Cincinnati Police Sponsor Summer Bowling Program to Help End Youth Violence

IN 2021, MAKE A DIFFERENCE TONIGHT WITH A PROGRAM TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT PATH. LOCAL POLICE OFFICER PROVES BOWLING IS MORE THAN A GAME. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S CURTIS COURTIS JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN THE STORY. Hey, Curtis. HI. CHRIS, THIS IS A GREAT STORY. You know, for ten weeks in the summer, one of Cincinnati’s finest found a way to capture the attention of dozens of young people in a not-so-traditional way. In fact, that’s what kept me out of trouble. I actually grew up here at the Madison Bowl bowling alley. SINCE THE AGE OF NINE. THAT OF SERGEANT ANTHONY MITCHELL, VETERAN OF THE CINCINNATI POLICE, WHO LEADS THE SUMMER YOUTH BOWLING PROGRAM. WELCOME TO THE THIRD YEAR OF THE RISING STAR YOUTH BOWLING PROGRAM. WE GIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SOMETHING POSITIVE TO DO IT’S SUMMER CRAZY. VIOLENCE THAT CAUSES NIGHTMARE DAYS FOR FAR TOO MANY CHILDREN. ONE REASON SERGEANT MITCHELL SAYS HIS PROGRAM IS NECESSARY. WHAT TO DO WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE? Give them something to do throughout the summer when school is out. AND IT’S A PROGRAM LIKE THAT, THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY PROGRAMS, UH, TODAY, THAT ARE COMPLETELY FREE. THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR OF THE BOWLING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG RISING STARS, BUT IT’S SO MUCH MORE THAN LEARNING BOWLING. THERE ARE ALSO SOME LIFE LESSONS LEARNED. REGINA SHENAULT HAS HER GRANDCHILD EVERY YEAR. There’s a lot of things, negative energy out there that we need to bring positive energy to our community to help save some of our children. THEY NEED SAVINGS, SAYS BLAKE JONES. He is one of these saved children. HE participated in the program, graduated from high school, received a scholarship and returned this year to volunteer. THEY GAVE ME A CHANCE AND I DON’T KNOW THIS CHANCE WAS GOING TO HELP ME. I didn’t know that my arrival here would turn out better in my life. So I tell myself that if it can improve my life, it can improve theirs. THIS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY IS LIKE A MARRIAGE. We cannot give up. We’re going to have our good days and we’re going to have our bad days. You know, part of the funding for this summer bowling program comes from police confiscated funds, money from property or assets from illegal activities that were confiscated by the police. CHILDREN GET A FREE MEAL EACH WEEK AND EACH FIRST-GRADE PARTICIPANT RECEIVES A PERSONALIZED EXERCISE, A BOWLING BALL, PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS ALSO ENCOURAGED AND THEY RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT BOWLING, COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR HELP STUDENTS. JUST LIKE BLAKE, WHICH IS NOW A CINCINNATI BUSI UNIVERSITY

A program helps keep young people on the right track. A local police officer proves bowling is more than a game. “It’s actually what kept me out of trouble.” I grew up here at Madison Bowl and have been bowling since I was 9 years old,” said Anthony Mitchell. Mitchell has been a Cincinnati police sergeant for 19 years. He runs this youth summer bowling program. He says it’s a way to give young people something positive to do. Mitchell said his program is needed to help keep young people off the mean streets. programs like this that are completely free,” Mitchell said. This is the third year of the Rising Star youth bowling program, but it’s so much more than just learning how to bowl. Mitchell said some life lessons were also learned. Funding for the summer bowling project comes in part from police confiscated funds, money from property or assets from illegal activities that were confiscated by police. Children receive a free meal each week. and each first-year participant receives a custom-drilled bowling ball. Parental involvement is also encouraged. Parents receive information about college bowling scholarship funds to help students.

CINCINNATI-

A program helps keep young people on the right track. A local police officer proves bowling is more than a game.

“Actually, that’s what kept me out of trouble.” I grew up here at Madison Bowl and have been bowling since I was 9 years old,” said Anthony Mitchell.

Mitchell has been a Cincinnati police sergeant for 19 years. He runs this youth summer bowling program.

He said it was a way to give young people something positive to do. Mitchell said his program is needed to help keep young people off the mean streets.

“What to do with our young people, giving them something to do throughout the summer when school is out, and this is a program, there are not many programs like this that are completely free,” Mitchell said.

This is the third year of the Rising Star youth bowling program, but it’s about so much more than learning how to bowl. Mitchell said some life lessons were also learned.

Funding for the summer bowling project comes in part from police confiscated funds, money from property or assets from illegal activities that were confiscated by police.
Children receive a free meal each week and each first-grade participant receives a custom-drilled bowling ball.

Parental involvement is also encouraged. Parents receive information about college bowling scholarship funds to help students.