STRIKE FOR VETS BOWLING EVENT

Super-Achiever Teenagers Partner with FOFH-IL to Support Military Families Guests of Hines VA Fisher House

Daniel Bolan (second from left) founded the Strike for Vets Charity Bowling Tournament in 2015 to raise funds for the Stay in Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center that helps injured veterans and others with spinal injuries.  As 2016 United States Bowling Congress Youth Ambassador of the Year Bolan has teamed with Illinois' Mabel Cummins (2nd from right) to partner with FOFH-IL for the first Chicago Charity Bowling Event in Illinois. They met with FOFH-IL President Betty Stamatis (right) to plan the Oct. 16 event

Attention Adult, Youth & Corporate Bowlers!

Super-Achiever Teens Partner with Chicago’s Friends of Fisher House-Illinois

for Strike for Vets Charity Bowling Event October 16 in Wheaton

to Benefit Veterans, Military Families during Medical Crises

Paralyzed, quadriplegic veteran bowlers can join event by wheelchair bowling using marvelous IKAN Bowler transforming them into participants versus spectators

Chicago, IL -- Daniel Bolan, a 2016 United States Bowling Congress Youth Ambassador of the Year, and Mabel Cummins, 2016 Junior Gold 15U National Champion and Junior Team USA member, of Elburn, IL. have developed a remarkable thank you for all the veterans who made sacrifices during their service. They are partnering with Friends of Fisher House-Illinois (FOFH-IL) to stage the first Fisher House-associated Strike for Vets event October 16, 2016 at Fox Bowl, Wheaton, to benefit military families at Hines VA Fisher House facing medical crises.

“Our Veterans are the foundation for our country and they must never be forgotten. I believe that helping our wounded veterans is what we should do to give back,” Daniel says. “They paid the price for our freedom, so it’s like us giving back to them.

“We’ve joined forces with Friends of Fisher House-Illinois, the non-profit which sustains Hines VA Fisher House in Maywood, Illinois, because they provide humanitarian support to veterans and military families when they face medical crises,” Daniel states.

President Betty Stamatis of FOFH-IL, a fully volunteer non-profit, adds, “This kind of humanitarian assistance is not provided to military families by the departments of Veterans Affairs or Defense. We are excited by this opportunity to partner with remarkable teens like Daniel and Mabel who demonstrate such strong commitment to helping veterans and their families. Since 2010, FOFH-IL has assisted Hines Fisher House to host over 5,500 military families, providing them with free accommodations, food and all needs during their stays ranging from 3 days to 16 months and more.

“Also, we’re thrilled this event includes paralyzed veterans who can bowl alongside corporate, youth, adult and other teams with the aid of the marvelous IKAN Bowler attaches to wheelchairs so users can control speed, direction and timing of the ball’s release.”

The growing roster of bowling stars begins with popular Diandra Asbaty, includes Bill Spigner, Gregg Zicha, Michael Nape Jr., with more to sign up.  They will coach bowlers and sign autographs. FOFH-IL is inviting major Chicago sports team pros to participate and meet with fans.

Sports personalities appearing to meet fans and sign autographs include Dan Pasqua (former Chicago White Sox player ); Macey Brooks (Chicago Bears receiver); and Tracy Wilson, Jr. (former Tennessee Titans player)

As a junior at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando, Bolan founded the Strike for Vets Charity Bowling Tournament in 2015 to raise funds for the Stay in Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center that helps injured veterans and others with spinal injuries. The successful event not only raised funds, but also generated awareness and introduced wounded veterans to the sport of bowling. A second Tampa event achieved major goals as well.

The International Bowling Campus Youth Committee annually honors USBC Youth bowlers for their contributions to the sport, academic achievement and community involvement. The International Bowling Campus Youth Committee annually honors one male and one female USBC Youth bowler for their contributions to the sport, academic achievement and community involvement.

FOFH-IL ambassadors will be soliciting Illinois Sponsors and bowling teams for the Oct. 16 Charity Bowling Event. Sponsors can contribute online at fofhil.org as well. Five-member bowling teams can register at a cost of $125 ($25 per member) on the Strike for Vets section of the non-profit’s website at www. fofhil.org beginning August 1.

News About 1st Strike for Vets Launched by Daniel Bolan in 2015

The Charity Bowling Event’s Check-In Time is 11:30 a.m., Oct. 16, and lasts until 5 p.m. Bowling begins at noon with a fast-paced bowling format of four games with unique scoring. Prizes will be awarded to top teams following games.

Fox Bowl is located at 1101, Butterfield Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187.

Bolan also received the Orange County Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award for building Mercy Garden, a memorial garden for those who have died in senseless acts of violence. It was Bolan’s Eagle Scout Project and took just over a year to plan and build, including raising more than $50,000 and recruiting 76 volunteers, who contributed 587 hours to the project.

IKAN Bowler Information:

The IKAN Bowler® is a 2004 da Vinci Award winning invention that is changing the way that power wheelchair users spend their time. Now even high-level quadriplegics are able to bowl and join a league or tournament to compete with fellow IKAN users and/or able-bodied bowlers! Because the IKAN Bowler® attaches to the wheelchair, it gives the user TOTAL INDEPENDENCE over their game. This is unlike any ramp you've ever tried. With the IKAN Bowler®, the wheelchair user is in charge. The IKAN Bowler® is EASY TO ATTACH to virtually any straight or sports-style legrests, INCLUDING CENTER POST STYLE WHEELCHAIRS. This revolutionary system allows the bowler to control the speed, direction, and timing of the bowling ball's release. Wheelchair movement and the unique parabolic bowling arm generate the energy to propel the ball down the lane. Braking the wheelchair sends the ball in the direction the bowler wants. This 32lb gear can be attached to anypower wheelchair. The player controls the IKAN with head array to control the ball’s path.
With the IKAN BOWLER® all POWER WHEELCHAIR USERS can go WHEELCHAIR BOWLING, including people with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord Injuries (all levels of SCI, including Quadriplegia),

2016 United States Bowling Congress Youth Ambassador of the Year Daniel Bolan

Launched Strike for Vets Charity Bowling Tournament in 2015

Daniel Bolan of Orlando, Florida, is one of two teens selected as the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Youth Ambassadors of the Year. The International Bowling Campus Youth Committee annually honors one male and one female USBC Youth bowler for their contributions to the sport, academic achievement and community involvement. Bolan and the other honoree each will receive a $1,500 scholarship and may be selected to serve on the IBC Youth Committee.

Bolan is a senior at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando. He started the Strike for Vets Charity Bowling Tournament in 2015 to raise funds for the Stay in Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center that helps injured veterans and others with spinal injuries. The event not only raised money, but generated awareness and introduced wounded veterans to the sport of bowling. 

He received the Orange County Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award for building Mercy Garden, a memorial garden for those who have died in senseless acts of violence. It was Bolan’s Eagle Scout Project and took just over a year to plan and build, including raising more than $50,000 and recruiting 76 volunteers, who contributed 587 hours to the project.

“It gives me great joy to know my support and service to the bowling community has been recognized,” Bolan said. “I am more than surprised to be accepting this award, as well as very humbled and grateful.” 

Bolan, who also volunteers as a coach with Seminole Special Olympics, is an accomplished bowler. He just finished 37th in the nation in 2016 U20 Junior Gold out of 1400 players, won the Great Orlando Division I City Championship in 2015 and was selected to the 2014-2015 USBC Orlando Regional Boys Youth All-City Team.

Super-Achiever Teenagers Partner with FOFH-IL

to Support Military Families Guests of Hines VA Fisher House 

2016 Teen Master 14U Girls National Champion & USA Junior Team USA Member Mabel Cummins Assists Bolan With Illinois Launch of Strike for Vets in October

Mabel Cummins, 14, who is the Illinois liaison for Strike For Vets, has just won 2016 Teen Masters 14U Girls National Champion, 2016 Junior Gold 15U National Champion and has also achieved 2016-2017 Member Junior Team USA. She comments, “I am proud to be an international ambassador of the sport of bowling through Team USA.”

Commenting on her involvement with the Illinois debut of Strike for Vets Charity Bowling Tournament in partnership with Friends of Fisher House-Illinois, Cummins says, “I am always thankful for what I have and strive to help those in need. This humanitarian assistance for military families during medical crises is a truly deserving cause.”

The 2015 recipient Knights Of the Round Table (KORT) award for community service, Cummins shares Bolan’s passion for giving back to veterans and military families who have made major sacrifices for our safety and freedom.

Cummins extensive bowling achievements include: , 2016 Junior Gold 15U National Champion, 2016 Girls 15U USBC Youth Open Scratch Doubles National Champion, 2016 Girls 15U USBC Youth Open Scratch Singles National Runner-Up.