Bowling for a Great Cause

Bremer Bank employees in the Brainerd Lakes Area bowled for a great cause.

Good Samaritan Bowl is our biggest FRIENDraiser of the year! Through pledges, hundreds of bowlers help Good Samaritan Society provide shelter and support services to the elderly and others in need. Proceeds are shared by our three Good Samaritan centers in Brainerd and Pine River, plus Good Samaritan Hospice.

Together We're Touching Lives, Lifting Spirits

What Good Samaritan Bowl Is:
Hundreds of bowlers raise a minimum of $50 in pledges and enjoy 1½ hours of bowling, shoe rental and a chance to win hundreds of door prizes. We're bowling for fun...not scores! Plus there's a silent auction and raffle. Incentive prizes for top pledge earners encourage individual bowlers to raise more than the minimum $50. Imagine if all of our 700 bowlers raised just $10 more!

A History of Generosity:
Our event is always held the 1st Monday in May. The first year, we earned $10,000 for a van for Samaritan House. In 2007, we expanded to Pine River and raised $48,000 for our care centers. Last year, we introduced a bowling art pin project and this webiste! When all was said and done, an amazing $64,000 was raised! Since its inception, Good Samaritan Bowl has raised $250,000 for Brainerd area care centers and hospice program. Several of our teams, sponsors and promotional partners have been with us all 6 years!

How Bremer was involved:
1. Sponsored a $500 lane sign!
2. Register a team! 4 bowlers each collecting a minimum of $50 in pledges We encouraged a team – actually two teams and shared the Ucare MN lane.
3. Make a pledge! Our bowlers will appreciate it...and it's tax-deductible! Our employees made pledges to both teams.
4. Dine for a good cause: Eat at Jack's House or the Pine River Community Bowl on May 5th and we earn a % of proceeds!
5. Contribute a door prize or silent auction item! We displayed silent auction items in the bank lobby.
6. Contribute to our 700 bowler goody bags! We contributed to the goody bags.
7. Buy and/or sell raffle tickets!
8. Donate online, or mail your tax-deductible donation to Good Samaritan Bowl, 804 Wright Street, Brainerd, MN 56401 or contact Liz Csanda at 218-825-2505.
9. NEW THIS YEAR: Participate in the "Help Get The Ball Rolling" support card program-look for this in April.

Posted by Julie Vreeland, NRS, Brainerd