Bowl For Kids fundraiser expands to include adult Happy Hour and family event

Bowlers of all ages will have an opportunity to get out and support a local program for children when Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region reintroduces its annual Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser.

An adults-only Luau in the Lanes event, a happy hour version open to those age 21 or older, is set for July 30. The Family Bowl will be held Aug. 1. Both will be held at Hillview Bowling Lanes in Hempfield.

In addition to bowling, the adult event will feature beer, food, signature drinks, prize raffles and hula lessons, led by members of a professional dance group.

“You’re going to get free beer, free pizza, a free shirt and, on top of it all, some hula lessons — complete with coconut bras and grass skirts,” said Ali Iezzi, events director for the Greensburg-based nonprofit. “It’s going to be a great time.”

Two days later, families will be able to enjoy bowling. “Then we’ll take the party outside,” said Iezzi.

There will be outdoor games and booths, lemonade, popcorn, live entertainment and a sing-along with a guest character. “You can even tie-dye your event shirt,” she said.

Trophies will be awarded at both events.

Registration fees have been lowered, Iezzi said. With the impact of the covid-19 pandemic stretching over more than a year, “Everybody has been through a lot,” she said.

The happy hour costs $75 per person, or $300 for a team of four. The cost for the Family Bowl is $30 for an adult and $15 for a child. Participants can earn prizes by raising additional funds for the organization.

In its 37th year, the Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Bowl For Kids event is the biggest fundraiser for the organization, which matches children with adult mentors.

“Without these large events, our programs don’t exist,” Iezzi said. “We also want to get people out doing things and engaging with us.”

Because of pandemic restrictions on gatherings, which now have been lifted, this year’s bowling event was pushed back from spring to summer. Last year’s event was moved entirely outdoors at Twin Lakes Park, as was a fall pumpkin-carving activity.

Normally, the organization’s adult volunteers are expected to meet with the children they’re mentoring at least twice a month, if they’re in a community-based program, or once a week, for a school-based version of the program. That changed during the pandemic, when schools were subject to closures and children were receiving lessons online at home.

“Our Bigs and our agency recognized our Littles were not getting the social interaction they need every day, so we communicated with them more often,” said Aubrey Marquis, the organization’s community-based program manager.

Until recently, those interactions were mostly handled remotely. According to Marquis, that included everything from streaming movies for joint viewing sessions to sending greeting cards via mail.

“Some had virtual birthday parties,” she said. “Some of our Bigs put together care packages for their Littles and left them on the porch. Then they’d run back to their car, and they’d wave to each other.”

The Laurel Region chapter has matched about 100 children in Westmoreland and Fayette counties with adult mentors, Marquis said. About 120 kids are waiting for a match.

“By supporting the (bowling) event, especially by fundraising, people can help us get these youth served,” said Iezzi.

For more information, contact Iezzi at ali@bbbslr.org or 724-837-6198.