Cleveland GIFT

ny years at Buckeye Lanes in North Olmsted, the bowling portion of the weekend is now hosted by Freeway Lanes of Parma. With the help of our current corporate sponsors Miller Lite, Storm Bowling Supplies, Marriott, Republic Services, BKF Computer Services, and Twist Social Club and the generous support of past sponsors and many local businesses and organizations, tournament organizers have welcomed hundreds of men and women from across the US and Canada to the North Coast for a weekend of bowling, fun, and fellowship. Over the years, various fund raising activities have been incorporated to help offset the costs of presenting such a huge event. In addition to the thousands of dollars in bowling prize money and raffle gifts and prizes, the G.I.F.T. Committee has been able to donate nearly fifteen thousand dollars over the years to local organizations. Cruise (which was originally planned as "something unique" for bowlers and guests to do on Saturday night) has evolved into one of the single most attended LGBT events in Cleveland. Each year since 1989, on the second Saturday in June, anywhere from 400-700 people have boarded the privately chartered Goodtime III for a party on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. Cleveland G.I.F.T. is affiliated with the International Gay/Lesbian Bowling Organization (IGBO), the umbrella institution for hundreds of GLBT bowling leagues and tournaments throughout the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.