The Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids Sake

ANGOLA — The Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids Sake is next weekend at Angola Bowl, 2305 N. Wayne St .

Many look forward every year to the opportunity to bowl with their friends or co-workers, and at the same time raise funds for the nonprofit agency. Bowl For Kids Sake allows individuals from community teams to collect sponsorships to take with them to a bowling game. Some sponsor by pin, some pay a flat amount.

The proceeds help match adults and teenagers with young children who could benefit from an older role model.

This year’s Bowl For Kids Sake is Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2. There are various time slots bowlers can choose.

Every year, Wayne Wickard takes a contingent of teams to the bowlathon. Michiana Big Brothers Big Sisters considers Wickard and his employees some of their top donors, said Cathy Malkani of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“He has been a huge supporter for Bowl For Kids Sake for many years,” she said.

Wickard said when he started his company he wanted it to be philanthropic, and make a difference locally.

“We think it’s important for the business community to be leaders in helping others that aren’t as fortunate,” said Wickard. That’s not just giving money, Wickard said, but inspiring others to volunteer and donate their time to local causes.

Over the years, Wickard employees have not just raised thousands of dollars for Bowl For Kids Sake, but they’ve volunteered for local agencies. Kathy Vrana, Michelle Davis and Mark Eifrid have mentored for many years for Big Brothers Big Sisters, headquartered in Fort Wayne and Coldwater , Mich.

At this time, Eifrid is matched with an Angola Middle School sixth-grader as an in-school mentor. He started with the boy when he was in elementary school, and they continued their one-hour-a-week relationship when the boy moved on to the middle school.

“I’ve done that with two different boys,” said Eifrid, who’s been mentoring for over five years.  

“We eat lunch together and we just talk about school and home, and sometimes in the past we have gone outside and I’ve watched him play kickball or basketball.”

Eifrid thinks the youths he’s worked with have benefited. The children might be shy to start, he said, but then they open up and seem genuinely glad to see their “big brother” once a week at school.

“I think it’s really a good program,” Eifrid said. “It gives them a positive role model to be in their life, even if just for a little bit.”

There are currently 48 matches in Steuben County .

Eifrid works at Wickard’s Fremont facility and lives in Quincy , Mich. , but said he chose to volunteer in the Angola area to help further his company’s cause to help children and those less fortunate.

 “I’ve just really enjoyed being in the program,” Eifrid said.

Wickard tries to make the bowlathon enjoyable, too. He gets his teams matching T-shirts, and matches the donations they receive so they are able to donate twice as much.    

One year, Wickard Companies raised over $20,000. Over the past 10 years, the companies have contributed $120,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

This year, some of the company’s clients are going along to the event. There’s plenty of friendly competition, and it only takes about an hour, Wickard remarked.

“We would love it if we could compete against other businesses,” he said. He said local businesses should be encouraged to give to their community in an active way.

Those who wish to be part of the bowlathon can contact Big Brothers Big Sisters at (888) 456-2439 or www.bbbsnei.org. Teams of five are asked to raise $100 each in pledges.