NEWS FROM "THE HOUSE TEAM"

Bowl for Kids Sake strikes it big

There was a perfect game played at Quinte bowl over the weekend, if you ask Amy Watkins and Linda Peters.

The pair, who work for Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Hastings and Price Edward Counties, helped to organize the annual Big Brothers-Big Sisters Bow for Kids Sake 2007, which was held at the Highway 62 bowling centre Sunday afternoon.

“We have been floored by the response this year,” said Watkins, who is executive director of the Unite Way agency.

“This is our major fundraiser of the year, and by the looks of it, we may hit or surpass our goal for the even, which is $35,000.”

Bowlers signed up in teams of six several weeks ago and set out to collect pledges, she said.

“This is the first year we offered online pledging, which was really exciting – people could e-mail all their friends and they would just donate online.”

Sunday, a record 46 teams gathered at Quinte Bowl to battle it out on the lanes. The business, added Watkins, offers use of the facility, including shoe rentals for the event at no cost.

“We have the entire building at our disposal for mare than an hour, which is such an exceptional gift to us.” she added.

This year Quinte Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, operated by Dr. Peter Dempsey, took over as title sponsor.

“And there was also Knutson Construction and The House Team of Mortgage Intelligence who have come aboard to help us out with the Bowl for Kids Sake … the community support has been phenomenal.”

A number of silent auction items – including a notebook computer from Tyendinaga Computers, dinner for 12 from Boston Pizza and a cruise courtesy of Marshman Jewellers – were donated by local businesses well, she said.

Watkins applauded the efforts of Peters, who for the better part of the year worked with teams of volunteers to organize the event.

“Big Bothers-Big Sisters is a wonderful cause, and people love to support the organization,” said Peters who is the organization’s special events co-ordinator.

“Bowl for Kids Sake is actually a national initiative done by every Big Brothers and big Sisters organization across the country.”

All of the money raised stays within the local not-for-profit organization to support programming, which are all based on pairing young people with positive mentors.

For more information about Big Brothers-Big Sisters, call 613-962-3666 or visit www.sharingthemagic.com.

By Jeremy Ashley
The Intelligencer