SALUTE TO BOWLING RAISES MORE THAN $130,000 FOR INTERNATIONAL BOWLING MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME

ARLINGTON, Texas – One of bowling’s biggest annual fund-raising events was once again a huge success, thanks to the generosity of the people attending and bidding at the 2010 Salute to Bowling.

The Salute, held June 30 at the Las Vegas Hilton during International Bowl Expo, raised more than $130,000 to help fund the operations of the new International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas. It was the most money raised since moving the event to Bowl Expo in 2002.

“We want to thank everyone who participated in this year’s Salute to Bowling,” said IBM/HF President/Chairman of the Board Pat Ciniello. “To receive such a high level of donations in this economy is a testament to how much people love bowling and the Museum.”

This year’s grand item was the Strike Bike donated by the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America. It is one of only two custom-made bowling-themed bikes made by the famous Teutel family of the Learning Channel’s American Chopper show. US Bowling Darroll Frewing won the bike for $75,000 after outbidding Bowltech’s Hans Kroll and BPAA Treasurer Tom Martino.

“We are so appreciative of the BPAA and Strike Ten Entertainment for donating the motorcycle as an auction item to the event,” said former PBA great and Salute to Bowling Chairperson Mike Aulby. “We cannot thank enough our friends in the bowling industry who participated in the auction by donations, purchasing and bidding on the items or helping run the event.”

Salute to Bowling originally started as Salute to Champions in 1990 as the brainchild of former Brunswick executive Jim Bennett. It started as black-tie affair to honor those who had helped the industry. In 2002, the event moved to International Bowl Expo and changed format from a black-tie sit down to an auction/cocktail format.

About the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame

Located at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects, preserves and researches bowling’s history, provides a suitable home for bowling’s major halls of fame, and makes the museum’s information and collection available to interested parties globally for education, promotion and entertainment.