Bowl for Kids’ Sake hopes to raise $179k for charity

Some people think that the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids’ Sake is kicking off its events this weekend, Feb. 24 and 25. But Lee Ann Jourdan, the associate development director and full-time fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake, started this campaign before Thanksgiving. \n“The campaign fundraising starts with our fist luncheon in November,” Jourdan said. “So the bowling part is really a way to thank the community.” \nJourdan said Big Brothers Big Sisters and the 800 kids helped every year by the organization have a lot of people to thank. There are more than 80 fund-raising teams from IU (almost 30 more than last year), and more than 150 teams from the community, Jourdan said. Team members are required to raise at least $125, but most members average $145, Jourdan said. \nLast year the event raised $166,000 in pledges, according to a press release. The goal for this year is $179,000 and Jourdan thinks it’s achievable. \n“We blew our goals out of the water last year,” she said. This is Big Brother Big Sisters main fundraising event and all money raised goes directly to connecting more kids with mentors, or “Bigs” as BBBS calls them. \nThis year’s “thank you” event is themed Rock and Bowl and will feature live music, chances to hula hoop and a place to have photographs taken for bowlers who dress the rock and roll theme. \nThe first bowling events happen this weekend, Feb. 24 and 25 and March 3, for community residents and business teams. The IU Bowl will happen next weekend, Feb. 28 and March 1. All bowling events are hosted at Suburban Lanes, 2634 N. Walnut St., in Bloomington. \nState of Mind, an Indianapolis original band, will be playing the IU Bowl on Feb. 28 and Bloomington band G.T. Gallagher will play on March 1. \nPosted around Suburban Lanes during all of the events will be posters drawn by children who are on BBBS’s waiting list for mentors. The kids drew pictures and described attributes of the kind of big brother or sister that they would like to have in their lives.\n“It’s really great because these are things that people are already into anyway but they (the kids) just want someone to share these things with,” Jourdan said. \nThroughout the event, BBBS staff will distribute handouts that explain to bowlers how the fundraising helps kids. \nJourdan has a little sister herself and said the help provided by BBBS is crucial for kids.\n“My little sister’s 17 and I’m just amazed by her every day,” Jourdan said. “She’s trying to give a voice to people who aren’t down the right path. She’s making a mini-movie about these kids.” \nMost bowlers already know the good work the BBBS staff does Jourdan said. This ending event is a way to thank those who make it possible.