Upcoming ‘Bowl-a-Thon’ Raises Money for Dubuque’s Next Entrepreneurs

A popular and important organization in the Tri-States is hosting one of their biggest fundraisers of the year this weekend. For the first time in years, the fundraiser is sold out, but there are still ways you can support this great cause that helps thousands of children and young adults in the area.

Junior Achievement (JA) of the Heartland is a non-profit organization predicated on bestowing such information to young students. Their education goals are straight-forward: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. They want to create the next generation of successful businessmen and women.

Even better, they love to see the process become cyclical, with young people aspiring to and eventually establishing their business roots in the Tri-States.

JA of the Heartland is hosting their annual Bowl-a-Thon this Saturday, February 3rd, 2024, at Diamond Jo Casino's Cherry Lanes Bowling Alley. The event is bringing out 15 teams comprised of five bowlers each for an afternoon of fun. The Bowl-a-Thon kicks off at 12:30pm and runs until 3:30pm on Saturday.

In lieu of the Bowl-a-Thon, I invited my friend Scott Ellerbach of JA of the Heartland into the studio to talk about how significant this fundraiser is for an organization predicated upon making the next generation financially literate:

It's wild to think that the Bowl-a-Thon is here again [....] It's actually sold out, so we're jazzed, over the moon and back to say that. We'll have about 125 bowlers in total, and they'll be there in support of JA and the kids and the programs that we serve. We're looking forward to it. It'll be a full house, lot of energy, and a lot of good things [such as] prizes for bowlers hitting strikes [....] It'll be a great event. - Scott Ellerbach

While the 2024 Bowl-a-Thon is no longer in need of teams, there are still opportunities for you to support Junior Achievement of the Heartland as well as the bowlers themselves. The easiest way is visiting JA of the Heartland's website, where you can donate directly or even opt to be a "ghost bowler" the day of the event!

Junior Achievement of the Heartland is gearing up for another busy school year, which means they are in need of volunteers. Volunteering opportunities are also available on their website.

I'll see you at the 2024 JA of the Heartland Bowl-a-Thon this Saturday, February 3rd at Cherry Lanes inside the Diamond Jo Casino. The Diamond Jo Casino is located at 301 Bell Street in Dubuque. For more information, visit the event's Facebook page and take a listen to my interview with Scott Ellerbach below!