HUMBOLDT 鈥� Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Humboldt & Area have raised just over $17,000 through Bowl for Kids鈥� Sake, with a major part of the fundraising done by local schools.
Bowl for Kids鈥� Sake is BBBS premier fundraising event, where groups bowl and raise funds in support of Big Brother Big Sister mentoring program in the community.
Due to the pandemic protocols and restrictions in place, the chapter had lowered their annual goal to raise $10,000 and created a virtual bowling game people can choose alongside their in-person bowling
鈥淲e鈥檙e very pleased to announce that we surpassed our goal this year and raised about the same amount of money we raised last year,鈥� said Jodie Hergott, the chapter鈥檚 community development co-ordinator. 鈥淗umboldt believes in what we do, and they know the power of mentoring and the great things that come from it.鈥�
Typically, Muenster School has a daily field trip event with BBBS where they bowl, have lunch and fundraise.
With the pandemic, the school wasn鈥檛 able to travel out, so they joined the virtual bowling.
鈥淭he co-op got behind us and provided party boxes for the kids. So the Friday before the school break we had seven classrooms in the area that were originally Bowling for Kids鈥� Sake,鈥� Hergott said. 鈥淢uenster School raised, get this, $7,750 with four grades.鈥�
Hergott said they were 鈥済ob stopped鈥� by the amount, with the school bringing a record breaking $4,000 last year.
鈥淲e thought that was incredible, and this year, wow, they just went above and beyond 鈥� again.鈥�
Muenster School wasn鈥檛 alone in their fundraising efforts.
Humboldt Public School鈥檚 Grade 2 class had an online art auction over Facebook. Through the auction, the class raised over $600. The Grade 7 class at the school fundraised through 鈥渟pirit days鈥� where each Friday through February the school would have themed days that students could participate in through a donation. Through spirit days the class raised $656.
St. Augustine School also participated. They raised just over $760 through pledges and selling 鈥渟ecret hearts鈥� where a student writes an anonymous way someone has made a positive influence on their life and it鈥檚 given to the person anonymously.
Hergott said that due to the success of virtual bowling, they will be considering continuing it as an option for future Bowl for Kids鈥� Sakes.
鈥淰irtual bowling was a huge success for the schools,鈥� Hergott said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l definitely be considering that for upcoming Bowl for Kids鈥� Sakes.鈥�
鈥淲e just wanted to really thank Humboldt and area. The teachers, the students, anybody who donated and took time out of their day to contribute to the event, it is our major fundraiser this year 鈥� and wow, did Humboldt ever show up.鈥�
Taking home the chromebook computer from This is Your Computer for raising the most money through pledges was Kelsey Hines of Muenster School who raised $1,500.
