Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser goes virtual

By Taylor Hale

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Central Wisconsin is hosting their annual Bowling for Kids’ Sake this March, but this year’s fundraising event will look different than previous years.

BBBS staff members decided to switch the bowling event, usually held at Skipp’s Bowling in Stevens Point, to an online format. This year, participants will compete in fun weekly challenges from the comfort of their own homes while raising money for the organization, with a virtual kick-off slated for March 1.

“This year we are taking Bowling for Kids’ Sake virtually to bring the event to participants in their own homes and communities,” said BBBS of Central Wisconsin Executive Director Dawn Cherek. “Each week there will be weekly activity and fundraising challenges. People will have the opportunity to send in photos and videos of them completing the challenges, and they will be put into a chance to win weekly prizes.”

Activity challenges include projects like making your own bowling alley at home out of every-day objects, or dressing up in costumes for this year’s theme, “Spring Break.”

Fundraising challenges are set to help individuals and teams hit certain engagement and fundraising goals.

Teams will earn their entries to win the grand prizes by completing weekly events. This year’s grand prizes are a Yeti cooler and a $250 Target gift card. Teams that raise a minimum of $50 will also receive vouchers for two free games of bowling at Skipp’s Bowling, to use as they whenever.

Bowling for Kids’ Sake is one of BBBS’s larger fundraising efforts, with last year’s event generating more than $51,000 for the organization. Cherek and her peers hope to see the community rally together to help support the group’s local programming.

“The need in our community hasn’t changed at all, and now more than ever the impact of our mission of serving kids in one-to-one youth mentoring is so urgent,” Cherek said. “For many kids in our program, their friendship with their big is the one constant they have been able to rely on.”

Bowling for Kids’ Sake runs from March 1-31.

Bowling for Kids’ Sake is open to any residents in Portage and Wood County. To learn more about weekly challenges, prizes, and to register, visit bigimpact.org.