Big Brothers Big Sisters program to raise funds through bowling

By SHAUN ZINCK

Local organizations worked on their bowling game Monday to help support children.

Participants came to the Holmes Student Center Huskies Den between either 12 and 2 p.m. or 5 and 7 p.m. Monday for “Bowl for Kids’ Sake.”

The Big Brothers Big Sisters program has been very popular since 1981, said Karen Orser, director of Big Brothers Big Sisters for DeKalb.

“This is one of the biggest fundraisers in the country,” Orser said. “The program makes up about 75 percent of our annual budget.”

Katie Moller, senior sociology major and president of the Student Psychological Association, said, this is the first year her organization has participated in the program. Moller said volunteering in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program last summer gave her the idea to participate.

“In volunteering last year, I saw a lot of long-lasting relationships build from Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Moller said. “It allows kids to have a good role model, and the fundrasier is what keeps that going.”

Northern Rehab partner Denny Kolkebeck said his company has been supporting the fundraiser for more than 15 years.

“[The program] helps support a great cause,” Kolkebeck said. “[Northern Rehab] is a big supporter of their mission. They do a great job in the community.”

Karen Foss, senior physical therapy major who works as a physical therapy tech at Northern Rehab, said seeing the impact her roommate made with Big Brothers Big Sisters last year is what convinced her to join.

“It’s always fun to get together with people from work,” Foss said. “Especially for a good cause like this.”

Orser said those wanting to participate in future dates can sign up online or come and make a donation at any of the scheduled bowling times.