After receiving a massive donation of $15,000 through the Ted Rogers Community Grant during Hometown Hockey, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Altona, Morden, and Winkler continued that momentum with their Bowl For Kids fundraiser Saturday morning in Winkler.

The staple fundraiser of the not-for-profit raised $32,000 in 2018; this year the organization had the goal of achieving $35,000.

BBBS Executive Director Michael Penner.

This fundraiser is incredibly vital for BBBS, says Executive Director Michael Penner, directly funding their mentorship programming.

"Anything with our one-on-one mentoring or group mentoring, it helps kids that way. We also have match support, so we check in and make sure these relationships are going well," he says.

Teams took on the guises of characters from books, reflecting the event's theme "Believe in their Potential."

Penner explains in a book, the story focuses on the potential of its characters which is what BBBS wants to replicate through its mentors, that children have untapped potential.

"Mentoring helps kids in so many ways, but ultimately it helps them believe in themselves, it helps them reach their potential. The mentors walk with them in life and support them; sometimes that's all that a kid or a youth needs."

Thanks to the grant and continued support from the community, BBBS will expand their services to Carman.

With 90 kids currently in the mentorship program and a desire to reach out to more, Penner says they continue to look for support and volunteers for mentorship.

Totals from Bowl For Kids are still being calculated.