Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Bowl For Kids’ Sake event is in the history books, raising $37,800 to provide mentoring services for the children of Davie County.

This year’s event took on a new energy with glow in the dark bowling and a theme of “Glow Crazy.”

“We want to offer a big thanks to our bowlers and sponsors for all you do to make this annual event such a success,” said Amy Boardwine, director of philanthropy.

Teams that raise the most money in categories earn a “King Pin” trophy. This year’s honors go to the following teams:

• State Employees Credit Union team from branches in Mocksville and Bermuda Run came together to win the business category for the fourth year in a row.

• South Davie Middle School continues its winning streak having won the King Pin trophy in the school category for nine out of the last 10 years.

“We appreciate all the support we receive from our school teams. They see firsthand the impact a mentor has on a student and understand the importance of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Davie County Schools is an essential part of our success so we want to give a big shout out to all of the school teams,” she said.

• Familiar faces at the annual event, members of the Live Strong Connect Group from Rescue House Church, take the King Pin trophy in the church category. They are five time winners.

• The Rotary Club of Mocksville team may have been small on bowlers, but they were big on fun. They won the civic club category for the second year in a row.

• Brent Shoaf and daughter, Katie, had a little friendly competition.  Katie raised nearly $600 for her team while her dad raised over $2,300 as an individual.  The Shoaf Family earned the King Pin trophy in the individual/family category.

The following had teams: SECU, Walmart, Yadtel, Bank of the Carolinas, Johnson Insurance, Davie Life Magazine, Carolina Center for Eye Care, W.C. Construction Co., Rotary Club of Mocksville, Rescue House Church, Bethlehem United Methodist Men, Cooleemee UMC, South Davie Middle, William Ellis Middle, North Davie Middle, William R. Davie Elementary, Davie High School Swim Team, Cornatzer Elementary, Pinebrook Elementary, Shady Grove Elementary, Mocksville Elementary, Brent Shoaf Family, Abbie Barbour Family, Campbell-Boardwine Family, Jenna Hendricks Team, Bohlman Family, Emily Harpe Family.

“As the nation’s largest volunteer and donor supported organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children facing adversity strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever,” Boardwine said.

In 2014, BBBS served 233 children in Davie County through the Community Based, Site Based, School Based, Wait List and Juvenile Justice mentoring programs. “The need for our services is ever increasing and we expect to serve even more children in 2015,” she said.“The positive outcomes for children participating in a Big Brothers Big Sisters program are substantial.”

According to research on the effectiveness of the BBBS mentoring model conducted by Public/Private Ventures, the children and youth who participate in BBBS programs perform better in school, are less likely to experiment with alcohol and drugs, and are better able to handle conflict in constructive ways. (http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/111_publication.pdf).

Making a Difference:  An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters (Tierney, J.P., Grossman, J.B., and Resch, N.L. (1995) concluded the following:

• 81% of former Little’s agree that their Big gave them hope & changed their perspective of what they thought possible.

• 85% of former Littles agree their experience influenced them in overcoming adversity or problems.

• 67% of former Littles agree that their Big played a role in their decision to attend college.

• 83% of former Littles agree that their Big instilled values and principles that guided them through life.

To learn how to help the United Way agency, call 751-9906 or visit www.bbbsnc.org/davie.