Bowl for Kids’ Sake, the mentoring organization’s biggest annual public fundraiser on Saturday, March 24 at Harley’s Simi Bowl, the organization reported in a media release.
As our nation’s leader in quality one-to-one youth mentoring services, Big Brothers Big Sisters holds itself accountable for and is able to measure specific youth outcomes, the organization reported. Its programs focus on educational achievement, avoidance of risky behaviors such as juvenile delinquency, higher self-esteem, confidence and the ability to relate to others. For nearly six years, Bowl for Kids’ Sake has supported Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County’s quality mentoring programs and has become a signature event—raising nearly $75,000 each year.
“Bowl of Kids’ Sake is all about the kids. We created this event as a fun and easy way to raise some money for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the kids they serve. You raise money, you come bowl and you have some fun along the way.” said Lee Ostertag, Chair of the Bowl for Kids’ Sake Committee and owner of Tonerbuys Inc, a Camarillo-based business.
Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2012 comes as Big Brothers Big Sisters launches Start Something™, a national campaign that invites all people, not just volunteers, to get involved with the organization by donating, sharing stories of mentoring successes or volunteering. Funds raised allow Big Brothers Big Sisters to carefully make more mentoring matches and provide ongoing, professionally supported assistance for mentors, mentees and families to help sustain long successful relationships unique to its programs. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County currently serves over 900 children and youth and has nearly 200 on a waiting list to be matched with a responsible, caring, role-model to help ensure they succeed in school, work, and life.
“Bowl for Kids’ Sake brings the whole community together in support of a positive future for our kids,” said Terri Felix, Director of Special Events at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County “No matter how someone chooses to be involved—bowler, team captain, sponsor, or even a virtual bowler—each person has a hand in helping to start a child on the right path. Every dollar raised through Bowl for Kids’ Sake directly funds our mentoring programs in Ventura County and our outlying communities and helps to maintain and sustain our mentoring relationships, increasing kids chances for success.”
To join Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2012, take the first step and get started making an impact in your community, go to bfks.bbsvc.org where you can sign up to participate or make a donation. By pledging to raise valuable resources you can help fund a new mentoring opportunity for one child in your community, starting him/her on a path to a brighter future.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County
For more than 100 years nationally and 43 locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, professionally supported matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people. Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life, donate, or volunteer at www.bbsvc.org
