STEUBENVILLE - Have you had fun today?
Those affiliated with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Jefferson County make it their goal to ensure that all who participate in any of their programs have fun.
In continuing that tradition, Big Brothers/Big Sisters will host the annual Bowl for Kids' Sake event from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Toronto Lanes, 1119 N. Fifth St., Toronto.
"This event is a celebration of last year's accomplishments and what we hope to achieve in 2009, as well as to raise money and awareness for our programs," said Janet Mayle, director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
The sponsor for this year's event is McBane Insurance and Financial Services.
Mayle noted that Big Brothers/Big Sisters is a mentoring program that matches its young members, or "littles," to its older members, "bigs."
She added that matches are made through a school system, partnering up elementary-aged pupils with high school students or through volunteers in the community.
All littles come through the program as referrals, and anyone can make a referral, she noted.
"Littles" range in age from 7-17 and "bigs" are 18 and older, Mayle explained.
"We made 13 school-based matches in 2008 in the Indian Creek Local School District," Mayle said. "We have seven new community-based matches, and we've already made one match this year."
The Bowl for Kids' Sake event will allow members of the community to bowl for one hour, raising money for the program and interacting with many of the program's members.
"There are two ways to raise money through this event," Mayle said. "First is through teams."
Mayle said she is accepting teams of four to six bowlers. Each bowler who pledges to collect $50 will receive a 2009 Bowl for Kids' Sake T-shirt.
"We set our goal at $15,000 this year," Mayle said. "It takes $1,000 to fund one match."
Mayle noted that if each bowler on a five-bowler team asked 10 people to make a $20 tax-deductible donation to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Jefferson County, that team could raise $1,000.
"That team would be supporting one new match for 2009," Mayle said. "They can bring their donation to the event."
The other way to raise money is through lane sponsorship, she continued.
"We've asked business to become lane sponsors by donating $100, $250, $500 or $1,000," Mayle said.
Lane sponsors are as follows:
$100 lane sponsors will have their names on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Jefferson County Web site, one lane sign at Toronto Lanes and recognition in the event program.
$250 lane sponsors will have their names on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Web site, three lane signs at Toronto Lanes and recognition in the event program
$500 land sponsors will have everything included in a $250 sponsorship as well as their names and logos in newspaper ads for the event.
$1,000 strike sponsors will have their names on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Web site, a large sign at Toronto Lanes, recognition in the event program, name and logo in newspaper ads for the event and name announced through WOGH-FM radio ads.
A live broadcast from WOGH-FM will be held during Sunday's event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and the high school mascot challenge is set from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., according to Mayle.
"We added the mascot challenge this year to add something fun and get the schools involved," Mayle said.
Drawings will be held for a Pittsburgh Steelers Hines Ward autographed photograph, a Pittsburgh Penguins Alex Goligoski autographed hockey stick and a 6-foot picnic table made by Jeffco Workshop.
Tickets are $1 each or six for $5.
Winners will be announced at the end of the event.
"We will also have other prizes, and the concession stand will be open for people to purchase food," Mayle said.
Teams and sponsorships are still being accepted.
Contact Mayle to reserve a lane for a team by calling (740) 264-3306, or mail donations with a name and phone number to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Jefferson County, 2700 Sunset Blvd., Suite 10, Steubenville, OH 43952.
"It's going to be fun," Mayle said. "You don't have to be a good bowler. It's not about high score. It's about raising money and having fun."
(Sadler may be contacted at bsadler@heraldstaronline.com.)
