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BVL Recognizes Top Proprietor Contributions

Five bowling proprietors and one local Bowling Proprietors’ Association left Bowl Expo in Las Vegas recently each with their second consecutive Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) award, recognizing their outstanding support for the BVL cause during the 2008-2009 league season.

These same award winners also took home identical honors for their donations during the previous 2007-2008 season.

“We are deeply indebted to these proprietors for leading the way for BVL,” commented BVL Board Chair Darlene Baker. “It was just three years ago when we called on America’s bowling centers to join with our league bowlers to take on the BVL effort. They have responded enthusiastically!”

Maple Family Lanes, Brooklyn, NY, led the center-oriented contributions for the season with a total of $6,000. Proprietor John LaSpina has six centers in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

John LaSpina, Darlene Baker
Left to right: John LaSpina, President, Maple Family Centers;
Darlene Baker, BVL BOD Chair

Thunderbird Lanes
Left to right: Dave Zeitz, COO and Mary Harrar, Executive Administrator,
Thunderbird Lanes; Darlene Baker, BVL BOD Chair

Thunderbird Lanes followed very closely with $5,974.50 in donations. Thunderbird has three centers in the Philadelphia area that coordinated a BVL fund-raiser in conjunction with National Bowling Week. The third largest contribution was from the Leslie Goldberg Charity Fund for $5,000. Goldberg is the President of Bowl America, which has 19 centers along the East Coast. Operating five centers in Illinois, The Don Carter Lanes Group donated $3,519.50 to the BVL during last year’s season. Proprietor John Sommer conducted a “Heroes in Our Midst” campaign saluting veterans and active duty military in each of those communities.

Don Carter Lanes Group
Left to right: Wally Hall, BVL BOD member; John Sommer,
Don Carter Lanes Group; Darlene Baker, BVL BOD Chair

(Leslie Goldberg Charitable Trust award not pictured)

Bowland Centers
Left to right: Pat Ciniello, Bowland Centers; Darlene Baker, BVL BOD Chair

A special award was presented to Bowland Centers, with six centers in Southwest Florida. Proprietors Pat and Lisa Ciniello worked alongside their area USBC association to support the leagues’ efforts. This affiliation helped Southwest Florida USBC donate more than $11,000 to BVL during the 2008-2009 league season.

Chicagoland BPA
Left to right: Wally Hall, BVL BOD Member; Matt Gohla, Chicagoland BPA Tournament Director; William “Bill” Duff, Chicagoland BPA Executive Director; Darlene Baker, BVL BOD Chair

Another fruitful relationship resulted in a $2,215.98 contribution to the BVL: The Chicagoland Bowling Proprietors Association was recognized as the fifth highest contributor as part of that association’s annual “Beat the Champs” contest. BVL was named one of the charities for that event.

BVL is proud to be a member of these organizations:

Best in America award

Combined Federal Campaign

The Bowling Foundation

America Supports You

Voluntary Service, VA Dept.

Veterans Day National Committee
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