Cheers erupted from the packed house at the Innisfail Bowling Lanes with every strike and spare. Participants of all ages flung balls at the pins to shore up support for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Innisfail in the 26th Annual Bowl For Kids benefit March 3.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Lina Doering, program assistant with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. “We do really well for the size of town we have.”
Usually the bowl-off is held the first weekend in February, but in honour of the non-profit organization's 100th anniversary, it was pushed back to line up with similar events held by chapters elsewhere.
The later date has additional benefits, Doering said, particularly helping beat wallet fatigue after the holiday season.
“It gives us a little time after Christmas,” she said.
Teams such as the Innisfail Lions, Spruce View Library and Fourlane Ford were among the entrants.
“We get teams of four from businesses or families – or whoever wants to participate,” she said, noting it's up to the individuals to collect pledges. “We're really grateful.”
This event raised just under $30,000 which will go to funding various mentoring programs, such as in-school mentoring, traditional community matching and their teen mentoring program, where high school students spend time with young kids.
