Bowling for kids

Master Sgt. Jason Hall, 350th Air Refueling Squadron superintendent, bowls during the 2012 Bowl for Kids’ Sake May 18, 2012, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. Airmen from McConnell garnered more than $6,000 for Sedgwick County Big Brothers Big Sisters. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales)

Bowling for kids

Lt. Col. Gary Spillman, 22nd Maintenance Group commander, bowls the first ball during the Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser May 18, 2012, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. It takes approximately $900 to fund a year-long Big Brothers Big Sisters match and McConnell raised more than $6,000 for the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales)

Bowling for kids

Published May 22, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Jose L. Leon
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Team McConnell came together to raise more than $6,000 May 17, 2012, for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wichita, Kan., during the Bowl for Kid's Sake fundraising campaign.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nationwide preventative agency which matches a child, a "Little," in need of a positive role-model with an adult volunteer, a "Big."

The event was held at Tornado Alley in the Robert J. Dole Community Center on base.

Donations made by Team McConnell help to fund the matches of Bigs and Littles.

"There are many different ways that McConnell supports us," said Carolyn Moore, Big Brothers Big Sisters community outreach coordinator, "whether it is through bowling with us to help financially support the match or through providing the time in order to mentor a child."

Approximately 48 Team McConnell members participated in the afternoon of bowling.

It costs about $900 to support a match for a year. By donating, you are supporting not only our military matches, but also the matches in our community. It's local people helping local people, said Jennifer Kofton, Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer involvement specialist.

"The kids love looking up to McConnell Airmen as role models," said Kofton. "I'm also a big sister, and think it is really great as a 'Wichitan' to involve you guys in this action. It builds our community as a whole."