March 24, 2006
DeKALB, IL - Northern Illinois University Intercollegiate Athletics held a successful Bowl for Kids Sake event through the month of March that raised over $10,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Thirteen teams of four-to-six bowlers were constructed from the 150 total student-athletes participating with two additional teams made up of administrative staff. This year's final total reached $10,435.21 one year after NIU Athletics raised the largest monetary amount for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters annual national event.
"This event is one of the best things we do from a community service standpoint," said Monique Bernoudy, Associate Athletic Director, CHAMPS/Life Skills. "The majority of our activities directly engage the group we are supporting and Bowl for Kids is a little different in that our bowling interacts with the community and supports Big Brothers and Big Sisters. It's a win-win for us. We have fun with teams of peers while interacting with the community."
Bowl for Kids Sake provides approximately 80 percent of the budget for Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs with a goal of raising $100,000 for 2006. At first count, the organization is expected to exceed that total, projecting around $112,000 raised.
Eighty-nine members of the football team collectively raised over $5,000 while NIU athletes from men's and women's tennis, women's basketball, women's golf, gymnastics, wrestling and men's soccer also participated in the event throughout the month of March at Mardi Gras Lanes on Sycamore Road in DeKalb.
