Saturday bowl-a-thon to benefit children’s charities

Four local chapters of the national Exchange Club are hosting the 19th annual Strike Out Child Abuse Bowl-a-Thon at Sunrise Lanes (6393 9th Street N.) Saturday. 

The event will benefit two nonprofit organizations, Ready for Life and Babycycle.  

Mark Dayton, who serves on the boards of both the Northeast Exchange Club of St. Petersburg and the Burg Exchange Club, spoke to the Catalyst about the event.  

“Our national project is the prevention of child abuse,” he explained. “So this event falls right in line with that with the charities.” 

Both strive to enrich the lives of local youth.  

Ready for Life helps young people who were a part of the foster care system through homeless prevention, transportation, mental wellness and educational/job support programs. It additionally offers food and essential items and support networks. 

“We really got started because there was a population falling through the cracks, and that was young adults in foster care on their 18th birthday and the door was open and they were put out,” said Kathy Mize, Ready for Life CEO and board member of the Harbor Exchange Club of North Pinellas.

Its goal is to remove “barriers” for these aged out young people, she added. 

The event “makes a huge difference,” Mize said. “Not only the funding, but it also gives us exposure.” 

Babycycle is a Pinellas County-based community diaper bank, ensuring young children and their families have access to diapers, wipes and other necessary items. The nonprofit works with local partner agencies to distribute the items to low-income families. 

It also helps its partners provide families with baby food, formula, cribs, strollers and car seats, among other items. 

“One in two parents will face diaper needs in Tampa Bay, so it’s extremely important that we support these parents and help them to thrive and not only support their children,” said Torrie Tiernan Jasuwan, Babycycle founder and the current president of the Northeast Exchange Club of St. Petersburg, “but break the cycle of poverty.”

For her, the bowl-a-thon is equally as impactful. “It’s one of our larger fundraisers for the year.” 

The event will also feature a silent auction and opportunity drawings. “All the proceeds go to these charities,” Dayton said. “We’re all volunteers working on it.” 

Registration opens at noon. Bowling is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. 

To purchase tickets to the event, visit this website.