Welcome, Bowler!
Bowl for Kids’ Sake (BFKS) 2017—Saturday, March 11th, 2017 at Orchard Lanes (1141 Tucker
Rd. in Hood River) * Bowling times: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Thank you for your support of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the Columbia Gorge, a program of The Next
Door! BFKS is our largest annual fundraiser — we hope to bring in over 300 bowlers and raise upwards of
$50,000 to help kids in the Gorge.
Team Captains
If you’re captaining a team, communication is critical. As you receive emails from event staff, please forward
them to your team. Here are some suggestions to help you recruit and communicate with your team.
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Recruit a team of 5 bowlers (your self and 4 other s): teammates can be found anywher e — coworkers, family, friends, church, and neighbors — virtually anyone you know!
What’s required of your team? We will pr ovide you with a donation sheet. You and/or your teammates will collect donations and keep track of them on these sheets. Please raise at least $300. Teams who
raise $500 or more receive awesome BFKS t-shirts!
Follow-up with your team. Touch base with your team member s leading up to BFKS to ensur e
they’re gathering donations and getting excited about the event. Communicate the time your team is bowling. Give your team a reminder call, text, or email the night before BFKS to confirm the time and remind
them to bring their donation sheets and the money they’ve raised.
Individual Bowlers
If you’re registering as an individual, our event staff will contact you directly. Here are some suggestions to
get you started.
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Get excited!: you will be pr ovided with email updates and a donation sheet to help you keep tr ack of
the donations you collect. Ask your friends, family, co-workers, etc. to donate to the cause. Please raise at
least $60. Individual bowlers who raise $100 or more receive an awesome BFKS t-shirt!
If you have a preferred bowling time, please let us know. Otherwise, we will contact you a few weeks prior to
the event with your assigned time. Questions? Contact Justine Ziegler at 541-436-0309 or email
[email protected].
Your partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge truly makes a difference in the lives
of kids here in the Gorge. Thank you!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge is a program of The Next Door. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/thenextdoorinc
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: If I’m registering a team, how many people are on a team?
A: Five people are on each BFKS team.
Q. Can I register as an individual?
A. Yes! Contact BFKS staff to register as an individual and sign up for a bowling time.
Q: When and where would I bowl?
A: BFKS takes place on Saturday, March 11th, 2017 at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., or 4 p.m. at
Orchard Lanes (1141 Tucker Rd. in Hood River). Let us know if you have a preferred time.
Q: How do I raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters?
A: You will be provided with a donation sheet for keeping track of the donations you collect. Ask your
friends, family, co-workers, etc. to donate to you or your team. We ask that each team raises a minimum of
$300 and individual bowlers raise at least $60. Teams who raise $500 or more and individual bowlers who
raise $100 or more will receive BFKS T-shirts!
Q: Do I collect the money?
A: Yes. There are two ways folks can give their donations:
 Pay the bowler directly with cash or check. Checks are made payable to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Bowlers
bring the cash and checks to BFKS.
 Donate online (instructions are provided on the donation sheet).
Q: Where does the money go?
A: BFKS is Big Brothers Big Sisters’ largest fundraiser of the year, providing nearly half the program’s annual
budget. Funds raised at BFKS are put to use right here in the Gorge to change the lives of children in need of
positive role modeling. The money raised helps each Little Brother and Little Sister have new experiences, establish
trust with their Big, and create improved relationships with others for the rest of their lives. There is no cost to kids,
families, or mentors who participate in Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Q: Who do I contact if I have questions?
A: If you have any questions, please contact Justine Ziegler at 541-436-0309 or email
[email protected].
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge is a program of The Next Door. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/thenextdoorinc
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge (BBBS) is a program of The Next Door, a
local social services nonprofit, and is dedicated to improving the lives of kids (“Littles”) by
creating and supporting mentoring relationships with adult volunteers (“Bigs”). Throughout
Hood River, Wasco, and Klickitat Counties, Bigs provide friendship and support to over 100
Littles every year!
“Matches” (Big/Little pairs) spend about eight hours a month together doing things like
fishing or baking. Bigs must be stable, dependable, at least 18 years old, and pass a thorough
background screening. In-home interviews help BBBS’s professional staff match the Big’s
interests and personality to that of the Little.
Independent research reveals that after one year of being matched with a Big, Littles are
46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 52% less likely to skip school, 27% less likely
to abuse alcohol, and 33% less likely to hit someone.
Research shows that the length of time the Big and Little are matched correlates directly to the positive impact on the
child. Currently, our average match length in the Gorge is over 3 years, nearly three times that of the national average
calculated by BBBS National. Our Bigs and Littles are matched longer! This means BIG impact for our Littles,!
A Match Made in Heaven—A Big Sister’s Story
Samantha and I were matched in December 2010. She was just 10 years old. Soon after we first met, Samantha was
participating in a Christmas program at her school. She probably called me 5 times the day of the performance to ask if
I would be going. I could tell it was immensely important to her that I was there. I followed my gut and attended
Samantha’s Christmas program, even though it meant being late for a prior commitment. I was so thankful I attended,
as Samantha’s parents were not there. The Christmas program was adorable and an easy way to show Samantha that I
cared about her. My showing up at Samantha’s program helped build the strong base that our relationship rests on even
today.
In the 6 years we’ve been matched, I have attended nearly every event and performance in Samantha’s life. Our relationship is one of trust. She reaches out to me and feels comfortable talking about things she doesn’t feel comfortable
talking to her mom about. Being there for the important events in Samantha’s life has shown her, without a doubt, that I
care about her.
In addition to sharing these events, Samantha and I spend lots of time baking, cooking, hiking, and playing games.
Before experimenting in the kitchen with me, she lacked confidence and was hesitant to try new foods. Now
Samantha is a fearless cook, particularly when it comes to baking, and she has made some fabulous birthday cakes for
her sister and best friend. Samantha’s adventurous and fearless spirit have grown throughout our time together. Samantha is near and dear to my heart, and I sincerely thank BBBS for matching our 2 souls. I know that we are in each others’ lives for forever.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge is a program of The Next Door. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/thenextdoorinc