Sleep Country USA’s annual “Pajama Bowl” is coming to Acme Bowl in Tukwila on Sunday, April 18th. This event is a fundraiser that helps over 26,000 foster children in the northwest.

100% of all donations will help local foster kids by going directly to one of 16 foster care organization designated by participants.

Last year’s event raised over $77,000 in both Washington and Oregon, and benefited more than 26,000 foster children.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sleep Country USA’s 5th Annual Pajama Bowl.

WHEN: Sunday, April 18th, 2010, with bowling at either 11:00a.m. or 2:00p.m.

WHERE: Acme Bowl and Billiards at 100 Andover Park West, Tukwila; as well as Tech City Bowl at 13033 NE 70th Place in Kirkland.

REGISTER: Gather five of your best friends, co-workers or family members and register for this year’s event at your local Sleep Country USA store or online at http://www.pajamabowl.com.

Each team will need to raise or donate a minimum of $250 to participate (that’s only $50 per person).

And of course: “Pajama Bowl teams are encouraged to wear their favorite pair of family-friendly pajamas during the event—matching pajamas are even better!”

All of the entry fees will be donated directly to the 16 Pacific Northwest foster children’s charities that Sleep Country USA supports.

INFO: From their website:

Bowling + Pajamas = a fun way to give back to your community!

This annual event is Sleep Country USA’s largest fundraiser, and brought in over $77,000 last year for Washington and Oregon’s more than 26,000 foster children.

The Pajama Bowl will be taking place on April 18th at lanes in Tukwila and Kirkland, giving Seattle-area bowlers the opportunity to pick the venue that’s most convenient.

Pajama Bowl teams are encouraged to wear their favorite pair of family-friendly pajamas during the event—matching pajamas are even better! Each team will receive a score at the end of the event based upon their combined bowling average, amount donated, plus any additional points awarded for pajamas and raffles. The team with the most points at the end of the event will take home the grand prize of a brand new queen-size Simmons® Beautyrest® mattress set, also known as the “Bowling Ball” mattress, for each member of the winning team. Runner-up prizes will be award for second and third place. And, even if you don’t place, you’ll have a chance to win fun prizes throughout the event including music cds, dvds, event tickets and more.

100% of all donations will help local foster kids by going directly to the foster care organization you designate. There are over 18,000 foster kids in Washington State that share common challenges few of us can imagine. Sleep Country USA has developed the Sleep Country Foster Kids Program to assist local foster care organizations in providing essential childhood items. These non-profits organizations offer important services and the little extras that help give foster children a more stable and happier childhood.

Not everyone can be a foster parent, but anyone can help a foster child. ®

Sleep Country USA developed its foster kids program in 2005 to help meet the essential needs of the 26,000 foster children in the Northwest. Sleep Country also wanted to create a fundraising event that local families could participate in and would help our foster child non-profits provide the little extras like re-uniting with a sibling at camp, the opportunity to participate in team sports, or even learn a musical instrument. In 2006 we launched the first Sleep Country Foster Kids Pajama Bowl with one location in Washington drawing more than 300 participants and raising over $40,000. Now completing our 4th year we have grown to 2 locations in Washington and 2 location in Oregon, and to date have raised more than a quarter million dollars for local foster children. We truly appreciate the continued support from all our bowlers and sponsors. Stay tuned for 2010 event details.

The Ticket to Dream Foundation™is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and operates as Sleep Country Foster Kids. The Ticket to Dream Foundation provides a combination of in-kind and monetary contributions to non-profit organizations whose charitable purpose is to support worthy charitable causes and charities, with particular emphasis on charities related to children in need.

For the 26,000 foster children in the Northwest, each day presents new challenges. Many are frequently relocated to new homes and must repeatedly struggle to catch up in a new school. With support from non-profit foster child organizations and local communities, these children can regain a sense of hope, and you can help!

For more information, visit the Pajama Bowl website here.

The Tukwila Rotary Club is holding “Strike Out Hunger,” a bowling party fundraiser for the Tukwila Food Pantry on Saturday, March 27th from 9am – Noon at ACME Bowl.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Tukwila Rotary’s “Strike Out Hunger” bowling fundraiser for the Tukwila Food Pantry

WHEN: Saturday, March 27th from 9am – Noon

WHERE: ACME Bowl, located at

INFO: From a poster:

Join us at ACME Bowl in Tukwila for a great event that supports the Tukwila Food Pantry!

Saturday, March 27th from 9:00 am — 12 noon.

Bowler check-in at 8:45am.

Entry fee: Minimum of $200 per team (4 bowlers) Entry deadline: March 22nd or until full. Don’t wait…register today!

For event information, bowler registration and sponsorship opportunities visit our website www.TukwilaRotary.org.

If you have questions, or need further assistance, please contact the Tukwila Rotary at 206-674-4673 or send an e-mail to StrikeOutHunger@TukwilaRotary.org.

A special “Tip-A-Cop” fundraiser is being held by the Tukwila Police Department this Friday night, Dec. 4th to help raise money for the families of the Lakewood Police Officers killed last Sunday (Nov. 29th).

The fundraiser will be at the Claim Jumper Restaurant (located at 5901 S. 180th Street in Tukwila), beginning at 4pm, and all donations collected between 4-11pm will go to a trust established for the families of fallen Lakewood Police Officers Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Greg Richards and Ronnie Owens, who were all shot and killed at a coffee shop in Lakewood this past Sunday.

As we reported on Nov. 29th, Officer Renninger served eight years on the Tukwila Police Department, and was most recently a member of the Lakewood P.D. and S.W.A.T. team. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Officer Mark Renninger

“Tip-A-Cop” is a great, fun fundraiser, where, for a small donation, you can pay to have a friend or family member “arrested” and taken out of the restaurant by uniformed cops. It’s all in fun, for a great cause, and from our own previous experience it provides a lot of laughs as well as a great way to meet and learn about local law enforcement.

Other participants will include Valley SWAT, Tukwila Fire Department and Les Schwab.

This Saturday, Sept. 26th, Washington State Truckers will drive their big rigs in a huge convoy while local law enforcement will escort them from the Tacoma Dome to the Insurance Auto Auctions in Tukwila.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Washington State Truckers will drive their rigs in the convoy while local law enforcement will escort the convoy from the Tacoma Dome to the Insurance Auto Auctions in Tukwila.

WHERE:  The Convoy route will begin at Exit #132, in Parking Lot G of the Tacoma Dome, then depart at 9am towards Tukwila.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 26th:

• 8:00 AM – Registration and Truck Staging at Tacoma Dome’s Parking Lot G
• 9:00 AM – Departure towards Tukwila
• 11:00 AM – Arrival at Insurance Auto Auctions, located at 8801 E Marginal Way S., in Tukwila
• 12:00 PM – Lunch
• 1:00 PM – Truck Show & Shine

BBQ Lunch includes: Awards, entertainment, raffle prizes and more!

HELP: Companies can become official sponsors of the Truck Convoy; Trucking companies and truckers can register at: www.sowa.org. $100 to enter one truck (includes lunch & goody bag). Participants are encouraged to collect pledges and donations.

WHY: Special Olympics Washington athletes train in various sports throughout the year. Their participation is free, so law enforcement and truckers are helping to continue to help provide these sports opportunities to the athletes. Over 6,700 Special Olympics Washington athletes benefit locally.

INFO: On Sept. 26th join the compassionate army of truck drivers across the nation as law enforcement escorts the World’s Largest Truck Convoy to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics! Truckers will meet at the Tacoma Dome and are escorted by law enforcement in a convoy to the Insurance Auto Auctions in Tukwila for a celebration party. Truckers will be welcomed by Special Olympics athletes and families, community organizations and law enforcement agencies. Enjoy music, activities and awards. Lunch will be provided for each driver.

WLTC Facts:

• 200 trucks participated in Washington and over $25,000 was raised locally in 2008
• Over 2,000 trucks participate nationally and $643,000 raised nationally in 2008
• 26 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provinces participate in the WLTC

REGISTRATION: Phone: (800) 752-7559, ext. 218, or Email: mdo@sowa.org. More info at: www.sowa.org

No, it wasn’t a police raid on the burger joint – it was the annual “Tip A Cop” fundraiser for Special Olympics.

“Tip A Cop” is a major fundraiser put on at Red Robins throughout Washington as well as many other states. It ran from Noon to 8pm Saturday, and the idea is this:

• For a minimum donation of $5, you could have a friend (or family member) “arrested,” handcuffed and taken outside to a waiting SWAT paddy wagon by a real, uniformed police officer.
• All donations went to Special Olympics.
• Saturday’s goal was to raise $5,000.
• Officers from the Tukwila Police Department were there, along with members of the Washington State Patrol, Recruits from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien, as well as area Police Explorers.
• Departments from around the US compete against each other, and this year, according to Tukwila Officer Ted Rutt, the main competition was against the state of Colorado.
• The last Special Olympics fundraiser these guys pulled off was the Polar Bear Plunge on Valentine’s Day (read the story and watch our exclusive video here)
• “Tip-A-Cop” is part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) campaign, which includes a series of relay runs and other fundraisers represented by more than 85,000 law enforcement officers worldwide to help raise money and public awareness for Special Olympics.

The Tukwila Blog’s Scott Schaefer was there, and he took these photos:

The Highline Medical Foundation has a simple question for you, and they’re not horsing around:

Q: What could possibly be more fun than watching the Kentucky Derby live simulcast at a VIP trackside tent at Emerald Downs, with a sumptuous buffet lunch and silent auction?

A: Well, helping a good cause at the same time! Highline Medical Foundation is sponsoring Hats on for Highline to raise money for cancer care and other patient care programs on Saturday, May 2nd, beginning at 11:30am at Emerald Downs in Auburn.

This will be an afternoon of fun and fashion, complete with regional delicacies, Mint Juleps and the traditional festive Derby Day hats.

Details include:

• It’s on Saturday, May 2nd
• Gates open at 11:30am
• Buffet will be served beginning at 12:30pm.
• A silent auction of hats and other items includes glamorous hats for women, upscale straw Panama hats for men, and even a Harley-Davidson motorcycle helmet!
• At 3:04pm post time, the bugle will call Churchill Downs jockeys to their mounts for the famous “Run for the Roses” Kentucky Derby.
• Attendees are welcome to stay at Emerald Downs until 7:00 p.m. to watch the full complement of live races at the track that day.
• There even will be a handicapper to explain the ABCs of horseracing for any novices.
• Tickets are $45 each, and include admission to Emerald Downs, seating in the VIP trackside tent, parking, program, racing form and tip sheet.
• Reservations, due by April 25th, can be made by calling 206.901.8500, or emailing events@highlinemedical.org

The Tukwila Rotary Club is holding “Strike Out Hunger,” a special bowling party fundraiser for the Tukwila Food Pantry this Saturday, March 28th, from 9am to Noon at Acme Bowl.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Join us at ACME Bowl in Tukwila for a great event that supports the Tukwila Food Pantry!

WHEN: Saturday, March 28th from 9:00 am — 12 noon; Bowler check-in at 8:45am

WHERE: ACME Bowl in Tukwila, located at 100 Andover Park West in Tukwila (map below);  206.340.ACME

COST: Entry fee: Minimum of $200 per team (4 bowlers); Entry deadline: March 24th or until full. Don’t wait…register today!

INFO: For event information, bowler registration and sponsorship opportunities visit: www.TukwilaRotary.org.

If you have questions, or need further assistance, please contact the Tukwila Rotary at 206-674-4673 or send an e-mail to: StrikeOutHunger@TukwilaRotary.org.

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Sleep Country USA’s fourth-annual “Pajama Bowl” fundraiser for foster kids will be held on Sunday, April 19th at Acme Bowl and Billiards in Tukwila.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sleep Country USAs 4th Annual Pajama Bowl

WHEN: Sunday, April 19th, with start times at 11am and 2pm.

WHERE: Acme Bowl and Billiards at 100 Andover Park West, Tukwila (see map below)

REGISTER: “Gather five of your best friends, co-workers or family members and register for this year’s event at your local Sleep Country USA store or online at www.pajamabowl.com. Each team will need to raise or donate a minimum of $250 to participate. All of the entry fees will be donated directly to the 20 Pacific Northwest foster children’s charities that Sleep Country USA supports.”

INFO: All donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of donations benefit foster kids – paying for sports fees, piano lessons, tutoring and summer camp.

Gather friends, family or colleagues to raise money and win prizes at the Sleep Country Foster Kids Pajama Bowl!

Why? We are raising money to support foster kids. And, jammies look great with bowling shoes!

How? Put together a 5-person team. All ages welcome. To enter, each team must raise or donate at least $250 – that’s only $50 per bowler. The more you raise the better chance you have to win!

Register online at www.pajamabowl.com or contact Treehouse for more information. We’ll send you everything you need to sign up to help a Treehouse foster kid today.

Score points by wearing pajamas, raising money & bowling a good score. Each member of the winning team will receive a Queen Size Beautyrest mattress!

Great for families, friends and groups!

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