BVL Volunteer of the Month
Lowell Lovgren
Washington State USBC

Lowell is not afraid of a challenge. He’s also not afraid of pink. . . or ballet attire. What he was afraid of is not raising enough money for a charity he really believes in – the Bowlers to Veterans Link.

It all began at the Washington State annual Jamboree, held in the Seattle area in September 2009. USBC representative Sharon Moen was at the meeting and she was talking about issuing challenges. That’s when Lowell got the idea: He’d issue a challenge to those in attendance that if they raised $1,000 for BVL, he would wear a pink tutu, and for another $500 donation, he would dye his goatee pink. Approximately 20 associations were in attendance to hear Lovell issue the challenge. Central Washington USBC stepped forward for the initial $1,000 contribution. Soon, the rest of the group started making contributions of $20 and more. Lowell reached his goal of $1,500 in short order.

At the Washington State annual meeting in March 2010, Lowell made good on his promise. On March 28, Lowell donned a pink tutu, made especially for him by his wife, Sandi. Janet Bryant, the wife of State President Dave Bryant, offered to dye the goatee. “She knew exactly what to buy and got it from a local store,” explains Lowell. “We just said, please make sure it’s not permanent!”

To the delight of the Washington State USBC membership, Lowell carried through with his promise, looking like a vision in pink. (See photo below.)

Then, Lowell issued an even stronger challenge. “I told them, that if I am allowed, I will wear my pink tutu on stage at the USBC national convention. But they have to raise $5,000 for BVL!”

What motivates Lowell? “I’m a veteran,” he says. “I enlisted in the Army in 1978. I thought I should serve my country.” Lowell explains that when he was active duty one of the programs that really made a difference for him was the USO. “Sometimes, it’s just the little extra things that brighten your day. It boosts your morale and keeps you going. BVL does just that. It’s a great cause that deserves our support.”

Stay tuned for Arlington in 2011 and a BVL challenge going pink!

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