Mentoring Bowl-a-thon set for April 16 offers fun for everyone

Helping Services for Northeast Iowa is proud to announce the first ever Mentoring Bowl-a-thon being held April 16 at Oneota Lanes in Decorah. The bowl-a-thon has two main purposes: to raise money for events that mentors, mentees, and family members attend; and to convince area positive role models to become mentors.

The Mentoring Bowl-a-thon is for everyone to take part in, they do not have to be involved in mentoring. Teams of four participants will bowl together April 16. The teams can be any combination of adults and youth.

To participate in the bowl-a-thon, pick up a packet at one of these area businesses: Quillin’s in Waukon or Decorah; KDEC Radio, Helping Services, and Oneota Lanes in Decorah; and the Cresco Fitness Center.

Prior to April 16, bowlers will share about the mentoring program using information supplied in the packets while soliciting donations from their co-workers, friends, neighbors, and relatives. Every bowler who raises donations of $30 will receive a bowl-a-thon t-shirt designed by K & H Custom Screen Printing.

The bowl-a-thon has many great prizes for both teams and individuals that have been donated by area businesses. The team raising the most money for mentoring programs will win four tickets to an Iowa Hawkeye football game. The second-place team earns dinner for four at the Oaks Steakhouse. The individual raising the most money wins a denim jacket donated by Waukon Harley-Davidson. The second individual prize is an overnight stay for up to four people at Waukon’s Stoney Creek Inn.

Local businesses can become lane sponsors by donating $50. Other area businesses have donated door prizes for bowlers to win. Now is the time to support local mentoring programs by being a bowl-a-thon bowler, donating to the event, or becoming a mentor.

Mentoring programs benefit youth ages 5-16 in Allamakee, Howard, and Winneshiek counties. Mentors are asked to spend approximately four hours per month with youth participants. Mentors often find they benefit from the experience as much as the youth does.

To get more involved in the Mentoring Bowl-a-thon or in mentoring, contact Kathy Schwartzhoff at (563) 387-1720 ext. 108 or visit Helping Services website at www.helpingservices.org.