Big Brothers and Big Sisters says thanks

The board of directors, staff and participants of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County would like to thank the community for the wonderful response to the recent Bowl For Kids' Sake fund-raiser. Our appreciation goes out to all of the bowlers, sponsors and businesses for being so generous with their time and financial support.

Students from Elrod, Russell, Helena Flats, Evergreen Junior High and Central schools raised $9,000 during the School Bowl event.

The multi-day fundraiser has brought in pledge amounts that totaled nearly $41,000. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children with one-to-one, professionally supported relationships with screened mentors from the community. These funds will make it possible to sustain this level of service to the community and to work towards our vision of matching every child who wants or needs a mentor — right here in the Flathead Valley.

A special thank you to the Pin & Cue, Northshore Lanes and Glacier Lanes for hosting the event and Pizza Hut, Pepsi and McDonald's for providing refreshments. Without your outstanding support, this would not have been possible.

Thank you also to our lane sponsors: Daily Inter Lake, First National Bank of Montana, KCFW, Pizza Hut, AirWorks, City Service/Valcon, First Interstate Bank, Mission Financial Group, Montana West Realty, Mountain West Bank, National Flood Service, Parkside Federal Credit Union, Pepsi, Semitool, The Computer Place, Whitefish Credit Union, CenturyTel, Evergreen Lions Club, Flathead Bank of Bigfork, Glacier Eye Clinic, Glacier Opticians, Inc., McDonald's, Provident Financial, Rocky Mountain Bank, Sterling Title Services, Stewart Title, Three Rivers Bank, Valley Bank of Kalispell and Wells Fargo Bank.

We feel proud that the community shares this vision for mentoring.

Jori Bullemer

Big Brothers Big Sisters executive director