Kingpin Pals Bowling League

Many of you know or know of someone with a physical or mental disability and the ongoing daily challenges they face.  One of the many challenges is the opportunity to participate in and availability of social programs and sports for the disabled. The Kingpin Pals Bowling League of Erie Lanes serves adults with conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, head injuries, intellectual disabilities, etc. and helps to fill the void in available social/sports programs for these very special individuals. The Kingpin Pals league is held twice a month and gives members an opportunity to learn, practice, and participate in team bowling competitions, and most important, to interact and socialize with their like peers and other community members.  Due to the varied disabilities and functional levels of the bowlers, adaptive equipment is used to aid the bowlers during participation.  

The Kingpin Pals league started in January 2019, although the league has been in existence since the 1970s as the C.T. Mitchell Bowling League, in association with United Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia and Vicinity (UCP) and later Blossom Philadelphia.  Unfortunately, the seventy-two-year-old non-profit closed its doors in December of 2018, leaving a real void in this program and the special community of folks it served.  Fortunately, Erie Lanes (which served as the home base for the league) stepped in and offered to continue this valuable program.  The league is managed totally by volunteers, led by Ms. Lylian Melendez, a selfless, compassionate person who is and has been for over 30 years committed to the social well-being of this special group of individuals.  

At this time, we are seeking donations to help support ongoing league expenses, and the end of season tournament and banquet in June 2020.  The banquet, which the bowlers have enjoyed for many years, gives them an opportunity to celebrate the season and their many accomplishments, receive awards, and enjoy lunch, music, and dancing with their peers.  Unfortunately, because of the loss of the association with UCP/Blossom, the cost of this banquet as well as all league expenses is now borne completely by the individual bowlers, many if not all are dependent on state and federal programs and/or a small fixed income.  Your donation, no matter the amount, will make a significant impact and help us keep the cost down for all the league bowlers.  Thank you in advance for your generous support of the Kingpin Pals Bowling League!