FAMILY DEAL $ 99 2 large, 1 topping pizzas, 23 garlic bread & 2 ltr soda 1231 FORT ST • WYANDOTTE 313-382-6010 JANUARY 25 — February 24, 2021 M-TH 11AM-11PM • F & SAT 11AM-12PM • SUN 11AM-10PM pizzakingwyandotte.com WyandotteWarrior.com Record-breaking generosity Biddle Bowl owners use business to raise more than $10,000 For years, the operators of Biddle Bowl have been celebrated for raising funds for the Wyandotte Goodfellows, helping the group bring Christmas to children and families. In 2020, the year of the CO- VID-19 global pandemic, the same family that owns the eight-lane bowling establishment in Wyan- dotte went above and beyond the call of duty. DAVE Robert Woelkers of Riverview GORGON and sister Judy Sadler of Trenton Wyandotte Warrior and their family members and friends combined to raise more than $10,000 for the Goodfellows in a year that the charity’s volunteers were wondering how they were going to raise any funds because of the coronavirus. Todd Browning, treasurer of the Goodfellows and city treasurer in Wyandotte, said the pandemic forced the cancellation of a number of annual fundraising efforts in 2020, which raised concerns about how to pay the Christmas gift-giving bills. The Wyandotte Street Art Fair was cancelled so the Goodfellows could not raise money by “selling” Photo courtesy of the Woelkers family Ryan Gorgon, grandson of Biddle Bowl’s Robert and Valarie Woelkers, helps load empty returnable SEE GENEROSITY, Page 3 containers to return to stores as part of the fundraising efforts for the Wyandotte Goodfellows. Serving Downriver 734.479.1880 Since 1975 CousineauChiropractic.com Page 2 > January 25 — February 24, 2021 > WYANDOTTE WARRIOR In 2020 Leo Stevenson has been recognized by: Forbes: “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” Barron’s: “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” list Forbes: “America’s Top 250 Wealth Advisors” list *Source: Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, February 2020. The ranking for this list by SHOOK Research is based on due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, fi rm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their fi rms. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Rankings and recognition from Forbes/SHOOK Research are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. WYANDOTTE WARRIOR < January 25 — February 24, 2021 < Page 3 Photo courtesy of the Woelkers family Members of the Wyandotte Goodfellows thank the owners of Biddle Bowl for their contribution of $10,000 to the Goodfellows, who called it an amazing fete during the COVID-19 global pandemic. pany decided to collect returnable cans als will be used to provide “no child volunteers. It just seems like a local GENEROSITY and bottles – more than 60,000 in all. without a Christmas” gifts for 2021. cause. Because of that, we felt it was Continued from page 1 They hit social media and asked “Even we can’t believe it,” Woelkers important.” bowlers and other Facebook follow- said. “We would like to thank all our Browning said the Wyandotte Good- parking lot spots for $5 apiece – the ers to donate the returnables at a time customers, family, friends and friends fellows were able to help 68 families biggest of the fundraisers. when stores were not accepting cans of friends who without their help this and 197 children at Christmastime The famous newspaper sales on and bottles due to the pandemic. For would not be possible. We are going to 2020. The Treasurer thanked all of the city street corner could not be held. months, they stored the 10-cent con- continue collecting returnables during local businesses and individuals who Instead, newspapers were placed in tainers one by one wherever they could 2021 that can be dropped off any time contributed during what has been a various businesses locations with the find space – in their garages, under the in our storage containers at the side of challenging year. hopes that people would take one and Woelkers deck at home and in a large our building on Labadie Street at 708 “We are not as far off from where leave a donation if they could find storage area donated by Biddle Bowl Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte.” we were last year,” said Browning, them. business neighbor Bentley Banquet The family also thanked manage- who has been involved in Goodfellows With the closure of so many busi- Center. ment at The Bentley for provid- for 17 years. “Lo and behold, Wyan- nesses, including bowling centers, When stores began accepting the ing storage along with operators of dotte and the local community stepped due to the concerns surrounding returnable containers again, Woelk- Shoppers Valley, Discount Drinks and up. COVID-19, Biddle Bowl was unable ers, his wife Valarie and Sadler made Mac’s Liquor for supplying boxes to “Rob and Judy and their dad (Bob) to engage its giving league bowlers countless trips to the Meijer store in use to collect the cans and bottles. have been extremely supportive. through 50/50 drawings, prize raffles Taylor, the Kroger store in Southgate Woelkers said Goodfellows is They’re the best cheerleaders that Wy- and other donations throughout the and a couple other places. Biddle Bowl’s charity of choice be- andotte and the Wyandotte Goodfel- bowling week, plus an annual Christ- Woelkers said their plea for return- cause of Ray Walters Jr., who bowled lows have. They support the commu- mas fundraiser at the establishment. ables also generated two checks worth in a Monday night league for 30 years. nity in which they run their business. For the past 14 years, bowlers have more than $2,000 from “angels” Susan Walters owned a hobby shop and “The only word I can say is ‘wow!’” contributed to the cause, starting Lapage and Tim Collins. brought in a giant stuffed animal to Also important: the ability for Bid- with $900 in 2007 and increasing the As a result, the Biddle Bowl team raffle off at the bowling center with all dle Bowl to reopen. At first, Governor amount to $7,000 the past couple of was able to present two checks to proceeds going to Goodfellows. Gretchen Whitmer announced bowl- years. the Goodfellows totaling more than “My sister said, ‘we could help out ing centers, movie theaters and other “We were afraid that it might be all $10,000 for the year 2020: one in July here.’” Woelkers said. “We have a entertainment venues could open for that we would raise this year due to for $3,500 and a second in Decem- good customer base. limited participation to help control the our closing from COVID-19, but we ber for a second check for more than “We have always thought Good- rise of coronavirus cases. Rob Woelk- were shocked,” Woelkers said. $6,500. fellows was a great local cause. Our ers said bowlers are wearing masks Without the in-house contests to Browning said the funds and others experience has been good. They don’t and the bar is unable to open so far. provide the money, Woelkers and com- raised by area businesses and individu- hold back any money. They’re all Page 4 > January 25 — February 24, 2021 > WYANDOTTE WARRIOR Continued from page 1 No laughing matter Wyandotte funnyman raises big bucks for Goodfellows DAVE GORGON to perform. The original venue was LTB’s (Lions, After reading a sentimental essay about his love for Wyandotte Warrior Tigers and Bears) until the Biddle Avenue restaurant/ Wyandotte in an essay Knope posted on Facebook, bar closed after a fire. Since then, the show has been then-Mayor Joseph Peterson told him he would always For more than a decade of holiday seasons, hosted by the Wyandotte Knights of Columbus. been a “Wyandotter.” Wyandotte native Mark Knope has entertained area Attendees fill multiple boxes of new toys for the “I support Goodfellows in honor of my dad and residents with his comedy shows at local venues, while Downriver United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots mom,” he said. “They believed in Goodfellows… My raising funds for the Wyandotte Goodfellows and campaign and provide funds for Goodfellows through heart lies in Wyandotte. You can kick the boy out of collecting gifts for children through Toys for Tots. ticket purchases, a 50/50 raffle and donations. Wyandotte, but you can’t kick the Wyandotte out of In 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic forced the Knope said he originally chose the Downriver the boy.” cancellation of what would have been the comedian’s USMC Toys for Tots campaign as the benefit charity The fundraising performance was not the only show 12th annual pre-Christmas stage performance, but it because his son Andrew Knopp serves in the Marines. that had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus. Knope did not slow down his fundraising for the Goodfellows. Currently, Major Knopp is a helicopter pilot deployed said he has worked “a couple virtual events” in which Through social media, Knope spread the word in Japan. (Note that Knopp is the original family name. he performs via live and/or pre-recorded. During about his dilemma, but also asked fans to continue Mark changed his professional stage name to Knope one virtual event, he performed live and inserted supporting Goodfellows and their cause of “no child for easier pronunciation. “Kuh-nope” is how the name pre-recorded segments in which he presented awards without a Christmas.” He wound up generating more is pronounced either way.) while impersonating Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack than $3,500 to donate to the charity to purchase gifts Several years later, the comedian added Nicholson, Sylvester Stallone, Rodney Dangerfield and food – more than double the average of $1,000 to Goodfellows as a benefactor because his parents, and the character “Doc Brown” from the movie “Back $1,500 raised during the comedy shows.