Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey David Nelson, with the Jensen Motors team bowls during the Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest Inc. Big Bowl fundraiser. Teams bowling: Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey Sixteen teams from 19 different businesses participated in the eighth annual Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest Inc. Big Bowl fundraiser. This year’s event was larger than the previous year when it raised $8,000.

NEW ULM — Sixteen teams from 19 businesses got down in the gutter Friday to benefit Junior Achievement (JA) during  in the 8th annual JA Big Bowl fundraiser.

Teams bowled at Concordia Lanes to raise money for JA and compete for four awards: highest score, lowest score, most spirited and biggest fundraiser. The money goes to the local chapter of JA to help educate youth about business and economics.

“A lot of the people here that are bowling today also volunteer in the classroom, and so they will teach various grades courses in business, entrepreneurship things like that,” Board Member Sara Wilfahrt said.

Windings Inc walked away with two awards, the largest fundraiser with over $4,400 raised and the most spirited award. Firmenich won highest score with a combined total of 1,858 and South Point Financial won lowest score with a combined total of 894.

This year’s event was larger than last year, when they raised $8,000. The goal this year was to raise $10,000.

The event raises money through team entrance fees and selling tickets for food and a drawing for prizes. Each team is also encouraged to host separate fundraising events.

An example was the Windings team, which raised money through a chili cook-off.

JA’s mission is “To inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy,” according to its website.

The organization brings in volunteers to each school in New Ulm and is reaching out to other area schools Wilfahrt said.

It also teaches students fiscal responsibility at its BizTown and Finance Park facilities in Maplewood.

BizTown teaches students how to run a shop and the Finance Park teaches them about balancing a household budget, paying bills and investment decisions, according to its website.

Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest Inc. has served more than 3,386 New Ulm K-12 students during the 2015-’16 school year. The organization serves Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin.

Interested volunteers can sign up on the website jaum.org by clicking on the volunteer tab.

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at

ccummiskey@nujournal.com.