GREAT FALLS– Dozens of teams hit the lanes in Great Falls to “Bowl for Kid’s Sake.”
The annual event for Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year.
Big Brothers Big Sisters staff said that right now this funding is especially critical.
The organization has had an enrollment freeze for almost a year because they don’t have the funds to bring in new kids.
The program pairs kids with adult mentors to provide them with positive role models.
Funding is an important part of monitoring matches running background checks on volunteers and other expenses.
Now they are working to raise $50,000 by June so they can start accepting new kids in July.
One match takes a little over $1,200 dollars to maintain each year, but Development Director Alex Brown said the benefit to the kids is well worth the cost.
“It’s unbelievable the progress that we see in school, the kids talk about their social, their connection with their parents, avoidance of risky behaviors, that kind of thing is all tracked on our program, and the results are just amazing for the kids,” said BBBS Development Director, Alex Brown.
This year, Brown said they have twice as many sponsors as they did last year including hosting sponsor Montana Federal Credit Union.
About 150 bowlers are participating in this year’s event, making up about 30 teams.
-Reported by Joe Huisinga/MTN News
