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The Bowlers to Veterans Link…
Serving Those Who Serve Our CountryHere is a suggested presentation you can use when you show the BVL DVD.
The mission of the Bowlers to Veterans Link is to support America’s service men and women during their time of need, by providing programs and services which help to repair strong minds and healthy bodies. BVL’s goal is to show we honor our armed forces and value their commitment to our country.
BVL was formed in 1942, by a group of league bowlers who wanted to support the war effort. They began by raising funds to purchase a medical evacuation plane to ferry the wounded home from the battlefields of Europe. Today, the bowlers of America still stand behind their BVL promise by providing recreational and therapeutic supplies and equipment to boost the quality of life for veterans. BVL’s contributions pick up where government funding leaves off.
Today, the need for BVL programming is greater than ever. Early indications are that the flood of troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan is already at 130,000, with 150,000 more still serving in Iraq and 16,000 in Afghanistan. There’s a concern that many of these men and women may struggle with psychological issues regarding the war, while others attempt to deal with physical trauma. And while the government provides the hospital beds and the doctors, BVL provides the quality of life programs that help reintroduce our returning service men and women to their communities.
While you and I can appreciate the camaraderie that an evening of bowling brings us, a community outing with some real fun built in can mean the world to someone feeling isolated from their community or someone struggling to cope with the loss of a limb.
BVL supports veterans connected to or receiving care from all 173 VA Hospitals, 206 Outreach and Counseling Centers and the growing network of more than 100 State Veterans Homes.
Across the U.S., BVL makes a difference in the lives of thousands of veterans through:
- Hospital Grants. Each year, BVL donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to VA hospitals and Outpatient clinics for the purchase of recreational supplies and equipment. BVL monies provide arts and crafts programs, musical instruments and reading materials. BVL gifts touch the lives of our veterans and let them know we care.
- “Re-Creation.” BVL dollars support the performances of this nationally-acclaimed touring entertainment group, which performs all across the nation at VA Medical Centers. Delivered by a troupe of 10 dynamic young people, these singers and dancers treat audiences to a Broadway-style show which receives rave reviews from veterans of all ages.
- Bowling Clinics. For years, therapists working with patients have recognized the value of bowling as a tool to get patients involved with an activity that’s adaptable for almost any ability. Through the use of special ramps and bowling balls, combined with unique teaching techniques, veterans are given a chance to participate in a sport that builds not only mental and physical skills, but also boosts camaraderie.
- Annual BVL/VA Bowling Tournament. The lure of friendly competition and a test of talent draw hundreds of participants each year to this tournament sponsored for all veterans connected to the VA Healthcare System. The event, held over a four week period each spring, offers a number of segmented divisions including ones for patients with special physical challenges, as well as age, to help level the playing field.
- Support for National Veterans Competitions. For decades, BVL has been a committed sponsor of the four national veteran’s competitions; the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the Veterans Golden Age Games, the Creative Arts Festival and the Winter Sports Festival. Each one of these events brings together veterans from around the country and provides them with an opportunity of a lifetime.
The programs provided by the Bowlers to Veterans Link are as varied as the veterans it serves. For our World War II veterans, BVL dollars help purchase activity kits, which help pass the time and keep mentally sharp, while our younger veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan today are need of supplies and equipment which challenge their bodies and minds to stay strong and healthy.
The Bowlers to Veterans Link is coordinated through a strong network of proprietors and association leaders throughout the country who recognize the value and contributions of our military men and women. The centerpiece of our program is the more than 1,500 communities which support the BVL program in over 5,000 bowling centers.
Whether it’s bowling tournaments, craft sales, car washes or raffling baked goods, BVL volunteers are doing what they can to support America’s veterans.
More than that, BVL leaders also spend countless hours volunteering in VA Hospitals and other facilities. Some participate in scheduled book readings, others help with parties and special events like bingo, and still others make sure that the veterans get out to various activities which enrich their lives.
The Department of Veterans Affairs and the veterans themselves know that whatever their needs, BVL can make a difference. Please join with the BVL program to help support America’s service men and women.
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