With a goal of $60,000, dozens of teams kicked off this year’s Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Bowl for Kids campaign in north Wellington.
BBBS executive director Marnie Mainland said the school challenge is going really well with 12 bus loads from north Wellington scheduled to participate through the week.
Brenmar is sponsoring the buses. “It’s very, very generous,” said Mainland.
Coming community bowls are on Feb. 26 (Minto-Mapleton) and March 4 (Arthur). Money raised goes towards local BBBS programs.
“This marks our 26th year,” Mainland said. “We have some really exciting new programs. Always, the challenge over the years has been finding people and volunteers for the one-to-one matches.”
As a result, a number of programs were developed, including “Game-On,” which tries to help boys live better, eat better and have a better attitude. Go-Girls, Mainland said, is the similar girls program.
The one-to-one matching is still considered the “Cadillac” program Mainland said, but there is also couples matching, group programs and in-school mentoring.
“That’s where all the money goes,” she said.
The celebrity team for the Bowl for Kids launch last weekend included Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece, Minto Mayor George Bridge and Wellington North councillor Dan Yake (on behalf of Mayor Ray Tout).
To those gathered, Mainland said, “We’re so very pleased to have every one of you out.”
Mainland added the Mount Forest community and a full team of councillors from Minto were out to show their support.
The first day saw 247 bowlers raising $21,314.
The campaign continues this week with local schools – Minto Clifford P.S., Kenilworth P.S., St. John Catholic school, Palmerston P.S. and Arthur P.S. taking part over the next month.
Mainland added, “We are so very appreciative of our generous communities, the wonderful press coverage and the fact that we have a facility like the Mount Forest Bowling Centre to work with.”
Pettapiece described volunteers as “the backbone of many communities – certainly in Mount Forest.”
Bridge, who said he was pleased to represent Minto, noted that many years ago, he was on the Big Brothers board in Elmira. He described BBBS as “an amazing organization.”
Bridge was also pleased his council was able to take part that day.
Yake said, “This is a great cause and certainly well supported here for many years.” He also quipped, “The last words the mayor said to me was to make sure we beat the Minto team and carry on the tradition.”
Mainland noted Mapleton Mayor Bruce Whale was in Halifax and as a result unable to attend.
She said the group awards breakfast will be held April 21.
“If you have not been approached to bowl and would like to, please call the office 519-323-4273 and we’ll find a space for you,” she said.
For details on BBBS programs visit www.bbbsnorthwellington.org.
