Formerly the California State Bowling Association (CSBA), California Women's Bowling Association (CWBA) 
and the California Young American Youth Bowling Alliance (CSYABA)

 

Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL)
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

The Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) is a national nonprofit charitable organization which raises about $1 million annually to fund a variety of recreational equipment and therapeutic supplies for America’s veterans.

BVL’s reach is wide and deep:

• Through BVL, veterans recuperating in all 172 VA hospitals are provided with reading materials, arts and crafts kits or access to recreational music or sports activities to help them pass the time and, studies show, speed their recovery.

• For the many Vietnam and Desert Storm Vets affected with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, BVL supports group recreational activities such as trips to ball games, bowling outings and much more at the nation’s 206 Veterans Outreach Centers.

• A growing number of our World War II veterans in their later years are suffering the often-lonely days of long-term care. Thanks to BVL, these forgotten heroes can enjoy billiards, cards and bingo or even spend their days fishing, bowling or gardening through programs at State Veteran Homes throughout the country.

To achieve this goal of reaching out to every veteran in need, BVL provides cash grants to VA Hospitals, Vet Centers and State Homes as well as coordinates several national programs. These programs include tours of the nationally acclaimed song and dance troupe “Re-Creation” at VA facilities across the country, traveling bowling clinics with a focus on special adaptive bowling techniques for disabled veterans, and a national VA Bowling Tournament held annually. Additionally, BVL has been a long time sponsor of the four major veterans recreation events each year – the Golden Age Games, the Winter Sports Clinic, the Creative Arts Festival and the Wheelchair Games.

Since 1950, the California BVL fund has donated over $8 million dollars to our veterans. With donations to California Military Hospitals, VA Medical Centers, Outreach Centers and California Veteran’s Homes we have provided items for rehabilitation therapy, recreation items, Outbound programs and items to enhance the environment . Many of these items never make the government priority lists and, for bowlers, BVL – The California Bowler’s BVL Fund, has become a mission. The California USBC Association THANKS all of you on behalf of the Veterans of California.

The California USBC Association administers the California Bowlers BVL Fund. Any expenses are paid out of interest earned and with the exception of the annual gift to the National BVL Fund, 100% of the donated funds go to our California facilities.

Our Proud Californian's...

BVL display at AMF Beverly Bowl in Montebello.

Letter from Modesto Vet Center...

November 8, 2011

To whom it may concern;

My name is Stephen Lawson, Director of the Modesto Vet Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Our primary mission is to provide counseling, therapy and readjustment assistance for combat veterans and their families.

As a part of our program, we started a bowling league 4 years ago at McHenry Bowl in Modesto, California. Initially, we had four Veterans begin bowling one day per week.

Interest in the sport quickly spread, and before we knew it, we had over 20 veteran bowlers, bowling 3 days per week (minimum).

From a psychological perspective, I and my staff are astounded and amazed at the healing, improved outlook and functional increase that our combat veterans have experienced.

As a staff, we have learned that bowling is far more than just a sport, and means of recreation and socialization. It is also of tremendous physical and psychological therapeutic value.

On my staff, we have two Vietnam Veterans and two Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran Therapists. All of us have been absolutely amazed and astonished to see our clients making tremendous strides of improvement when recreational bowling and psychological therapy are combined to ease the burden, trauma and physical and psychological injuries of war.

We have referred some of our most physical and psychologically injured clients to the Veterans Bowling League, and have watched them all make huge strides of improvement.

I can only hope to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for the help provided to our combat and non-combat veterans alike from their bowling experiences.

We are believers in the wonderful value and benefit of bowling.

Respectfully,

Stephen A. Lawson M. S.
Team Leader/Therapist

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Bowlers raise $656,500 Nationwide to Fight Breast Cancer
Bowlers nationwide rallied their families, friends and communities to raise $656,500 this season for the fight against breast cancer, bringing the Bowl for the Cure^® program's six-year total to nearly $4.5 million.

During the inaugural United States Bowling Congress Convention in Orlando, Fla., on April 22, 2006, bowlers and breast cancer survivors Diane Bower, Easton, Pa.; and Betty Knott, Columbus, Ohio, presented a check to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation representatives.

"It is the commitment and teamwork of the USBC and the bowling communities that have made this program such an outstanding success," said Cindy Schneible, Komen Foundation vice president of cause related marketing and sponsorship. "You bowl for each other and you bowl for people everywhere who have been touched by breast cancer. You are making a difference in the world."

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