More than $70,000 was raised during the annual Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Medicine Hat & District on Friday at Panorama Lanes.--HANDOUT PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
It was a full house Friday night at Panorama Lanes as several community groups, businesses and elected officials bowled strikes – and the odd gutter ball – for a worthy cause.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Medicine Hat & District says it exceeded its fundraising goal of $70,000 during the 2026 Bowl for Kids’ Sake, money that will go toward keeping local programming free of charge for youth in Medicine Hat and surrounding communities.
The annual charity event is the largest source of funding for the non-profit organization that provides mentoring relationships aimed at inspiring and empowering local youth.
Executive director Ashley Turner says youth mentoring programs run from six to eight weeks and are focused on helping young people realize their full potential.
“Communication and self esteem, friendship skills, building healthy boundaries, how to deal with stress and conflict,” Turner said of BBBS goals, adding that all funds raised during Bowl for Kids’ Sake stays in the community.
This includes one-on-one community mentoring, in-school mentoring, teen mentoring and group mentoring, as well as programs like ‘Go Girls, Game On!,’ ‘Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds’ and ‘Big Possibilities.’
Aside from securing grant funding when it becomes available, Big Brothers Big Sisters Medicine Hat & District relies on the community’s support to continue programming.
“Bowl for Kids’ Sake is our largest fundraiser, every year our community of Medicine Hat and area rallies around us and really steps up for this,” said Turner. “So everything here will stay with the kids in our district, we do serve a lot of our rural community as well.”
This year the title sponsor of the event was Scotiabank, while the Yuill Family Foundation was the matching sponsor.
Community groups such as the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association, local firefighters, Stampede Royalty, Mayor Linnsie Clark and several city councillors all participated in the evening of glow blowing.
This year participants were encouraged to dress up in costumes ranging from the Jurassic period onwards to the rise of Sparta and ancient Greece.
“You don’t have to be a good bowler, everyone can come and just have a good time,” added Turner. “Just coming with either your work team, your family, your friends and just having a great time, bowling for kids and raising money for local charity.”
Along with donations, Big Brothers Big Sisters is always looking for volunteer mentors able to contribute at least one hour a week, as its wait list for youth continues to grow.
“We match you based on your likes and interests, and so it’s really a minimal commitment to really help ignite the potential of a young person’s life,” said Turner. “If you have an extra couple of hours that you’d really like to donate and spend with us, we have lots of youth on our wait list waiting for matches to be started, they’re waiting for their Bigs, they’re waiting for their mentors.”
Specifically, the non-profit is hoping to find more male mentors for its long list of young males on its waitlist, however female mentors are also sought after within the community.
