Thanks to this community, Bowl for Kids' Sake was a HUGE success.  Together we raised over $70,000!  Big Brothers Big Sisters is truly "Community Powered" by fundraisers, sponsors, and mentors!

Please thank our event sponsors for supporting local children by patronizing their businesses.

BBBS would like to thank everyone who bowled or donated to a bowler.  The majority of our funds come from the thousands in this community who pledge $5, $10, and $50.

Thanks also to our dedicated volunteers and behind the scenes support from People's United Bank!

 Bowl For Kids' Sake is 'Community Powered'!  Here are some stories of some amazing teams of bowlers, who love kids and love their community.

 

Massucco & Velto, P.C. aka “Johnny’s Gutter Kings”

This dedicated team of bowlers got involved with Bowl for Kids’ Sake 19 years ago in an effort to engage other local law firms in some friendly competition while supporting a good cause. Ray Massucco recounted the way he’d go around Bellows Falls generating support, which wasn’t too difficult in a town that is deeply involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Before First Giving, the team originally gathered pledges by sending out hundreds of their own mailers, asking for “per-pin” contributions. They had to switch their approach, however, when they discovered they were terrible bowlers. Everyone, that is except for Massucco’s brother, Johnny.

Johnny’s bowling success may have been unexpected to anyone who watched him approach the line and place the ball on the ground. A double handed push would send it slowly down the lane and into the pins, causing them to wobble and finally crash, raising the team score dramatically. The fact that Johnny had Down Syndrome didn’t stop him from becoming the ring leader of the Gutter Kings. His enthusiasm for bowling drove the team to increasing success and eventually inspired their awesome bowling uniform. Because Johnny’s favorite color was tie-dye, Brightside Tie-Dyes donated shirts that the Gutter Kings still sport each year at Bowl for Kids’ Sake. The team has always been a competitive fundraiser, but in 2005 when Johnny passed away they tripled their fundraising goal and Bowl for Kids’ Sake became even more important for Johnny’s Gutter Kings.

Bowl for Kids’ Sake continues to be a family event for the law office with just as many kids on the team as adults. Andrea Bernard explained that her family has never missed a year and the kids are always excited saying, “We can’t NOT go bowling!” It turns out that the kids did not inherit their parent’s bowling skills and are actually quite good.

While the kids seem to be in it for the bragging rights and free food, it’s more of a social event for the adults. Massucco tells us that he likes to “go up and down [the lanes] and talk to whoever I can see.” He also shares that the contests and prizes are great and the staff are always really helpful. Massucco continues, “ [Big Brothers Big Sisters] is a really good program. It makes sense for us to be involved; it’s something we can do as an office.” Bernard adds, “When we work we work hard, and when we play… same thing!”

This work and play ethic is quite apparent to anyone who has met Massucco and his friendly crew. Not only do they do outstanding law work, they also radiate joy and an openness that makes people want to be around them. Massucco is waist deep in community building activities, including the Roots on the River Festival that happens annually in Bellows Falls. He just doesn’t have time to be a big, so he supports the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters by bowling. When asked why he goes out of his way to be involved in the work of BBBS he cuts right to the chase, “There was a community that took care of Johnny. Now, you know, I take care of them, they’ll take care of you… It’s not rocket science. It’s just what makes a good community.”

 

 'Kresge's Krushers'

Inspired by long time supporter Lillian Fowler, eight enthusiastic bowlers from Kresges Alignment came together to form the unstoppable Kresges Krushers bowling team. According to Travis Grover, a technician at Kresges, these hard workers enjoyed the event because “it makes you go and have fun!” Kresges owner Dan Oles was proud that this year they had enough bowlers to create two teams. He takes the time to come out and bowl because it’s a well coordinated event for a good cause. “It’s a fun day, and we enjoy picking on each other about our bowling skills.” They’re planning on bowling again in 2014, and who knows, they may have three teams!

 

Local Heroes - Rotarians

The motto of Rotary is ‘Service Above Self’. But those are just words. When you see those words in action, you see local people emerging to become heroes to kids facing adversity. Those words in action look like this at Bowl For Kids’ Sake:

• Four teams of Rotarian bowlers challenging each other in a game of skill and raising funds from their friends, family, and their own pockets to support Big Brothers Big Sisters.
• Twelve Rotarians inspiring their businesses to be significant sponsors of the event.
• Nearly every Rotarian digging into their own pocket to support a fellow Rotarian bowling at the event, and/or another friend or family member bowling at the event.
• Five Rotarian Big Brothers and Big Sisters bringing their own Little Brother or Sister to the event for fun and to model community caring and giving.

Without Brattleboro Rotarians, Big Brothers Big Sisters would not be able to provide mentoring to as many children, and our community would be without some very special heroes.

Shawn McMillan and Jason Posternak of Brattleboro Subaru
Jeff Morse and Karen Cedegren of River Valley Credit Union
Gary Goodemote of Friends of the Sun
Dan Yates and Peter Carvell of Brattleboro Savings & Loan
Carla Lineback and Ross Gibson of World Learning
Burl Penton of Brattleboro Bowl
Bill Daley of Vermont Country Deli
Betsy Gentile of Windham Regional Career Center
Karl Lynde of TD Bank
Sandy Ladd
Sam Bovat
Jeremy Coleman with his Little Brother
Jesse Corum
Bill McKim with his Little Brother
Ron Stahley
Dave Twombley with his Little Brother
Karen Cedegran
Jeff Morse
Rob Szpila with his Little Brother
Betsy Gentile with her Little Sister
Jen Ambler
Greg Worden
Liz Harrison
Marty Cohn
Bill Daley
Burl Penton
Cyndi Ferrante
Alison Barry
Josh Traeger
Marcy & Rowan Caulkins

Thank you to all Brattleboro Rotarians from Sunrise and Noon clubs for their significant and inspiring support of Bowl For Kids’ Sake.

 

 

Teachers who know kids, support BBBS

The Windham Southwest Teachers’ Association has been a lead sponsor of Bowl For Kids’ Sake for the last ten years. They set a personal record this year, raising more money than they had ever raised before.

Dave Kolkebeck, who helped organize the team, said that his favorite part of Bowl For Kids’ Sake was the fact that it brought so many people at the school together - faculty, staff, paraprofessionals for an hour of bowling. The teams all go out to lunch afterwards where they give out awards such as first time bowler, low score, three strikes in a row, Lifetime Achievement Award, Special Angel Award, and high average. His favorite part is the camaraderie of the event. Dave is quick to point out other key organizers, such as, Kathy Ernest, and Julie Betit.

Mysteriously, an anonymous donor makes a very large special pledge every year to encourage participation from WSTA members. The donor makes the donation based on a complex formula of number of strikes, gutter balls, and other things more about fun than about bowling skill. Nobody seems to know who the donor is. But the mystery is part of the excitement. Someone out there wants to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, and wants to encourage people from Windham Southwest Teachers Association to Bowl For Kids’ Sake.

This year, they had ten teams bowling, more than ever before, and next year, Dave’s goal is to fill the entire bowling alley! In case you haven’t been to Bowl For Kids’ Sake before, Dave says, “don’t worry, nobody else bowls more than once a year!”

 

 

 

Bellows Falls Curves Team

Hosanna Dukeshire, the ringleader of the Bellows Falls Curves bowling team, is proud of her involvement with Bowl for Kids’ Sake. Hosanna’s team got started a few years ago when she was looking for a way to give back to the community. The previous owner of Bellows Falls Curves, Janice Berube, was involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters as well as Hosanna’s daughter who had been a Big Sister Mentor. Regarding Big Brothers Big Sisters Dukeshire says, “I believe in the cause but being a ‘Big’ is not my thing. Bowl for Kids’ Sake is a way I can help. But I don’t expect to get something for nothing.”

It turns out Dukeshire doesn’t like asking for money, but that was not going stand in her way. She generously offered a loaf of homemade bread to anyone who pledged $10 and sold beautiful bunches of her pussy willows, donating the profits. Another member of curves, Laurie Noyes, offered to match the pledges she collected. “It was simple and amazing. She just asked her friends to donate 1-2 dollars each!”

When asked how Bowl for Kids’ Sake went this year, Dukeshire explains that she enjoyed herself despite being under the weather. “I actually just got out of the hospital that morning. The team came and picked me up, they even got my shoes! But we had a blast; laughing all the way down and all the way back. It was nice to have another thing to join us together besides just the workplace.” She goes on to explain, “[Bowl for Kids’ Sake] is a great way to support Big Brothers Big Sisters and have fun at the same time. That’s what it’s all about. We’re a little family here, and we want to help other families.”

 

Steven and Dre

Steven and Dre have had a blast hanging out every week since their match began one and a half years ago. They picked a special day each week to connect and so far they have spent more than 70 Thursdays together! Some of their favorite activities include going out to eat delicious food and playing at the Rec. Center. Not even the chill of winter could hold them back; they spent time ice skating and Dre even learned to ski!

They like to have mutual activates to look forward to, and so Bowl for Kids’ Sake was a highly anticipated event for this duo. Steven talks about the wild and crazy bowling contests saying, “At one point we were told to stop, the whole bowling alley lines up, we spun around and when we were good and dizzy we had to bowl the ball, quite the fun event. The next time we bowled Dre had to lay on the floor and bowl laying down, very funny.” Of course the free t-shirts, pencils, and PIZZA were a big hit too. Says Steven, “We most defiantly had a slice or two, it helps with our bowling.”

This match also found time to help with the prize spinning wheel and catch a quick racing game in the arcade room. Dre’s video game skills are a bit stronger than Steven’s who admitted he “was most soundly thrashed by my little.” Thankfully things even out a little on the lanes. “With bumpers guarding the gutters as the great equalizer, I find it quite fun to have a well balanced game, no matter what the skill levels are.” They both left the event feeling great, and have even hit the lanes again to reminisce about Bowl for Kids’ Sake and practice some moves for next year.

 

Billie and Elsie

Billie and Elsie started off their first Bowl For Kids’ Sake experience bowling on the Green Mountain Camp team, where Billie is the camp director. The team had the success of raising over $700 in their first year! Elsie started off her first time bowling at the Bowl For Kids’ Sake event with games, prizes, and music. “It was fun to see everything from my Little’s eyes,” Billie said. Elsie was really excited to take home a horse toy that was almost her size as a prize.

Billie and Elsie were matched in November, and their match has gotten off to a great start. Some of the things they have done together have been baking cookies, catching frogs, dying Easter eggs, going sledding, going to Santa’s Land, and planting in the garden. Elsie is looking forward to coming to Billie’s camp this summer and going swimming. Billie said they would definitely be back to Bowl For Kids’ Sake next year for another game of bowling!

 

 

Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2013 Hall of Fame

Sustaining Sponsors

 

• Vermont Country Store
• Brattleboro Savings & Loan
• River Valley Credit Union

 

Patron Sponsors

 

• Ammirato Allstate Agency
• AT&T
• Barrows & Fisher Oil Co.
• Friends of the Sun
• Greater Falls Pharmacy
• Hotel Pharmacy
• Members First Credit Union
• Marlboro Graduate Center
• MVP Healthcare
• New Chapter
• New England House
• Palmiter Realty
• Swiss Precision
• TD Bank
• Union Institute
• Vermont Country Deli
• Vermont Vinyl
• Wireless Zone - Verizon
• Windham Regional Career Center

 

Associate Sponsors

 

• A.L. Tyler & Sons, Inc.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Brattleboro Bowl
• David Manning Inc.
• Durand Toyota Ford
• Golub Foundation of Price Chopper
• World Learning
• Landmark

 

Top Individual Fundraiser

Linda Thurber

Top High School Fundraiser

Casey Tait

Top Corporate Teams Fundraiser

Entergy Vermont Yankee

Top Long Term Fundraising Team - 19 Years!

'Johnny's Gutter Kings' - Law Office of Ray Massucco

Prize Donors

 

• Achille Agway
• Allen Bros
• Bartleby's Books
• Beadniks
• Beadz Needs
• Brattleboro Bowl
• Brattleboro Country Club
• Brattleboro Food Co-op
• Brattleboro Tire
• Brattleboro Village Pizza
• Brown and Roberts
• Burrows Specialized Sports
• Burton Car Wash
• Chelsea Royal Diner
• Chris Sherwin Art Glass
• Colonial Pool and Spa
• Consumer Auto Parts
• Dutton Farm Stand
• Enright and co
• Evan James
• Falvey Pools and Spas
• Fireworks
• First Run Video
• Greater Falls Pharmacy
• Grafton Cheddar
• Green Mountain Camp for Girls
• Hampton Inn
• Jasmine Bakery
• Kidsplayce
• Leader Home Center
• Maple Leaf Restaurant
• Mary Meyer
• Matty C's Café
• Newfane Country Store
• North End Butchers
• Paradise Farm
• Putney Food Co-op
• Radio Shack
• River Bend Farm Market
• River Valley Credit Union
• Saloon
• Sam's Outdoor Outfitters
• Shear Impressions
• Shear Madness
• Staples
• Subway
• Supreme Fitness
• Tommy's Pizzeria
• Turn it up
• Verizon - Wireless Zone
• Vermont Artisan
• Vermont Country Store
• Walmart
• Westminster Auto
• Wilmington Village Pub
• Windham Regional Career Center
• Windham Wines
• Wireless Zone