‘Bowl For Butler’ raises money for Butler Downtown initiatives
BUTLER TWP — Hundreds of bowlers racked up strikes and spares to raise money for local nonprofit Butler Downtown as part of its fifth annual “Bowl for Butler” fundraiser, held Sunday, March 29, at Family Bowlaway in Butler Township.
Butler Downtown is a nonprofit with a mission to restore and revitalize Butler’s Main Street and downtown area. Events organized by Butler Downtown include the annual Bantam Jeep Festival’s Jeep Invasion, Foodie Fridays, Butler Fall Festival and, starting this year, the Steeples & Stacks Heritage Festival to be held in July.
“We do Main Street cleanups twice a year,” said Butler Downtown vice president Tim Hawk. “We are working in partnership with the chamber of commerce currently with the ultimate goal of becoming a recognized Main Street Community once again. The end goal is to make the town more enticing to businesses, to grow it economically, to make it a destination to visit and spend time down on Main Street.”
According to Jill Morrow, head of Butler Downtown’s organization committee, 25 teams of six bowlers — many of which were representing local businesses — each purchased a lane for $150 each, a rate that included pizza and drinks. More funds were raised through 50/50 and basket raffles.
Many of the lanes themselves were sponsored by local businesses, including Quality Life Services, Armstrong and Vintage Coffeehouse.
Morrow said the goal for the bowling fundraiser is to bring in around $10,000.
“We do have a couple teams from NexTier,” Morrow said. “Our ‘Perfect Game’ sponsor, BC3, has a team here. The Housing & Redevelopment Authority of Butler County has a team here that they put together. Edward Jones has a team here. Cycle Warehouse has a team here.”
