BVL E-mail News - January 22, 2010

Bowling Centers Increase BVL Support Rise in Vets Hospitalization Anticipated

Metropolitan Washington, DC -- As the Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) begins its 68th year of service to America's active duty and veteran military men and women, bowling centers around the country are responding to an appeal to support the sport's own charity.

"The participation of America's bowling centers is critical for BVL as we drive to meet our commitment to veterans," explains BVL Chair Darlene Baker. "It was just a short time ago when our own BVL Board member Wally Hall reached out to his fellow proprietors to seek their support. They have responded enthusiastically!"

Hall has called upon the nation's bowling centers to become actively involved in the BVL campaign. "Our goal is to reach $1,000,000 in our current annual drive," noted Hall. "We need the involvement of our bowling centers to achieve this objective."

BVL programs help brighten veteran's hospital stays with smiles, laughter, physical fitness, and the incentive to enthusiastically advance therapy goals. "BVL provides the recreational and therapeutic boost that brings energy to the hospital setting - enjoying a musical performance, taking part in a team bowling event, or participating in a pet therapy program can mean the world to our veterans. Thanks to BVL contributors, we make a difference every day in the lives of thousands of vets," added Baker.

Recent center-based donations range from local fund-raising events to a company commitment. Pat and Lisa Ciniello's six Bowland Centers in Southwest Florida coordinated and conducted a BVL campaign netting $5,530 in just one-month's time, while Bowl America president Les Goldberg has donated a total of $15,500 through the 'Leslie H. Goldberg Charity Fund.'

Although many of these contributions are recorded from proprietors new to the BVL family, several bowling center owners have led the way with both personal and center-based programs. John LaSpina, with six bowling centers in the New York Metropolitan area, has contributed personally as well as through efforts at his centers. "BVL is just the right thing to do," remarked LaSpina. "These men and women have put their lives on the line for us, we need to and must give back."

Thunderbird Lanes, a three-center chain in the Philadelphia area, has just concluded their second fund-raiser for BVL. "We did the BVL "Heroes in Our Midst" campaign to raise money and recognize the vets in our communities, and the reaction from our bowlers was tremendous," commented Thunderbird's Administrator Mary Harrar. "This is a win-win situation - our bowlers love it and we're doing something great for BVL."

John Sommer, owner of five bowling centers in Illinois, is another long-time BVL supporter. Sommer spearheaded the "Bowlers Salute America's Troops" portable carpet kit, which has resulted in the shipment of over 500 mini bowling lanes to active duty troops. "These portable lane kits mean that our active duty troops can enjoy some fun and share a slice of home and America's favorite sport with their unit," says Sommer. "When you read the thank you letters and see the pictures we receive, it makes you feel good to know we provided just a little bit of diversion from their difficult jobs."

The call for BVL programs and services continues to rise as patient load stateside is expected to skyrocket. In the first 10 months of 2009, at least 1,800 troops were wounded in Afghanistan alone, about 40% of the total of wounded since operations began there in 2001. Similarly, four times as many troops were injured in October 2009 as compared to October 2008. Improvised explosive devices account for many of the wounds, resulting in severe injuries, which can mean up to one year of hospitalization.

"The response we received to our BVL campaign solidifies the long held belief that bowlers are huge supporters of our nation's military veterans," said Lisa Ciniello, Vice President of Bowling Management Associates, operators of the Bowland centers. "We couldn't be prouder of the men and women who serve our country and likewise, we can't say thank you enough to the bowlers for their continued contributions to an outstanding organization like BVL."

Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL), is a national charity founded in 1942 by the sport of bowling to support veterans and active duty military. Since its inception, BVL has contributed more than $35 million to programs and services supporting the mission. The BVL is located in Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and is guided by representatives of the United States Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America. For more information, visit http://www.BowlforVeterans.org.

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