Big Brothers Big Sisters hitting lanes to kick off March "Bowl For Kids Sake" fundraiser

Posted: Updated:

By Whitney Williams, Meteorologist/Multimedia Journalist - bio | email

QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) -

Sometimes it just takes that special person to make a big difference in the life of a child.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Illinois (BBBS) held a kickoff event Sunday for their upcoming Bowl For Kids' Sake Fundraiser.

BBBS helps connect area kids with older mentors, but it doesn't come easily. Executive Director Cindy Denby says to even pair kids with mentors costs money.

"National tells us that it's going to be about a thousand dollars per child to do all the training, the security checks, the background and everything to keep the match viable and we now serve over 450 children," said Denby.

Without federal or state funding and grants hard to come by, fundraisers like Bowl for Kids' Sake that helps keep BBBS in action.

"About 60 percent of the money that we have for funding for Big Brothers Big Sisters is from fund raising," said Denby.

For kids like Bri Ketchum having her mentor is a big part of her life.

"I'm not really a socializer so when there's someone I want to hang out with I love doing it," said Ketchum.

Denby says that fundraisers help make sure that Big Brothers Big Sisters Of West Central Illinois can continue giving kids an extra role model.

The Adams County Bowl for Kids Sake is March 1-3.

For more information on the fundraiser or how you can get involved you can head to www.bigmagic.org

Big Brothers Big Sisters hitting lanes to kick off March "Bowl F - WGEM.com: Quincy News, Weather, Sports, and Radio

Big Brothers Big Sisters hitting lanes to kick off March "Bowl For Kids Sake" fundraiser