Bowl for Kid's Sake

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Gross
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska held their annual Bowl for Kids' Sake for the first time at JBER's Polar Bowl April 8.

About 120 participants came out to support the event, which is the organization's largest fundraiser of the year.

Much of the money made goes into the match-making process between children and BBBS of Alaska volunteers.

BBBS of Alaska serves over 40 communities throughout Alaska, making efforts to reach out to children helping them reach their potential through mentoring relationships.

The Bowl for Kids' Sake was a way to celebrate all the smaller fundraisers that took place throughout the year, said Ms. Kelli Phifer, BBBS of Alaska's director of development.

She also said they estimate the JBER community raised $15,000 toward BBBS of Alaska's "Operation Bigs."

Operation Bigs is the newest mentoring initiative from BBBS of Alaska. Its purpose is to serve Alaska's military community by providing Bigs to children of military families, and by providing opportunities for military members to get involved in the local community by becoming Bigs.

"It's pretty amazing the effect that having a mentor has on a child," said Phifer. "Kids with a mentor are far more likely to do better in school, and have good relationships with their family, and less likely to do drugs or cut class."

Phifer said in Alaska, many military families are away from extended family and the idea behind BBBS of Alaska is not to replace the parent but maybe to assume that role of an uncle or aunt.

Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Kuehnl, 673d Air Base Wing chief, was in attendance to kick off the fundraiser and said she felt military involvement with BBBS of Alaska is vitally important.

"It's huge, because we have a lot of military family members who use a big brother or big sister so having someone who's in uniform that can relate to what those young one are going through is tremendous," chief said.

"Also, it helps us give back to the community that gives so much to us."

BBBS has been around since 1904 and originated in New York City and has been making changes in the lives of children ever since, said Phifer.

"We have over 100 years of data showing why and how this program is important and how it impacts kids."

Phifer also said BBBS of Alaska really wanted to open its doors to the military community.

They want the military to see this program as another resource when it comes to deployments and children are without their father or mother for months at a time.

Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Cossom, a member of the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, also said he felt military involvement with the organization was important.

He said it's crucial for us to support and be there to mentor the next generation because they are our future.