Annual bowling event raises money for kids' mentoring

By P.J. GLISSON

[email protected]

Ironwood - Local kids who benefit from mentoring received a boost last Saturday from the 22nd annual Gogebic Range Bowling for Kids' Sake.

The 5-hour event, which was a fundraiser for the Brothers and Sisters of the Western Upper Peninsula, was held at Big Shots Sports Bar and Grill in Ironwood.

Individuals and teams of four to eight people, or more, registered to help raise funds for the BBBS mentoring program.

Prizes and drawings were included, and virtual participation also was encouraged.

"Everything we raise stays in the community for mentoring our youth," said Maggie Munch, director of BBBS UP.

She said that about 65 bowlers participated in the event, which was coordinated by Nina Bell.

"We're also looking for volunteers," said Munch. "We need people to step up in the community."

Munch said that BBBS seeks two types of mentors to match with local kids who range from 6 to 16 years of age: 1. Community-based volunteers and 2. "High Five" volunteers, who are teenagers.

According to Munch, the community volunteers are those traditionally associated with mentoring.

They are community volunteers who dedicate a couple hours a week to working with a matched mentor.

"We ask our volunteers not to spend money," said Munch of the mentoring sessions.

Instead, she said, mentors and their matches engage in whatever activities they enjoy, which may include hiking, fishing or hanging out at the beach.

Munch added that High Five volunteers are high school students who work at "building connections" with younger kids during the school day.

"They're matched to the same mentor all through the year," said Munch. "They have so much fun."

She added that, once a week, the older and younger students meet to engage in a variety of activities such as working on homework, reading, playing board games, or engaging in crafts and holiday activities.

"The little kids are benefitting from increased confidence and better attitudes," she said, assuring that the high school students also see it as a big plus.

Moreover, she said, the teen volunteers are more likely to continue volunteering in their communities after having had the experience with BBBS.

Munch, who has been with the program for 23 years, said that 55 high schoolers were matched to children this year at the Luther L. Wright K-12 School in Ironwood.

In the past, she said that the program also has occurred in other area schools and explained that locations can be a matter of available funding and space.

In order to prepare volunteers for their roles, Munch said that BBBS provides "professional support" in the way of training, which includes issues of safety.

She noted that a case worker guides the community volunteers and that school kids are given supervision in their roles.

"A lot of people think it's single parent families, and that used to be the case," said Munch of the families that receive mentoring for their kids.

At this time, she said many children who receive mentoring are from blended families.

Eighteen is the minimum age to volunteer, said Munch. "We find some of our best volunteers are empty nesters or retired."

She said that some mentoring relationships last a decade or more.

A separate 30th annual Copper Country event is planned for March 16 at the Mine Shaft in Houghton.

For more information on Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Western U.P., visit [email protected].