Colours and designs clashed at Heartland Youth Centre’s 22nd annual Lloyd’s Bowl for Kids last Friday at Heartland Bowl with a Clash Bash theme.
It was all in the name of a good cause.
“We netted just over $10,000, which was our goal,” said Winnie Bissett, who last week marked 24 years as the youth centre’s executive-director.
This year’s figure was just below the $12,000 mark recorded last year.
Along with the youth participation, 20 teams of supporters participated in the event named in memory of the late Lloyd Smith. He was the top fundraiser for 17 consecutive years, raising $71,795 before he died in January 2011 at age 82.
“We always have strong support from the community,” Bissett said.
“All the teams had great spirit by getting involved and dressing up.”
She said many participants consider the bowling night more than an opportunity to raise money.
“It’s a fun social event with work colleagues, and they see it more as a fun time than a fundraiser.”
The youth centre hosts its annual Awesome Auction on June 1. Last year, that event raised more than $80,000.
“That’s our big fundraiser,” Bissett said.
Heartland Youth Centre is built on and operates under the Kids at Hope philosophy: “All children are capable of success — NO EXCEPTIONS.”
The centre’s programs serve children from ages six to 18 in the Stettler region with Big Sisters, Big Brothers, and Girls and Boys Clubs of Stettler.
Now with 300 members, the Heartland club offers after-school instruction, mentors and programs such as Kid Power, Weird Science, Art Attack, Teen Leadership, Boys Fit, Girls Fit, Kids in the Kitchen, Zone Club, Spark Club, Torch Club and Keystone Club.
For more information, phone the youth centre at 403-742-5437.