Record Year for Junior Achievement 38th Annual Bowl-a-Thon

NEWS RELEASE:
June 26, 2024

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

Record Year for Junior Achievement 38^TH Annual 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 its largest total ever during its 38th Annual JA Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser: $196,196. The record year saw nine new companies join the event, an extra bowling shift added to take them to a total of nine shifts, and an increase in bowlers to 1,355. A total of 48 local companies raised funds for JA’s financial literacy, career & work readiness, and entrepreneurship volunteer-led programs. Proceeds from this year’s event make it possible for Junior Achievement to reach over 10,000 Western New York students in schools and community organizations, while mobilizing hundreds of volunteers.

The total amount raised was announced at a press conference on June 24, 2024, 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 Katie Babcock, Events and Communications Manager of JA, and Tully Turtle, Tully’s Good Times’ mascot, unveiled the grand total.

National Fuel, led by coordinators Alex Lent and Michael Giambrone, took home the top company fundraising award for the second year in a row, surpassing last year’s amount and raising $20,736. Tops Friendly Markets came in second with $11,753 led by coordinators Brianna Roberts and Joanne Probst, followed closely by Bank of America with $11,307.50 led by coordinators Kari Cook, Judy Dec, and Alicia Meehan. Independent Health came in fourth with $10,571 led by coordinator Mary Maisano, and Northwest Bank rounded out the top 5 with $6,098 led by coordinators Jessica Martinez and Lexi Schosek. The top new fundraising company with $1,040 raised is Wells Fargo led by coordinator Melissa LoBocchiaro. Also recognized was the most improved fundraising company, American Arbitration Association, improving from just $550 raised in 2023 to $3,615 in 2024.

Brianna Roberts of Tops Friendly Markets was recognized as the event’s top individual fundraiser for raising $2,521.50 and qualifying her for a “Grand Package” from Russell’s and Salvatore’s Grand Hotel, as well as luggage donated by AAA of Western & Central NY. The runner up for top individual fundraiser was Victor Parker of Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Western New York, who raised $2,050. Third place was Richard Czop of Richard Czop & Associates with $1,465 raised. The top fundraising team, “Pins Down, Dollars Up” of National Fuel, raised a total of $2,900 and will enjoy a Transit Lanes happy hour package. The runner up team was “King Pins” of Tops Friendly Markets with $2,776.50 raised and in third place was “Team Four” of Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Western New York with $2,350 raised for JA students.

“Congratulations to Junior Achievement of WNY for breaking their own fundraising record on their premier fundraising event. Katie Babcock and the whole team did an incredible job, and I think it's safe to say post-Covid...the fun and energy around Bowl-a-Thon is back!” said JA Board Member Laurie Collins.

For information on the JA Bowl-A-Thon, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/event/2024-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 1, March 8, and May 7, 2025.

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.

About Junior Achievement of Western New York
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 2022-2023 school year, Junior Achievement of WNY enriched the lives of 9,691 students in 82 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.

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