Winter Blast plays a toll on local fund raising even – deadline for prize drawings to be extended!!

As the snow began piling up late Friday afternoon on March 7th, Big Brothers Big Sisters officials teetered on whether or not the fundraising event, scheduled that evening would go off as planned. With many other offices closing and early dismissal the agency made the decision to move the teams from the rural site of McBos in Versailles to the Sunday shift hoping for better weather. Friday nights event at Belmar was held as planned with only a slight withdrawal of teams due to the inclement weather. However, as the weekend progressed the annual fundraising event looked bleak. Local news stations continued to air within their list of cancellations that the BBBS bowling event was cancelled, however this was in reference to the Dayton office not Shelby and Darke County. Many unsuccessful attempts were made to change the list of closings to indicate Dayton only but with the lengthy list of cancellation officials hands were tied.

When the snow and wind died down on Saturday evening it was determined that the event would go on as planned for Sunday afternoon with hopes that all nearly 100 teams, consisting of a total of 500 community members, would show up.

Bowl for Kids Sake is a nationally recognized fundraiser for nearly 700 BBBS agencies and is the largest annual fund raising event for the local two county area of Shelby & Darke County. The goal for 2008 was $50,000. The agency lost several teams due to the weather and as a result only came to about 75% of their goal with totals to date at $38,000. With this in mind, the agency has extended the deadline for prize drawing until Monday, March 17th. Agency officials are urging anyone that still has team pledge collection envelope outstanding to make arrangements to drop them off prior to this date. Drop off locations are at 121 E North Street in Sidney, 405 E. Fourth Street in Greenville or call the office and someone can pick them up. The office can be contacted at 937-492-7611 or 937-547-9622. All teams that turn in their pledge envelopes will receive team t-shirts and get in on the prize drawings. Plus every dollar turned in will help the agency to get closer to their goal of $50,000. Prize winners will be notified by phone and all winners will be listed on the agency website.

The money raised from this event will go directly towards establishing one-to-one mentoring relationships between caring adults and kids in need. Last year alone the agency served over 600 children within Shelby and Darke County.

The agency was so pleased that so many local companies and businesses stepped up and supported the event. This year Vectren Electric sponsored the event. Corporate sponsors included; Cargill Inc., Greenville National Bank, Hits 105.5,Koenig Equipment Inc., Midmark Corporation, MJS Plastics, Inc., Ron & Nita's Inc., Sidney Daily News, The Peerless Group, WTGR. Team Sponsors included; Continental Express, Inc., Cooper Farms, Dick Lavy Trucking, Inc., Family Health Clinic, Ferguson Construction, Greenville Federal, JR Manufacturing, Klockner Pentaplast, Mercer Savings Bank, NK Parts Industries, Inc., Thermoseal Inc., Wayne Hospital, Wilson Memorial Hospital.. T-shirt Sponsors included; First Call Auto Supply, Inc., Ohio State University Extension, Osgood State Bank, and Shelby County Pork Producers. Lane sponsors included; AAA Shelby County Motor Club, Abby's , Adecco, AFSCME #2429, BASF Corporation, Brethren Retirement Community, Buckeye Ford Lincoln Mercury, Chase, Citizens for Zehringer, Clean All Services, Community Insurance Group, Cox Insurance, Daily Advocate, Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln Mercury, Inc., Don's Body Shop, Eck Refrigeration, Inc,, Edison Community College, Edward Jones, Elsass Wallace Evans & Schnelle, Embrassing Grace, Emerson Climate Technologies, FDL Automation & Supply, Freytag & Associates, Gillespie Construction Co. LTD, Greenville Technology Inc., Heidenrich Motors, Hemmelgarn Services Inc., Jaco Manufacturing, Laser Fab Technologies Inc., Lisa Alvetro, .D.S., M.S.D., Inc., Littman-Thomas Agency, Inc., Marco's Pizza, May Financial Group, McCrate, DeLaet & Co., Medicine & More, Members Choice Credit Union, Minster Bank, Mote & Associates , Inc., Mutual Federal Savings Bank, Oliver-Floyd Funeral Home, LLC, Playtex Products Inc., Prenger Financial Services, Primary Eyecare Associates, Production Paint Finishers Inc., Regal Trophy, Rest Haven, Second National Bank, Second National Bank, Sidney Body Carstar, Sidney, Door & Window, Sidney Electric Company, Sidney Manufacturing Company, Sidney Newstand & Bookstore, Sidney Rotary Club, Slagle Mechanical Company, Sons of American Legion, South , each Tan Co., Storch Braund Funeral Home, The SMS Group, Tom & Jerry's Inc., Unity National , Bank, Versailles Lodge 290 F& AM, Versailles Rotary Club, Versailles Savings & Loan Company, Wagners Village Market, Wayne Hospital, and The Spot of Sidney. General sponsors included; Allenbaugh Insurance Agency Inc., American Family Insurance, Bel-Mar Lanes-Leaque bowlers, Bolyard Heating & Cooling Inc., Bruns Animal Clinic, Cargill Incorporation, CF Poeppleman, Chan Distributors-League bowlers, Charles & Lucy Staugler, Cindy , Jones, Community Insurance Group, Dale & Karen Dirksen, Diane Evans Insurance, DJ Rose Reality, Fast Insurance Company, Fifth Third Bank, First National Bank, J. Robert Schweitzer Insurance, Lisa , Brady, Lisa Meiners, Lloyd Turner, Mike & Mary Jo Barhorst, Panache Salon & Day Spa, Pioneer Electric Cooperative, Robert Schroerlucke, Sharon Tipton, Timmerman Truss, Whirpool Corporation Greenville ,Division, Wilson Memorial Hospital, Wonder Acres Farm, and Upper Valley Medical Center. Prize donors included; Great Wolf Lodge, American Girl Doll, Columbus Zoo and , quarium, Scott M & A Corporation ( McDonalds), CJ's Highmarks, Troutwine Auto Sales, Inc., Mutual Federal Savings Bank, Hansbarger Home Solutions, Splash Moraine, Kitchenaid Experience, Cassanos, CJ'S Highmarks, Newport Aquarium, East of Chicago Pizza, Inn at versailles, Interiors by Alice, Smart Style-Walmart, Sidney Flower Shop, Aramark, Ron & Nita's, Anna Foods, Comfort Inn-Greenville, Pizza Hut, Ponderosa, Sidney/Shelby YMCA, Subway, Subway, Ponderosa, Bob Evan's, Family Video, Super Subby's, Marco's, Greenville Ace Hardware, American Trim, Tom Magoto Insurance, Auto Zone, Holloway, Allison's Custom Jewelry, Captain D's Seafood, Hampton Inn Sandusky, The Ivy Garland, YMCA of Darke County, Sterling House, The Krogers Corporation.

It is the result of such a caring community that the local agency is able to reach out to so many children in need. Results show that children who are mentored are more likely to improve in school and in their relationships with family and peers and are less likely to skip school or use illegal drugs or alcohol. Currently, Big Brothers Big Sisters has nearly 75 children on a waiting list in need of a mentor. It doesn’t take a great deal of time to have a positive impact on a child – it simply takes a person with a big heart and willingness to give back. If you would like more information about becoming a volunteer mentor check out our website at: www.bigbrobigsis-shelby-darke.org