LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Big Brothers Big Sisters hosted its inaugural Oompa Loompa Bowl Saturday night as a fundraiser for the youth mentoring organization that was formed in 2007. “We came short of selling out by just four lanes,” said Mamo
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i Big Brothers Big Sisters hosted its inaugural Oompa Loompa Bowl Saturday night as a fundraiser for the youth mentoring organization that was formed in 2007.
“We came short of selling out by just four lanes,” said Mamo Cummings Graham, Public Relations Committee chair for the BBBS Advisory Committee. “Darryl Izumo of the Lihu‘e Bowling Center said it was outstanding we could sell that many lanes.”
Oompa Loompa Bowl was named after the fictional characters from the popular 1970s film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” and costumes or corporate logowear was encouraged, but not required, stated a release from BBBS.
“We’re pretty sure we met our goal of between $5,000 to $8,000,” Graham said. “This was thanks to the support of all the sponsors and bowlers, and the kids just loved seeing everyone.”
Mike Murakoshi, chair of the Kaua‘i BBBS Advisory Committee and board member of the BBBS of Honolulu said, “Our goal is to raise at least $8,000 for the organization, but more importantly, to let our Kaua‘i ‘ohana know about our youth-mentoring programs. It has been documented that our one-on-one mentoring programs have had a positive impact on many young people across the nation and state and we are excited that we can offer our services to our youth here on Kaua‘i.”
Kaua‘i BBBS was started when former Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan Baptiste met with Dennis Brown, president and CEO of BBBSH, to discuss the possibility of implementing the BBBSH’s mentoring programs on Kaua‘i. That meeting in 2007 ignited efforts between the BBBSH and the Baptiste administration to launch the Kaua‘i BBBS.
“Establishing this organization has been a true partnership between individuals who genuinely care about the future of our youth,” Murakoshi said. “Bryan’s encouragement was vital to getting us started and we are also very happy to have the support of Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. The county has played an essential role and we are truly indebted to them.”
Graham said one of the evening’s surprises was the appearance of Carvalho who offered words of support to the bowlers and kids and even rolled the first ball.
The Kaua‘i BBBS Advisory Committee includes Murakoshi, Charles Kawakami, Peter Yukimura, Chef Mark Oyama, Wanda Shibata, Graham, Gini Kapali, Sue Kanoho, William Arakaki, Donna Aana-Nakahara, Randall Francisco, Randy Kozerski and LaVerne Bishop.
Kuulei Corpuz heads up the Kaua‘i BBBS program.
For more information, visit www.kauaiBBBS.kintera.org.
