May 3 and 4 • Boardwalk Bowl, 115 Cliff Street, Santa Cruz
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County
Over 600 bowlers from local businesses, schools, and organizations come together to bowl for the organization. Over 4,000 pledge sponsors from all over the country donate to our bowlers supporting their fundraising efforts.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County is celebrating its 31st year hosting the popular Bowl for Kids’ Sake Event at the Boardwalk Bowl in Santa Cruz on May 3 and 4. Over 600 bowlers will sign up at www.santacruzmentor.org and bowl together to fundraise for the at-risk youth in our county.
Since 1982, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County has matched 4,825 at-risk youth with a Big Brother or Big Sister in a mentoring relationship. During a one-year period, we work with over 700 people. This includes all our kids and their families, the Bigs, the volunteers, the youth in our Watsonville After-school Enrichment and Mentoring program, and all the potential families and youth waiting for a mentoring relationship. All of the proceeds from the annual Bowl-a-thon go directly to the development of long lasting mentoring relationships for the at-risk youth in our county.
Over the 31 years, Bowl for Kids’ Sake has hosted 15,500 bowlers and provided fun for over 100 teams per year. Approximately 4,500 businesses have come to us to support our programs with event sponsorships, bowling teams, and donations.
In the coming weeks we anticipate 120 teams to sign up to bowl with friends, family, co-workers, and community builders. Big Brothers Big Sisters continues to sign up individuals and new groups every day. Teams consist of five members with each bowler aiming for a $120 pledge to the agency. Interested prospective bowlers contact us at 464-8691 or visit our website at www.Santacruzmentor.org to join the event during one of the bowling times offered during the 2 day event.
Individuals raising $120 or more receive event t-shirts. Individuals that raise above $200 will receive a sweatshirt. And those that raise above $250 in pre-collected pledges will receive a grab bag prize. Big Brothers Big Sisters also has exciting Grand Prizes for top revenue producers.
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Recent surveys of our kids indicate that after one year of being matched in a mentoring relationship:
- 78 percent believe that their friendships have improved
- 67 percent believe that their family relationships have improved
- 89 percent believe that their interest in school has improved
- 67 percent believe that their grades have improved.
This program seeks to keep our at-risk youth in school, away from drugs and alcohol, out of prison, and ultimately on the right path towards a positive and healthy future.
Contact: Tory Del Favero tory@santacruzmentor.org 831-464-8691