Big Brothers and Big Sisters of DeKalb County began its three-day Bowl for Kids’ Sake fund-raiser Monday night at the Holmes Student Center’s Huskie Den.

The event has been around for 25 years and is a trademark fund-raiser for BBBS, which provides mentoring services between adults and children.

The event is free for volunteers of BBBS and holding the first Bowl for Kids’ Sake is a warm-up night for the community, said Karen Orser, director of the Family Service Agency, which manages BBBS. The goal for the entire county is to raise $100,000.

The program has suffered from a lack of participants over the years, however.

“When I first started it was very successful and then 2001 happened. Our funds went way down the following [year],” said Orser. “This year it’s looking up; we’ve been getting more participation and a better turnout.”

Money from the event funds 80 percent of the budget for BBBS. The funds are directed toward creating matches between adults and children.

First-year participant Laura Esposito of Delta Sigma Pi currently is raising money for her first day at the lanes.

“We have several teams,” she said. “We are actually raising money until Wednesday, when we’re gonna bowl.”

Most participants agree the event is a fun way to raise money and spend time with friends.

“I like the raising money part,” Esposito said. “The bowling is just a perk.”

Huskie Den manager Robert Leo said the event has taken place since before he started working there four years ago. The Den offers the organization a special rate and depending on the amount of people that sign up, lanes are made available for them.

Leo also has participated as a bowler.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “People have a good time.”

Those interested in participating can form teams of four to six players or sponsor a lane at the event. Individual team members should contact sponsors for pledges.

Furthermore, each member is asked to collect a minimum $75, which must be turned in before bowling. Participants are eligible for several raffle prizes, including games at the Huskie Den and gift certificates to Tom and Jerry’s and Subway.

Over the next two days, an estimated 50 teams will participate in the event and the NIU football team will sign autographs Wednesday. The group also is planning similar events in Sandwich Tuesday and Sycamore March 6.

The group also is sponsoring a separate fund-raiser by selling bracelets for $1 that resemble Livestrong bands. The bracelets are blue with the “Little Moments Big Magic” motto of the BBBS organization.