Ceremonies to officially launch the DeKalb Family Service Agency’s annual fundraiser “Bowl for Kids Sake” begins Thursday.

Each year the agency sponsors the event to raise money for their Big Brother and Big Sister programs.

The money raised from this yearlong event is the main source of support for the program, social worker Jenny Taylor said. “Seventy percent of volunteers are NIU students,” she said.

Family Service Agency representative Tony Stahl said the ceremonies honor the efforts of the top money raisers.

This year Earl White from Sycamore raised $3,000 and will receive the “Bowl for Kids Sake” traveling trophy, he said.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters are designed to help children from single parent homes. Taylor said the program is there to help the children learn from positive adult role models.

Marla Baxter, an NIU senior elementary education major, has been a volunteer for the program for over a year. She said her time with the program has been invaluable.

“It’s a great feeling,” she said. “You do so little, yet it means so much for the kids.”