Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County recently put on its most successful fundraising event.

“The community really came out and supported us,” said regional director Becky Price. “With their help, we were able to raise over $95,000.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation’s oldest mentoring organization, played host to a Bowl For Kids’ Sake to help foster community awareness about the organization and to raise funds for programs.

Each bowler who attended the event last month was greeted at the door by one of the children enrolled in the Douglas County Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

“Having matches at the event and playing a video with pictures of all of the Douglas County children on our waiting list was a really great experience and a strong reminder as to why we had all worked so hard to raise these funds,” Price said.

Price said there are currently 188 Douglas County children, most of whom are at-risk, waiting to be matched to a volunteer mentor.

“It costs approximately $1,000 to make and maintain a single match for one year,” she said. “Therefore, the funds raised during this event will change the lives of 100 of those children.”

The people who raised the most funds were Evan Williams with $1,230; Sandi and Rich Yeakel, $1,025; Peggy Johnson, $905; Mary Winter, $900; and Jeff Chaney, $705. The three teams that raised the most money were Alec’s Aces, led by Evan Williams’ little Alec, and children Sam Walter, Jake Walter and Buzz Walter; Dolly’s Girls, headed up by Peggy Johnson and Rosie Robertson; and the team from the Lawrence Optometric Clinic.

The three children who raised the most money were Jake Walter, Shai Jackson and Nana and her Big Sister Josie Row.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County, contact the office at (785) 843-7359 or visit the Web site www.mentoringmagic.org.