Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Butler County (BBBS) and the Oxford community are teaming together to raise money for the organization's "Bowl for Kids' Sake" bowling event from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Oxford Lanes.
Julie Dichtl, BBBS of Butler County vice president of development, said money raised by the event will go toward funding costs associated with finding volunteers to serve as mentors for children. These costs include running background checks and interviewing potential candidates.
Dichtl said after a person is cleared by the volunteer process, BBBS matches the volunteer to a child. A licensed social worker monitors the match relationship for the first year to make sure it runs smoothly.
"Our goal is for that relationship to last as long as possible," Dichtl said.
Dichtl said the proceeds from Bowl for Kids' Sake will benefit children currently on the BBBS of Butler County waiting list for children seeking mentors.
"There are (currently) 116 children who are waiting for a mentor," Dichtl said.
Miami University BBBS President Allie Amick said the student organization is backing up Butler County's event.
In its 28th year running, the Bowl for Kids' Sake event takes place every Saturday in March in different cities in Butler County, Dichtl said.
The event already took place in Middletown and Fairfield and will take place in Oxford, Hamilton and West Chester in the last few weekends of March.
Dichtl said BBBS of Butler County's overall goal is to raise $70,000 for the organization and they have raised $17,000 thus far.
"We're hoping quite a few Miami students participate," Amick said.
The campaign encourages teams of volunteers to go out and raise money by asking others for donations either in person or online. The actual bowling event is free to the volunteers, and BBBS provides food, prizes and free bowling shoe rental.
"(The event encourages people to) come and bowl and have a good time and help us raise money," Dichtl said.
