FAMILIES THAT BOWL TOGETHER EARN SCHOLARSHIP MONEY

Parents and Youths From Across North America Bowl For Thousands at International Family Tournament in Euless, Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas - Some 60 teams representing 25 states and Canada are expected to descend upon North Texas July 29-31, 2010, to bowl for $70,000 in scholarship money at the 35th annual International Family Tournament (IFT) according to the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA).

The IFT is an annual parent-student scholarship tournament sponsored by Georgia Coffee and presented by QubicaAMF and is the only sporting event in the United States in which parents participate with youth and teens for an international championship and scholarship funds. To get to the finals, contestants from across North America compete in state competitions to qualify for a trip to the IFT and a shot at scholarship dollars. Overall, teams from the U.S. and Canada, converge in the Parent/Youth and Parent/Teen divisions at the IFT, held this year at AMF Euless Lanes, Euless, Texas. Each division's top 8-teams after Friday's competition advance to a match play final round on Saturday morning. At the conclusion of the 8 games of match play, the top three teams in each division then compete in the stepladder finals to decide the titles Saturday afternoon, July 31.

Both first-place teams each win $5,000 scholarships to go towards their college education. Overall, scholarships totaling $70,000 will be distributed. Additional scholarships of $500 each for boys and girls in each division are awarded to Youth and Teen Division bowlers for bowling the highest six-game scratch total during the qualifying round.

The IFT is but one of many scholarship opportunities for youth bowlers. As an industry, bowling offers over $6 million in scholarship money each year through proprietors, bowling associations, councils and certified tournaments around the United States.

The Sheraton Arlington is the host hotel for the finalists. There will be a welcome reception with entertainment and a buffet dinner Thursday evening and after Friday's competition, the teams will be treated to an evening at Six Flags Over Texas. During the break Saturday there will be trick shot demonstration by several members of the Professional Bowlers Association and the weekend will conclude with an awards banquet Saturday evening at the hotel.

For more information go to www.bpaa.com and click the tournaments link then scroll to the bottom of the page.

About BPAA
Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Arlington, Texas, BPAA represents the business interests of bowling center owners worldwide. BPAA's mission to enhance the profitability of its member centers and its vision is to be an essential resource to bowling centers and to lead a united, growing, more prosperous and highly regarded bowling industry.