The crash of bowling pins and laughter might sound like an ordinary night out, but for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manhattan, Bowl for Kids\u2019 Sake symbolizes something deeper. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 7, BBBS Manhattan will host the annual event at the Union Bowling Center inside Kansas State\u2019s Student Union.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the COVID-19 pandemic halted all in-person gatherings, not only for BBBS Manhattan but for everyone, the organization reintroduced Bowl for Kids\u2019 Sake locally last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBowl for Kids\u2019 Sake has been around for over 30 years,\u201d Michelle Sink, area director for BBBS in Riley, Geary, Pottawatomie and Lyon counties, said. \u201cIt\u2019s a nationwide event that happens at different times throughout the year in different communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
While this means that Bowl for Kids\u2019 Sake can look different throughout the country, the core concepts are all the same. The main goal is to raise funds to sustain BBBS of America, but that goal feeds into many others at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money that we raise goes into things like background checks and providing interviews for new volunteers and also the families that we\u2019re enrolling,\u201d Sink said. \u201cIt supports match supervision and safety as well.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the name, however, bowling scores are not the focus of the event. Instead, teams made up of businesses, student groups or individuals in the community raise money through crowdfunding efforts before gathering for the themed bowling event \u2014 this year\u2019s being inspired by the upcoming Super Bowl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Participants can earn prizes for both fundraising and bowling, but BBBS Manhattan emphasizes that the event\u2019s real value lies in the building of connections throughout the community. Bowl for Kids\u2019 Sake offers an accessible, family-friendly environment that sets it apart from other fundraising events that might be more adult-focused, like golf tournaments or formal community gatherings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this one is a bit more community-minded, where kids can come,\u201d Sink said. \u201cWe have the Manhattan Annual Golf tournament, and that typically tends to be more for community members. I feel like Bowl for Kids\u2019 Sake is one that college students and all members of the community can get involved in together.\u201d<\/p>\n
While recent challenges \u2014 namely, a fire that affected the BBBS Manhattan\u2019s office space \u2014 could have posed setbacks, Melissa Soldan, development director for BBBS Manhattan, both said the community response has been overwhelmingly positive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSince a couple weeks ago, the theme for the year transitioned a little bit from continuing to grow to rebuilding,\u201d Soldan said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had more people reach out asking what they can do, and one of the things we\u2019ve offered is to have a team for Bowl for Kids\u2019 Sake.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ultimately, Bowl for Kids\u2019 Sake is more than just a fundraising effort; it serves as a way to invest in the future of Manhattan \u2014 the children who call the city \u201chome.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we invest in these kids, then that\u2019s really investing in the future of what Manhattan looks like,\u201d Sink said.\u00a0<\/p>\n