Bowl in Memory + Give in Their Honor + Raise Awareness + Support Catholic Grief Care
What Is Bowling with the Birdies?
Bowling with the Birdies is a national peer-to-peer bowl-a-thon that brings parishes, families, schools, and supporters together every October — Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
Gather your team and bowl "In Memory" of the child you carry in your heart, at any bowling center you choose, anytime during the month of October. As you bowl, you'll be raising support for the Catholic grief ministry serving families right in your own community.
It's a fun, family-friendly way to build community, honor your child, and help another grieving family find hope.
When It Happens
September 1-30: Team sign-up open on RallyUp website
October 1-31: Bowl anytime, at any bowling center you choose
October 18: Local Mass of Remembrance, followed by Red Bird Ministries' Behold & Beheld free virtual retreat
November: National prize winners announced & funds awarded to local chapter parishes!!
BOWL IN LOVING MEMORY
Proceeds go directly to the local Red Bird Ministries chapter for support group resources and materials.
Watch an Invitation From Our Founder, Kelly Breaux
Why Gather This October
Strengthen Parish Bonds: Bring families together for a joyful, multi-generational local event with a deep, shared purpose.
Honor Every Child: Form a team to bowl in memory of lost loved ones, standing in solidarity with families navigating loss at any stage—from miscarriage and stillbirth to adult child loss.
Fuel Local Hope: Direct funds raised go straight toward providing essential grief resources, retreats, and spiritual accompaniment to parents in need.
How It Works
-
![]()
Step 1 — Register Your Team
Sign up on RallyUp. Registration takes just a few minutes! Start by registering a team for your Family or Chapter by clicking "Sign Up."
Your team or participant name
City/state
Fundraising goal
Optional: your child's name, and a memorial photo or story
Once registered, you'll get a custom fundraising page, campaign instructions, social media graphics, and score-submission instructions — everything you need to get started.
-
![]()
Step 2 — Share & Fundraise
Share your fundraising page with family, friends, and supporters. Choose the giving option that fits your team:
Flat Donation — a simple one-time gift
Per-Point Sponsorship — fun, performance-based giving (e.g., $0.10 per point, $1 per point)
Every dollar you raise supports Catholic grief care for families in your local parish community. Partner with your parish to end the event weekend with a local Mass of Remembrance on October 18th.
-
![]()
Step 3 — Bowl Anywhere
Bowl at any local bowling alley, anytime between October 1–31, on your own or with a group. There's no centralized event — you choose what works best for your family or parish.
Participants bowl:
At any local bowling alley *You are responsible for your bowling fees.
Anytime during the campaign dates
Individually or with a group
Consider bringing a photo of your loved one
Teams log their team on the RallyUp online platform, and host bowling events with their local parish at any bowling center of their choice.
-
![]()
Step 4 — Share Your Scores & Story
Upload your bowling scores, photos, videos, and — if you'd like — your child's memorial story and team photos.
These are what turn this into more than a fundraiser: a shared moment of remembrance and community across every Red Bird chapter/parish in the country.
We recommend taking a picture of your final team scores so you can add them up and enter your results to campaign page.
-
![]()
Step 5 — Rise on the Leaderboard
As you bowl and fundraise, your team can climb the national rankings in categories like:
Chapters
Top Fundraising Diocese Chapter → The Golden Pin Award
Most Family-Participating Teams → Flock the Lanes Award
Most Team Points → Pins in Flight Award
Family “In Memory” Teams
Top Fundraising Team → The Golden Birdie Award
Raise $500 → Share the Nest Award
Best Team Spirit/Costumes → Best Dressed Flock Award
Winners are announced in late October.
-
Order Official Bowling with the Birdies Merch by Sept 20
Show Your Team Spirit Pick a color your team can wear on bowling day! Tag your photos #bowlingwiththebirdies or send them directly to us for a chance to win a family surprise package!
Official Bowling with the Birdies t-shirts are available now in our shop—orders must be placed by September 20th.
Please order early! Items take 7–10 days for production and shipping, so be sure to order in time to receive your shirts before bowling week.
-
Oct 18 | Mass of Remembrance & Behold & Beheld Retreat
Partner with your parish to close out the campaign with a local Mass of Remembrance on October 18.
We offer a digital resource pack that includes everything you need to make the Remembrance Mass special for the grieving families you serve. It includes a branded editable template flyer, social card, sign‑in sheet for children’s names to be read, a frequently asked questions guide, and a liturgy suggestion sheet. The digital pack is available for a one‑time cost of $49.99 in the Digital Resources section when you scroll down the page. -
Oct 18 | Behold & Beheld Virtual Retreat
Behold & Beheld: Virtual Prayer Retreat (2-Hour Online Event)
All mothers, fathers, families, and friends affected by pregnancy and infant loss are invited to gather in prayer and honor the precious lives of our babies gone far too soon. We would be deeply honored to pray alongside you in memory of your beloved children.
Sign Up online today for the link!
Turn Every Pin Knocked Down Into Real Ministry Resources
Designed for Red Bird Leaders & Anyone Looking to Bring Grief Support to Their Parish
Bowling with the Birdies is Red Bird Ministries’ first national bowl-a-thon! Designed specifically for chapter leaders and parishioners eager to serve grieving families, we handle the promotion and campaign tools—you simply gather your community to raise vital funds to start or grow a bereavement ministry in your parish.
EQUIP YOUR MINISTRY WITH FLIGHT PLAN REWARDS
Nearly every dollar raised comes directly back to your parish. Unlock tiered rewards including app subscriptions for grieving families, formation materials, and retreat packages to serve those carrying the cross of child loss.
Chart Your Course: Select Your Parish Flight Plan
Set your fundraising goals and explore reward tiers tailored to where your chapter is today—and where you hope to grow. Rally your community, raise vital funds, and take flight.
HOW THE REWARDS WORK
After the campaign, receive your parish's funds as a Red Bird digital gift card (90% of total funds raised; 10% covers platform and campaign fees) to redeem for your earned tier resources.
DOWNLOAD THE FLIGHT PLAN REWARDS PASSPORT
Get the complete guide detailing every reward tier: see what each level includes, the fundraising milestone required, and the impact it makes possible for your parish.
Rally. Raise. Take Flight!
PARISH PROMOTIONAL RESOURCE MATERIALS
NOTE FOR LEADERS: Official Bowling with the Birdies t-shirts are available now in our shop! Choose from various color options so your team can match on bowling day. All team orders must be placed by September 20th to ensure delivery before bowling week.
“This October we want to honor our daughter in heaven by making a fun memory with our family and parish friends. We bowl in memory of our saint baby.”
-Kristine Molloy, Kansas City
Meet the Chapter Teams
-
Diocese of Lafayette, LA
Meet the “In Memory” Teams
-
The Breaux Family
In Memory of Talon Antoine, Emma Grace, Christian Ryan, and Eva Catherine
What began as one family’s search for hope has grown into a ministry accompanying thousands of families navigating child loss, pregnancy loss, and traumatic grief. Your donation helps create spaces where parents are seen, siblings are supported, and families can encounter Christ in their suffering. Thank you for being with us!
To Our Generous Donors: