LEWISTON – The Lewiston Education Fund held its third annual Super Bowling on Feb. 2 at Spare-Time Recreation Center. Due to the sponsors and team members, almost $6,000 was raised, nearly twice as much as the 2007 event and more than three times as much as 2006.

The fund board said the successful event also raised awareness in the business community, since it is designed to give companies an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause while providing their staff and associates with a team-building experience.

The tournament was won by Team Paychex, one of three teams from Paychex of Auburn. Team members were Brian Roy, Christopher Behne, Joshua Allred, Shawn Barrows and Jon Gilson.

The second-place team was from Harriman Associates of Auburn. Team members were Kevin Morissette, David Reinheimer, Ray Marchessault, Melissa Metivier and Dan Fournier.

In third place was Lucy’s Tribe of the Lewiston School Department, which was the first place winner from last year’s tournament. Team members were Lucy Violette, Kathy Bourgault, Denise Sensenig, Tom Giberti and Tom Giberti Jr.

Individual achievements: women’s high game scratch: Kathy Bouchard, 258, Cathy Bickford, 214, Lucy Violette, 193, Sue Meservier, 178, and Jeannie Levesque, 166; men’s high game scratch: Tom Giberti Jr., 277, Brian Roy, 255, Thomas Giberti Sr., 215, Shawn Barrows, 198, and Christopher Behne, 186.

Drawings for items and gift certificates were also held.

The fund was established in 2002 to fulfill School Superintendent Leon Levesque’s vision of a nonprofit foundation to fund innovative educational projects in Lewiston public schools that expand educational opportunities, foster creativity and enhance academic excellence, but would be unaffordable through regular school budgets.

Grants are made possible through the contributions of businesses and individuals. The 11-member board has awarded grants proposed by educators, individually and collaboratively, that impact students of all ages. Its signature project is Steps to Accomplishing Real-life Transitions (START) at the Lewiston Middle School.

Donors can also specify that contributions be added to a special project or to the fund’s endowment, which will provide a perpetual income source for programs long into the future.

Those interested in “investing in academic excellence,” becoming part of the board or Circle of Friends, or to learn more about the programs funded should visit www.lewiston educationfund.org.