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Bowled over

Big Brothers Big Sisters has annual bowling event

Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 12:53 PM CDT

With a pirate hat on his head and a gold chain wrapped around his neck Saturday morning, Carter Hendricks couldn’t have been further from his usual look as Hopkinsville-Christian County Chamber of Commerce president. Bowling on the Chamber’s Pin-Striking Pirates team as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Kentucky’s annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake event, Hendricks was mostly pleased with his outfit.

“I had my eye patch but I broke it,” Hendricks lamented. “I’m incognito this morning. This is a little break from the norm.”

It cost $200 for a five-person team to bowl for an hour and a half at the event, which took place at Indian Hills Bowling Center and went from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event totaled over $25,000 between Todd and Christian counties.

In previous years, the cost was between $200 and $250 for less bowling time. Donna Dakin, Big Brothers Big Sisters case manager for Christian County, said the hope was to give participants more for their money.

“A lot of these people are fans of ours from year to year and we try to increase the number of teams,” Dakin said. “The more people come, the more fun it is and the more it increases the excitement.”

The event drew support from many local businesses and organizations, with Planters Bank, the law practice of Lucius Hawes and Kurt Anderson and State Farm Insurance serving as sponsors. Dakin said many local manufacturing companies, utility companies and municipalities were represented at the event.

“People want to be supportive,” Dakin said. “The sponsors are supportive and competitive. They may want to see who donates the most, they may want to see who bowls the best.”

Cheri Farmer, public relations coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters, said there are 80 children in Christian County on a waiting list for mentors. She said this was the first event where Big Brothers Big Sisters actively tried to recruit possible mentors, passing out brochures and applications to team members as they bowled.

“We really need mentors,” Farmer said. “Four hours a month is not a lot to give, but it makes such a big difference.”

Hendricks said he was happy to support Big Brothers Big Sisters, which he feels does an important job shaping the lives of young people in the community.

“Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters are providing a little safety net around our school system to make sure kids get the services they need to be successful,” Hendricks said.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, call 270-886-8172 or visit http://bigbrosbigsis.org/.

Dennis O’Neil can be reached at 270-887-3237 or doneil@kentuckynewera.com.