REACH for Resources Annual Bowl-A-Thon
by Cynthia Bade
While Joe Parker might be
labeled as a young man with a cognitive disability, he prefers to
be recognized as someone who gets the job done when his favorite
charitable cause needs help. A resident of a group home for adults
with disabilities in Wayzata, Parker has been the top fundraiser
for the annual REACH for Resources Bowl-A-Thon for the past four
years.
Joe Parker is a client of REACH and is very enthusiastic about raising money
to help support the services he needs. Once again, Joe took top honors at the
2006 Bowl-A-Thon by raising the most money in pledges. He solicited $1,190 this
year from family, friends and co-workers, and won an iPod, a Fossil watch and
a plaque as a result of his outstanding efforts. Parker raised $1,560 in 2005,
$1,322 in 2004, and $860 in 2003.
Parker’s outstanding
efforts inspired two of his fellow REACH clients to jump into action
this year and also raise more than $1,000 for the Bowl-A-Thon.
Mark Whitmore, a REACH client for over ten years, raised $1,102
by collecting pledges for nearly two months. He lives on a hobby
farm with his family in Medina and goes around the neighborhood
independently on his tractor to fundraise. According to his mother,
Whitmore loves raising money to support REACH programs and is always
eager to go out collecting pledges, even when temperatures outside
are near zero. Last year Whitmore raised $624 for the Bowl-A-Thon.
Paul Brick raised $1,043 in pledges for the Bowl-A-Thon to help
REACH. He is very proud of beating his goal of $1,000, which he set
after raising $517 in 2005. Brick, an employee in the Animal Nutrition
department at Cargill, put up a sign at work in January to let his
co-workers know about the REACH Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser. He says he
is very grateful to his colleagues at Cargill for helping him reach
his goal and for supporting the programs he needs at REACH.
Whitmore and Brick also won prizes for their outstanding fundraising
efforts. All three of these young men are truly a testament to what
people with disabilities can achieve to help themselves and their
communities.
As a non-profit agency,
REACH relies on community support and fundraisers to provide support
for programs. The REACH for Resources Bowl-A-Thon has been held
annually since 1992 and funds raised go directly to services and
programs that benefit people with disabilities. Bowlers gather
pledges for the event and sponsorships are obtained from local
businesses and individuals. The 14th Annual Bowl-A-Thon was held
on Saturday, March 25, 2006 at Doyle’s Lanes in Crystal. The
event grossed over $13,000 this year thanks to 35 generous sponsors
and the fundraising efforts of 38 bowlers with disabilities.
For more info about REACH
for Resources or the Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser, contact Cyn-thia Bade,
Dir. of Marketing & Dvlp. at REACH for
Resources at 952-988-4177 or cbade@reachforresources. org or visit
www.reachforresources.org.
