Junior Achievement Raises $159,027 during 37th Annual JA Bowl-a-Thon

NEWS RELEASE:
June 15, 2023

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Katie Babcock
Events & Communications Manager
716-853-1381, ext.210
kbabcock@jawny.org

Junior Achievement Raises $159,027 during 37^TH Annual JA Bowl-A-Thon
Funds used to support financial literacy, work readiness programs in WNY schools

Buffalo, N.Y. – Junior Achievement of Western New York (JA) announced that it raised $159,027 from its 37th Annual JA Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser. A total of 1,049 participants representing 41 local companies raised funds for JA’s financial literacy, career & work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs taught by volunteers in WNY schools.

The total amount raised was announced at a press conference on June 15, 2023, at Tully’s Good Times Restaurant in Williamsville, a Gold Sponsor of the event. Laura Dolan of Bank of America, the event’s Presenting Sponsor, along with Tully Turtle, Tully’s Good Times’ mascot, unveiled the grand total.

The top five fundraising companies announced were: National Fuel with $16,522 led by coordinators Alex Lent and Michael Giambrone, followed by Tops Friendly Markets with $13,252 led by coordinators Lauren Smith and Joanne Probst. Independent Health came in third with $10,582 led by coordinators Mary Maisano and Victoria Saupp, followed by Bank of America/Merrill Lynch with $6,871 led by coordinators Judy Dec and Donna Szustsak and Northwest Bank with $6,041 led by coordinators Jessica Martinez and Lexi Schosek. The top new fundraising company with $1,816 raised is BankonBuffalo led by coordinators Katie Pfeiffer and Amanda Licata.

Lauren Smith of Tops Friendly Markets was recognized as the event’s top individual fundraiser for raising $4,405 and qualifying her for a travel-themed package including The Westin Buffalo hotel stay and luggage donated by AAA of Western & Central NY. Runner up for top individual fundraiser was Alex Lent of National Fuel, who raised $1,252. Third place was Richard Czop of Richard Czop & Associates with $1,170 raised. The top fundraising team, “B-City Bowlers” of Tops Friendly Markets, raised a total of $4,705 and will enjoy a Transit Lanes happy hour package. Runner up team was “Holy Splitters” of National Fuel with $2,568 raised and in third place was team “Pin Heads” of Independent Health with $1,865 raised for JA students.

“Thanks to the support of generous sponsors, dedicated board members, and outstanding company coordinators, the 2023 JA Bowl-A-Thon remains Western New York’s largest bowling fundraiser!” said JA Board Member Mary Maisano.

For information on the JA Bowl-A-Thon, visit www.jawny.org, https://secure.qgiv.com/event/2023-jawny-bowlathon or contact Katie Babcock, Events & Communication Manager, at kbabcock@jawny.org or 716-853-1381 x210. Next year’s events will take place on March 2, March 9, and May 1, 2024.

At Junior Achievement, we believe in “possible.” Each day, we work to help young people discover what’s possible in their lives. We do this by helping them connect what they learn in school with life outside the classroom. We let them know it’s possible to invest in their future, to gain a better understanding of how the world works, and to pursue their dreams. We show them that it’s possible for tomorrow to be a better day.

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students in kindergarten through 12th grade about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career & work readiness through experiential, hands-on programs. In the 2021-2022 school year, Junior Achievement of WNY enriched the lives of 11,181 students in 95 schools and community organizations throughout the eight counties of Western New York. For more information about Junior Achievement of Western New York and how you can make a difference in a child’s life, visit our website at www.jawny.org, follow us on Twitter at @JAofWNY, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jaofwny.