Bowl-a-thon Raises Funds for Big Brothers, Big Sisters

By Melanie Rancourt
Special to iBerkshires
06:05PM / Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Sarah Kline, left, and Deanna Schuster are ready to bowl.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As the pins fell, the money, more than $4,000, came pouring in this past Saturday night in support of Berkshire County's Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

The first of three Bowl for Kids' Sake bowl-a-thons taking place in Berkshire County this month was held at Ken's Bowl in Pittsfield. Teams gathered from 4 to 9 to take part in friendly competition and have fun for a great cause.

"Bowl for Kids' Sake has been the national fundraiser for the agency for the past eight or nine years," Ray Ross, executive director of Big Brother Big Sisters of Berkshire County, said. "All the money raised at all three events taking place this month will stay right here in Berkshire County and help out our local children."

Committee members Deanna Schuster and Ce Schafler agreed that this year's event is a great success.

"Bowlers seem to be having a great time," Schuster said. "Many teams have big bowlers and little bowlers, which is very important."

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a member agency of United Way, from which most of the program's funding comes. To supplement those funds, communities across the country will be holding bowl-a-thon fundraisers during month of March to help raise money for their local agencies.

Beth Wallace, assistant director of student life at Berkshire Community College, and the student ambassadors on campus participated for the first time and recruited teams for the event.

Photos by Melanie Rancourt  The Positive Options team from Drury High School made it to the lanes; below, watching the competition at Ken's Bowl. Top photo, the BCC Student Ambassadors line up.

"I went to the annual YMCA meeting and sat next to Ray Ross. He told me about the fundraiser, sent me all the information, and by sending out an all-campus e-mail, we recruited seven teams: two student ambassador teams, two BCC Players teams (the college theater group), and three Positive Options teams," Wallace said. "All total, the BCC teams raised approximately $400. BCC will definitely participate again next year."

The Positive Options teams were comprised of juniors and seniors from Drury High School who regularly attend classes on the campus of BCC en route to finishing high school. Members of these teams brought family and friends with them to support the BBBS program.

At each of the Berkshire County events, participants can choose a gift for participating, including a T-shirt, canvas bag, travel mug, coffee mug or winter hat. Participants can also try their luck at the silent auction or place an order with Tastefully Simple, a sponsor for the event.

"Tastefully Simple is donating all the profits made at each event to BBBS," said Jennifer Barbeau of North Adams, a consultant for Tastefully Simple. "Also, with every party we book, $10 from the party will be donated back to BBBS."

The next Bowl for Kids' Sake event will be held Saturday, March 21, at The Cove Lanes in Great Barrington. The Northern Berkshire event will take place Saturday, March 28, at Mount Greylock Bowl in North Adams.

Sarah Kline, committee member and North County coordinator, wants people to know that, "forming a team is a great way of learning more about the agency and all the good that it does."

"Both upcoming events are still looking for teams to participate," she said. "Bowlers are not responsible for renting their shoes or paying for their first string of bowling and we encourage each team to try and raise $200, but any amount of money donated will be greatly appreciated."

The North Berkshire event will have music provided by DJ Brian Flagg as well as a silent auction and a Tastefully Simple consultant on hand to take orders and book parties.

Ross said the program is recruiting male mentors to be Big Brothers to area youth.

"There are 40 young males in the area currently on the waiting list for an adult mentor," Ross said. "We are just now matching children with mentors that have been on the waiting list since 2005, so the need for mentors is great. All we ask from our mentors is a one-year commitment and two hours a week. You would be surprised at how much that means to a young child."

For more information on an upcoming event or how to form a team, contact Ross at 413-443-9471 or bbbs@rnetworx.com. For the North Adams event, see Kline at Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, 61 Main St., or call 413-663-7588.

The BBBS committee thanks the following sponsors for their generous donations to all three Berkshire County events: Greylock Federal Credit Union, Legacy Banks, Adams Co-Operative Bank, Dr. Michael A. Fabrizio, West Oil, Angelina's Subs, Arizona Pizza, Berkshire Hills Coins and Estate Jewelry, Canyon Ranch, Crowne Plaza, Dakota Steakhouse, Dick's Sporting Goods, Joanna E. Flynn, Flynn and Dagnoli, Guido's Fresh Marketplace, Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Little's HSC Pharmacy/Surgimed, Norman Rockwell Museum, Pretti Real Estate, Prime Outlets in Lee, Stanley's Lumber and Building Supplies, Pittsfield Co-Operative Bank, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the family of Annie and Micheal Gerrity, as well as all the other businesses that sold paper bowling balls prior to the events.