By Danielle Nickerson
Columbus
In today’s society, it’s easy to focus on headlines, noise, and everything that feels divided or uncertain. What often gets overlooked is the story unfolding right beneath the surface. A story of young people choosing generosity. A story of mentors quietly investing in confidence. A story of a community coming together so kids know they matter.
Bowl for Kids Sake (BFKS) gave us a clear glimpse of that story.
This year, Southside, Parkside, and Schmitt students rallied through Penny Wars and raised nearly $7,500 combined to support Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). What began three years ago as an idea from Bella Nickerson, a Columbus North student, has grown into something far bigger than a friendly competition. Bella believed that if students were invited into the mission and trusted to lead, they would rise to the occasion. She was right. Participation has grown, engagement has deepened, and students feel genuine ownership in helping other kids in their community.
Recently, approximately 100 students from Parkside and Schmitt gathered to celebrate their collective efforts, filling the bowling alley with energy and pride. Southside’s impact was equally meaningful, although their students were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. Together, these schools demonstrated what it looks like when kids support kids.
But there is another important layer to this story.
Behind confident students are adults who choose to invest in them. Freddie King, a Big with BBBS and the facilitator of the Youth Ambassadors program and ECHO, continues to pour into young people across our community. He brought Youth Ambassadors to stand in support of the event, modeling leadership through presence and encouragement. When you see students stepping forward to serve, to lead, and to use their voice, you are also seeing the impact of mentorship that builds trust and belief over time.
There is something powerful about a young person confidently saying, “I have a Big.” It is more than a title. It reflects belonging. It reflects trust. It reflects consistency. It reflects an adult who chose to show up. That kind of steady investment builds the confidence that allows young people to see themselves as capable and valued.
The real story is this. When young people are trusted with responsibility and surrounded by adults who believe in them, they do not shrink. They step up. They lead. They give back. They become change makers long before they graduate or step into a formal title.
Bowling For Kids Sake is about raising funds. But more importantly, it is about raising leaders. Leaders like Bella, who had the courage to spark an idea. Leaders like Freddie, who consistently invests in the next generation. And leaders like the students across Southside, Parkside, and Schmitt who proved that compassion and action are alive and well in our community.
If we look closely, the future is not something we have to wait for. It is already here, taking shape in bowling alleys, classrooms, and relationships across Columbus.
And it is bright.
