Stock car driver Mickey Green boosts program
By Gail Geraghty
Staff Writer

PARIS – Mickey Green is racing for Big Brothers Big Sisters this year.

Inspired by his mother, Judy Green, who’s a Big Sister to 11-year-old Dominique Dubief of Norway, the No. 29 stock car driver at Oxford Plains Speedway has emblazoned the hood of his Monte Carlo with the Big Brothers Big Sisters logo.

The car is making the rounds. It’s on display this week at the Auburn Mall, and will be at the Oxford Hills Bowling Center April 3 and 4, when the Green team of Mickey, his wife and his parents will be participating in the 13th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake fund-raiser.

The fund-raiser is the largest of the year for the Norway Child Health Center’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Already, word of the car has inspired staff at a Norway hair salon, We’ve Got the Look, to organize a bowling team for the fund-raiser, which raises funds to match local children with a Big Brother or Big Sister in 10 area towns.

“We’re hoping it’s going to be contagious,” said Judy Green. She said that ordinarily, businesses pay stock car drivers to advertise on their cars. This year, after nine years of racing, her son wanted to give something back.

Mickey is also donating 10 percent of his race winnings at the end of the season to the mentoring program.

“It could be $100, or all kinds of money,” depending on how many races he wins, his mom said.

Judy Green, who works at Twin Town Homes, has been a Big Sister to Dominique since last September. “It’s a wonderful program,” she said.

Recently, the Child Health Center’s mentoring program in western Maine was recognized nationally. With over 1,400 matches, it’s the largest mentoring program in the state. It offers both site and community-based mentoring to children who benefit from the extra attention of an adult outside their immediate family.

The Paris bowl-a-thon is one of four being held to benefit the organization. Others are being held in Lewiston April 3 and 4, in Rumford on March 27 and in Wilton on March 19. In addition to the contributions they raise from family, friends co-workers and employers, the bowling teams are eligible for prizes and awards including a Caribbean cruise for two as the grand prize.

For more information, people can call 743-0222 or 782-5437.