Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2026 Represents a Record-Breaking Era – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County hit the lanes to celebrate the unique styles, music, and memories of past decades at Bowl for Kids’ Sake 2026 – Bowling Through the Decades. 255 bowlers visited Parkway Lanes in Fond du Lac between March 6 and 7 to take part in our largest annual fundraiser. This year’s event represented a record-breaking era with entertainment, food, drinks, costume contests, prizes, and fun. Through everyone’s fundraising efforts, we raised over $123,000 to support local children with powerful mentoring relationships!

Bowl for Kids’ Sake weekend kicked off on Friday night as DJ Marty Schibbelhut played hits from every decade. During Saturday’s match shift, 36 Bigs and Littles hit the lanes for bowling, face painting with Fondy Face Painters, root beer floats from A&W, and prizes from Verve, a Credit Union.

Whether they represented the swanky 20s, the fabulous 50s, the groovy 70s, the gnarly 90s, or any of the decades in between, bowlers showed up in their best throwback ensembles to compete in the costume contests. The top costume from each bowling shift got to take home their very own decades-themed bowling pin trophy and a cash prize. Costume contest winners included nods to Back to the Future, retro bowling, neon 80s, flower power 70s, and vintage 20s.

The costume contest wasn’t the only opportunity for bowlers to win big. Bowlers from every shift had the opportunity to earn gift certificates to some of our favorite local spots and participate in 50/50 raffles. Plus, the top overall individual fundraisers took home cash prizes—Jared Wallendal from Grande Cheese company took third place and raised $4,884.95; Chase Casey from Michels Corporation took second place and raised $5,721.70; and Amy Jessen from Michels Corporation took first place and raised an incredible $11,100.00.

Caribou Coffee generously donated coffee for our Saturday morning bowlers—Grande Cheese Company. They were our largest fundraisers of the weekend, filling the lanes with 85 bowlers and even donating their very own cheese for all the pizzas ordered during their shift. Not only did Grande associates raise over $21,000, but the company rounded up to make a matching donation of $22,000. In total, Grande gifted BBBS with $43,000 in support of local youth! Michels Corporation was our second largest fundraiser, bringing 20 bowlers to the event and raising over $22,000.

Throughout the weekend, Parkway Lanes offered two decades-inspired beverages for bowlers including a simple rum and coke dubbed the Kingpin Classic as well as a sweeter option made with Malibu, peach schnapps, orange juice, pineapple juice, and grenadine called the Groovy Gutterball. On top of all the incredible bowlers fundraising individually, Parkway Lanes donated $1 for every specialty drink, $1 for every order of garlic bread, and $2 for every pizza sold throughout the event for an additional $380. By the end of the weekend, our community helped us raise over $123,000 to support BBBS!

Bowl for Kids’ Sake is a yearly fundraiser benefitting BBBS. This year’s planning committee was co-chaired by Amy Docter of BBBS and Christina Jones and Patrick Hansen of Grande Cheese Company.

BBBS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Fond du Lac County and northern Dodge County. The agency assists children with social, emotional, and character development through 1:1 (one-to-one) and 1:1+ (one-to-one plus) mentoring opportunities in community-based, site-based, and school-based settings. Youth ages 6 and up can enroll in the program through parent or guardian referral. Volunteers ages 16 and up who pass a background check and have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance can be mentors. Visit bbbsfdl.org or call (920) 922-8200 to learn more.

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