NORWICH – Big Brothers / Big Sisters annual fundraiser, Bowl for Kids’ Sake, will return on Saturday, March 14, and with bigger prizes and more incentives for bowlers, event organizers are hoping this year’s event will be bigger than ever before.

“Big Brothers / Big Sisters has been here in Chenango County for 30 years,” said BB / BS Program Director Kobie Decker. The organization only operated for five or six years before the Bowling for Kids’ Sake fundraiser was instituted. The event serves as the only annual fundraiser for the BB / BS program. “We want people to know that they can come out and make a big difference by donating a little time and having a really good time,” Decker said.

The Bowling for Kids’ Sake fundraiser takes place annually at Plaza Lanes Bowling Alley. Volunteers sign up to bowl and gather pledges from friends, family members and acquaintances. Pledges can be for a set amount or based on the number of pins knocked down. “Prizes are based on the pledges received,” Decker said.

To encourage more people to participate in this year’s fundraiser, three prizes have been obtained for the participants who bring in the most pledges. The grand prize will be a hot air balloon ride for two. The second prize will be a Nintendo Wii game system with a sports package and an extra controller, and the third place prize will be a portable GPS system. In addition, any participant who raises more than $250 will be entered for the chance to win a 32-inch, flat screen television.

The goal for this year’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake fund raiser is to raise $20,000. “We’re looking to have a record breaking year,” Decker said. To try to accomplish that goal, BB / BS has expanded the Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser this year to include bowling leagues at bowling alleys around the county.

New this year, the event will include a county-wide bowling league challenge. Bowling leagues who bowl at Galaxy Bowl in Bainbridge, Lake Street Lanes in New Berlin, Bowlodrome in Greene and Plaza Lanes in Norwich have been challenged to engage in the fundraiser and do their own Bowl for Kids’ Sake during regular league hours. The winning league will be awarded a large circulating trophy. The trophy will have the teams name engraved on it and will be kept at the team’s center until next year’s league Bowl for Kids’ Sake. “This will now be an annual part of the fundraiser,” Decker said.