Bowling strikes names from waiting list
It could have easily been Halloween night instead of a Saturday at the end of February.
The annual fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines, Thorold and District, the Tim Hortons Bowl for Kids Sake campaign kicked off at Parkway Lanes on Saturday with a zombie theme.
The event is spread over three days and raises money for the organization that pairs adult ‘ bigs’ with children ‘ littles’ in a mentoring relationship to provide support and guidance.
The goal this year’s campaign is $ 80,000.
“It costs approximately $ 1,000 to take one child off of the wait list,” said Adam Maiolo, communications and event co- ordinator for the local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency. “I think we were shy of our goal last year so we are hoping to rebound strongly this year.”
Every year the fundraiser has a different theme. Last year it was in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday and this year it is zombies.
“The traction and excitement we have this year around the theme of zombies, you can feel it in the air,” said Maiolo. “It’s something that when we first came up with the theme we were a bit nervous about it. We weren’t sure. We felt good about it but we weren’t sure how the community would take to it. But we know from years past that the community, with the Bowl for Kids Sake event, that the community loves getting dressed up.”
Judging by the amount of people dressed up Saturday, the statement rings true.
“It’s a fun atmosphere. Everyone is dressed up,” said Stephen Mannell, who was bowling with a team from Crawford, Smith and Swallow Chartered Accountants LLP and who is treasurer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Catharines, Thorold and District. “You have to be a little more creative for this one.”
The firm gets a couple of teams together every year.
“Dressing up, helping out and doing it together as a firm, it’s a lot of fun,” said the firm’s Mahnoor Sarwar.
Added co- worker Renee Reynolds, “I think it’s good for us to get to do something together as a firm and also benefit a really good organization and raise the money.”
There are two more dates to Bowl for Kids sake. Tuesday, called Industry Night, is for people who typically work the weekend. The final day is Saturday. Teams can still register or make donations at www.bowl4kids.ca.
“At the end of the day, this is a campaign that we need the community and we our ambassadors and friends to rally behind and support or it fails,” said Maiolo.