DeKalb County bowls for Big Brothers Big Sisters

DeKALB – Local bowlers had time to spare Thursday for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

DeKalb County’s Family Service Agency kicked off Bowling for Kids’ Sake on Thursday at Mardi Gras Lanes in DeKalb, where teams of donors gathered to help fund the county’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program. This year the organization hopes to raise $55,000 to help pair local children with positive role models, Big Brothers Big Sisters Director Jenée Jeanblanc said. “The goal of those relationships is not only to provide support and friendship, but also to start addressing things like academic success, educational goals and their aspirations, and also decreasing the instances of their participation in risky behaviors.”

The fundraiser will continue through Sunday in DeKalb. Family Service Agency will host an additional fundraiser from 4 and 6 p.m., March 26 at Idle Hour Lanes, 927 E. Railroad Street, Sandwich. Bowlers are asked to register ahead of time at Fsadekalbcounty.org and be part of a group of four or more teammates, with a minimum of $75-raised per person.

“All of the money that is raised at this event stays local,” Jeanblanc said.

Bowling for Kids’ Sake includes one free game, shoe rental and a fundraiser T-shirt.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of DeKalb County has matched 1,100 kids with mentors and has a waiting list of children to be paired. Emily Nelson and her coworkers from First National Bank came out Thursday to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, after spending the past few weeks raising money for the cause.

“I think youth can sometimes get neglected, so I think it’s important to have organizations that kind of take the reigns on focusing on their needs,” she said.

Big Brothers Big Sister Lunch Buddy Gretchen Sprinkle has spent the past year eating lunch with a 9-year-old girl who thinks the world of her. So she knows from experience how much of an impact 45 minutes of volunteering can have.

“The whole basis behind our Big Brothers Big Sisters program is that we believe every child deserves someone that believes in them,” Sprinkle said. “These are kids that might not have a lot of friends at school or they just don’t have a lot of self confidence, and having an adult that’s not a family member say, ‘You matter and you’re important to me,’ just really means the world to them.”

Anyone interested in contributing a donation but is unable to make it to the fundraiser can sign up as a “virtual bowler” and collect pledges from home. All proceeds are used help fund the child-and-mentor pairing process, and support the relationship throughout the year.

“It’s important to kind of build that self esteem up in the youth of this county to help them be successful later on, make them want to graduate high school and go to college, or go to a trade school and make something of themselves,” Sprinkle said.

If you go

WHAT: Bowling for Kids’ Sake

WHEN: Today - 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Saturday - 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m.

Sunday - Noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.

WHERE: Mardi Gras Lanes, 1730 Sycamore Road, DeKalb