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Dufferin’s annual Bowl for Kid’s Sake a big success

April 23, 2018   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

There’s no longer a bowling alley in Orangeville but that doesn’t stop the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dufferin and District from participating in the annual Bowl for Kid’s Sake event.

They traded a bowling alley for the computer version and host a Wii bowling tournament every year. It’s their main fundraising activity.

Big Brother Big Sisters organizations across the country take part in Bowl for Kid’s Sake events throughout the month.

The Dufferin version was held at the Best Western hotel in Orangeville.

Bowl for Kid’s Sake has been going on for over 30 years and is a popular way for people to support the organization and have some fun at the same time.

“It’s a national event for all Big Brothers Big Sisters across Canada,” said executive director, Nancy Stallmach. “We started in the bowling alley in town for years and years, and when the bowling alley closed we adapted it to Wii bowling here at the Best Western.”

83 teams signed up to take part this year.

“It’s a collection of teams from work places, families, a lot of service clubs come as well. They raise pledges for Big Brothers Big Sisters and they come here and do Wii bowling for an hour, which includes games and prizes. We have music and costumes. This year our theme is rock n’ roll, so people are dressed up for that,” Ms. Stallmach explained.

The goal of the event is to raise $45,000 for the organization.

Big Brothers Big Sisters partners youth with older mentors.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children with a caring mentor. Children who have faced adversity in some way come to us and we are able to match them with a mentor. This can do a lot to help repair any damage they may have had earlier in life. They can have the benefit of a Big Brother or Big Sister, which can help with their self esteem and mental health. Academic scores are also higher when they have had a Big Brother or Big Sister,” Ms. Stallmach said.

Last year the local organization served 284 children. The local area serves Dufferin County as well as areas near Erin and Hillsburgh that don’t have their own organization.

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