"Who’s That Sista" makeover contest to send 300 Milwaukee girls to prom

Deadline extended to February 28

The 3v4 Sista Pride, an initiative of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, presents "Princess for Prom: Who’s That Sista?," a makeover contest for 300 Milwaukee area teen girls.

Applications to win one of the prize packages are available now through February 28 at the Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Clubs at 3000 North Sherman Boulevard or via an e-mail request at sistapride@yahoo.com.

The "Princess for Prom: Who’s That Sista" makeover contest is open to all Milwaukee high school junior and senior teen girls. They will have an opportunity to win one of three levels of prize packages: sapphire, ruby and diamond.

The packages range from winning a prom dress to winning "the works": a prom dress with shoes and accessories, hair, make-up and nails, transportation and prom tickets. Interested teens must finish an application and complete an essay, perform volunteer hours and submit a letter of recommendation.

Judges will review all applications and materials submitted by the appropriate deadlines. The winners will be invited to attend Sista Pride and the Boys & Girls Clubs’ "Princess for Prom" event to collect their prizes on March 24.

The level of the prize received will depend upon the amount of criteria met through the application process.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee is the oldest and largest youth-serving agency in Milwaukee. It offers after-school and evening programming for children ages 6-18, focusing on those who have major life obstacles, most often poverty.

The clubs satellite branches operate in 17 Milwaukee Public Schools, at Bethune Academy charter school and at Hadfield Elementary School in Waukesha as Safe Place programs.

Membership to the clubs is only $5 per year, per child, but no one is ever turned away based on ability to pay. For more information, visit the club’s Web site at www.boysgirlsclubs.org.

Greendale, Wisconsin--Nearly 470 Milwaukee-area bowlers competed in the seventh annual Bowl for the Cure Unite to Stop Breast Cancer event January 26 to raise $47,457 in a single day. The United States Bowling Congress and the Milwaukee Women’s Bowling Association organized the event, with proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Milwaukee.

Bowlers and spectators at Milwaukee’s AMF Bowlero Lanes gathered pledges and participated in silent auctions and raffles while rolling a friendly two-game tournament. Area companies Harley Davidson and M&I Bank--longtime Bowl for the Cure supporters--used the event as a productive way to build coworker camaraderie, while the Milwaukee Bucks served as a generous corporate partner.

"The Milwaukee community is more dedicated to this event each year," Bowl for the Cure Coordinator Chris Lemke Keene said. "Almost everyone has been touched by breast cancer in their lives, whether it’s their own battle or one fought alongside a loved one, and I think that’s what keeps people coming back to Bowl for the Cure."

Breast cancer survivors were recognized during opening ceremonies. Participants rolled a traditional first game while disco balls and spotlights were revved up for the second, played as 9-pin, no tap--an alternate format where nine pins felled on the first ball of a frame counts as a strike.

"This is a truly fun event for people of all ages," Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affiliate Coordinator Sally Sheperdson said. "With 25 percent of funds raised going to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure and 75 percent staying here locally, bowlers should know they really are making a difference in their own community."

USBC leagues across the nation organize Bowl for the Cure events in February, often designating one bowling session to donate a specific amount, such as one nickel per pin. Last year, USBC members nationwide raised $656,500 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, bringing the six-year total to nearly $5 million. This year, USBC bowlers are challenged to raise a record $1 million. Donations are collected by USBC and will be presented to Susan G. Komen for the Cure on March 31 during the USBC Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Each bowler received a gift bag filled with coupons and giveaways from local businesses and event sponsors, including a Milwaukee Bucks ticket voucher for a game on February 24 or February 27. The public also can receive discounted tickets for those games--with $5 per ticket sold donated to Bowl for the Cure--by contacting Tricia Rasberry at (414) 227-0835 or trasberry@bucks.com.

The Milwaukee Unite to Stop Breast Cancer event was sponsored by AMF Bowlero, AT&T, Chipotle, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, the Milwaukee Bucks and the SunJel Company.