Hello to you all. My name is Philana and I created this go fund me for my son, Maurice in order to help pay for his first ever Junior Gold National Bowling Championship that will be happening from July 10th through the 18th. This would help pay for his and I travel expenses. Plane ticket, hotel, rental along with food and gas. Right now we have 2500 set aside but unfortunately, I have ran into vehicle issues that has become a priority. Since its our only family vehicle I have to service it. Doing this though is leaving us extremely short for this opportunity of Maurice's, life time! Any amount of money would be appreciated and cherished for a life time. Below i share a bit of his journey.
Maurice is 17 and an avid bowler, well, If im honest, thats an understatement. Hes been bowling since he was 2yrs old. He grew up in the bowling alley. Fast forward to 2024 to 2025 the start of his junior year of high school, he started his journey in the spokane junior bowling league with USBC. This gave him a chance to experience competitive bowling for the first time. He ended his first year with a handful of tournament wins and going to state. Getting 1st or 2nd place at a state level or a sanctioned tournament would give you an entry to The Junior Gold national bowling championship. Unfortunately, he missed out placing 13th.
Lets fast forward to this year to the 2025 2026 season.
Maurice continued to compete in the Junior league for his senior year. The beginning of the season was challenging and was a growing period for him. Balancing not just bowling practice 3 to 4 times a week but senior year of high school, and mind you acheiving a 3.7 gpa his first semester and maintaining a 3.8 this 2nd semester. Achieving mile stones like drivers Ed, sign up for financial aid and figuring out which college he would want to go to or if he wants to take a year off and work but also having to move twice. Prom! Still, he didnt give up on his dream of winning a title and an entry to The Junior Gold national bowling championship.
January of 2026 Maurice won the Wasinghton Youth Master tournament and was undefeated! Winning this Title also gave him an entry to The Junior Gold national bowling championship of 2026. Then in April of 2026 he placed 2nd place at State!
Next step in this young man's journey is to win junior gold. But in order to do that, we need to be able to afford to get there and stay there for nearly a week. Thank you ALL who has supported him through this journey. Please dont hesiste to reach out and ask your questions and concerns.
I would like to add, that alot of college bowling coaches will be at the Junior Gold championship, which would put him in a fantastic spot to catch some eyes and possibly get a bowling scholarship to a university which would ultimately set him up for chance at earning a degree in hopes of creating a business that will help the homeless community while becoming pro bowler.
Maurice shared with me in a conversation, "I want to be able to show people you can be black or a minority and be a successful business man and pro athlete and it doesn't have to be basketball or football there are otherwise out there!"
