CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
A team from last year’s fundraiser has fun while raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Marshall County Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters will host the Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraiser March 21 and 28 for the twentieth year. The times for both days will be from 1-3 p.m., 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., with games taking place at Wayward Social.

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been matching children with mentors since it was founded in 1904. There are many ways to support this non-profit, including becoming a mentor and participating in fundraisers.

Team registration is due March 13 and can be done through their website or by sending an email to heartofiowamentoring@gmail.com. The minimum donation is $55 per player, with teams consisting of four to six people. This donation will give players access to two games and a shoe rental.

As a non-profit, Big Brothers Big Sisters depends on donations and grants to keep matching kids with mentors. The Bowl for Kids’ Sake is the biggest fundraiser of the year.

“This is a fundraiser that really helps us get through the year,” Lynne Carroll, executive director of Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters, said.

In 2019 the non-profit served 204 kids in Marshall County and the Grinnell School District.

There is a waiting list of children, mainly boys, waiting to be matched with a mentor.

Matching a child with a mentor is a multi-step process, Carroll said.

Mentors, also called Bigs, must be interviewed, go through a background check and be trained. Then they are matched with children, or Littles, with consideration to common interests and compatible personalities.

Community-based Bigs meet with their Littles three to four times a month, while school based ones meet on a weekly basis.

Their goal is to make $25,000 through this fundraiser.