People & Places: Bowl for Kids' Sake aids mentoring
BY DANNA SUE WALKER World Staff Writer
Monday, March 04, 2013
3/04/13 at 7:02 AM
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma is asking us to "start something" to change the life of a child forever.
By pledging to raise $1,500, you can fund Bowl for Kids' Sake, a new mentoring opportunity for one child in your community, starting him or her on a path to a brighter future.
A recent kickoff party at Baxter's Interurban Grill got the ball rolling, so to speak, by challenging everyone - mentors, "mentees," their friends and families, partners and community leaders, as well as others who may not have time to mentor but support Big Brothers Big Sisters' mission - to join Bowl for Kids' Sake. Bowling takes place March through May.
The nation's leader in quality one-to-one youth mentoring services, Big Brothers Big Sisters holds itself accountable for and is able to measure specific youth outcomes. Its programs focus on educational achievement, higher self-esteem, increased confidence, ability to relate to others and avoidance of risky behaviors, such as juvenile delinquency.
For more than 40 years, Bowl for Kids' Sake has supported Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country, becoming its premiere fundraising event and raising $20 million nationwide each year.
"Bowl for Kids' Sake brings the whole community together in support of a positive future for our kids," said Adam Nicholas, corporate resource development coordinator of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma.
"No matter how someone chooses to be involved - bowler, team captain, sponsor or even a virtual bowler - each person has a hand in helping to start a child on the right path," Nicholas said. "Every dollar raised through Bowl for Kids' Sake directly funds our mentoring programs in Tulsa, and helps to maintain and sustain our mentoring relationships, increasing kids' chances for success."
Bowl for Kids' Sake 2013 comes as Big Brothers Big Sisters continues Start Something, a national campaign that invites all people, not just volunteers, to get involved with the organization by donating, sharing stories of mentoring successes or volunteering. Funds raised allow Big Brothers Big Sisters to carefully make more mentoring matches and provide ongoing assistance for mentors, mentees and families to help sustain long successful relationships unique to its programs.
Every penny raised will go directly to helping children in Tulsa, as generous sponsors cover the entire cost of the event.
Linde Process Plants Inc. is the event's Kingpin Presenting Sponsor.
Spare Sponsors include Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Newfield Exploration, Samson Resources and T.D. Williamson, and Pin Sponsors are Bama Cos., CBRE Oklahoma, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa and LINN Energy.
Lane Sponsors are Apache Corp., Bank of Oklahoma, Crowe & Dunlevy, Curzon Cumbey & Kunkel PLLC, DoubleTree Warren Place, Karrol Martin Paint & Body, NORDAM, Quik Print, Southwestern Payroll Services and WPX Energy.
Charlie Nelson of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group is event chairman. Committee members include Lisa Coats, Matt Condry, Don Hull, Taguma Jangira, Molly Jarvis, Julie Lawson and Jacquie Mitchell.
Plan to support Bowl for Kids' Sake by calling 918-728-7915 or visiting tulsaworld.com/bfkstulsa to sign up to take part or make a donation to the project.
For bowling dates and times, visit tulsaworld.com/bfkstulsa
Original Print Headline: Bowl for Kids' Sake aids mentoring
Associated Images:
Gearing up for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma's new Bowl for Kids' Sake mentoring program are Charlie Nelson (left), Bowl for Kids' Sake chairman; Jim Sweat Jr., Bowl for Kids' Sake company coordinator for T.D. Williamson Inc.; and Adam Nicholas, corporate resource development coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Courtesy
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