Student groups bowl for Big Brothers, Big Sisters

IU’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake’s 19th annual fundraiser culminated this weekend with a celebratory event held at Suburban Bowling Lanes Wednesday and Thursday.\nThe event brought out IU groups such as the Apparel Merchandising Organization, the School of Journalism, Alpha Xi Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Acacia, Delta Zeta and Civil Leadership Development.\nEach team participating in the fundraiser contributed at least $500 to the cause in order to bowl. Big Brothers, Big Sisters is an organization that aims to help children reach their potentials through professionally supported one-on-one relationships with mentors. Though the adult mentors are all volunteers, the money raised at this event pays for the recruiting, screening and training of mentors, and helps pair mentors and children for one year. \nCivil Leadership Development, a group affiliated with the Kelley School of Business, came up with a pie-your-professor contest this year to help fundraising efforts. Seven business professors volunteered their services to help the cause.\n“Even the dean of the business school took a pie,” said Liz Grenat, executive director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters.\nSophomore Civil Leadership Development member and Bowl for Kids’ Sake participant Val Agnew said the pie-your-professor gathering raised $1,500, and his organization raised $2,500 overall. \n“We are always encouraged by (Big Brothers, Big Sisters) to find creative ways to fundraise, and not just ask people for money,” she said. \nThe theme of this year’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake was rock ‘n’ roll. Volunteers for the event sported AC/DC style T-shirts with the letters BFKS (Bowl For Kids’ Sake) on the front. A live band called Prock, comprised of IU students, played at the Bowl for Kids’ Sake event Thursday night.\nRaffle prizes were awarded to participants who correctly answered rock ‘n’ roll trivia questions, and prizes for the winning bowling teams included a trophy and a record, to commemorate the theme. \nIU sophomore and Apparel Merchandising Organization member Jessica Rizzo said she enjoyed her first experience participating in the charity event.\n“It was a good cause and you got to meet new people and have fun while you’re helping with it,” she said. \nIU senior and Bowl for Kids’ Sake volunteer Meagan Holsapple agreed that the event was a worthwhile endeavor. \n“I think it’s a jump start that can lead to wanting to do other volunteer work in the community,” she said.\nGrenat, Big Brothers, Big Sisters executive director, has been active in the Bowl for Kids’ Sake event every year since she began working at the organization 19 years ago. \n“I love the enthusiasm each year with the IU student groups,” she said.