Events/News

TBD

4/30/23- We are pleased to announce that Our 4th annual Fundraiser/Raffle/Brunch will take place at Hammonasset State Park in Madison on Saturday, June 10th at 11:30 am and will go to 4:00 PM. The list of donated prized are posted in the Photo Gallery below (please keep checking as prizes will be updated regularly as they come in). Tickets are available from any Group Member for $1 each. This year Our goal is to raise $500. Proceeds will be divided between the Men's Group Sunshine Club and the West Haven Community House to benefit their multiple programs.

4/30/23 - Bears Helping Brothers Men's Support Group was happy to present a check for $200 to Alan Olenick (Director of Development - West Haven Community House) on behalf of Our yearly fundraising efforts. The check was presented by the BHB Facilitator (Vincent J. Benevento, Sr) on Tuesday, March 7th, 2023. Also in attendance from the Men's Support Group were: Tony (Secretary-Treasurer), Tom (Social Action), George (Assistant Events Planner and Fundraiser), and Anton (Member). The BHB Support Group and the West Haven Community House continue to strengthen Our friendship bond in community support.

1/5/23 - BHB has just completed its 14th year as a Men's Support Group (facilitated by Vincent J. Benevento, Sr. - BSW/MS Counseling). The year was a tremendous success. We celebrated our first Thanksgiving (Friendsgiving) with a pot luck supper and a tremendous amount of Group gratitude. We also put together a huge Food and Gift Basket for one of our Members who had a difficult year.

Our Holiday Party, as always, was a huge success and a great deal of fun. The main meal was catered with potluck desserts and appetizers from most Members and included grab-bags and Holiday games as the Group expands (BHB welcomed several new Members).

As the Facilitator, I would like to wish each of you continued support in 2023 and a Blessed New Year. Check out our website for some new Holiday photos.

For any new potential Members, the contact form is on website. Please use the Contact Us link.  

5/19/22 - BHB will be having its Annual Fundraiser/Raffle at Hammonasset State Park in Madison. BHB Members will be donating all the Prizes for the Raffle. Prizes will be in new or in unopened condition and some prizes may be handcrafted. If you would like to see available prizes, please go to the Photo Gallery to see pictures. Please also remember to check back periodically to see prize updates. Prizes will be added to the gallery when they become available.

1/18/22 - BHB is proud to announce that we are kicking off our 13th year together as a Men's Support Group under the facilitation of Vincent J. Benevento, Sr. (BSW/MS Counseling) and both founder and facilitator. Despite all of the obstacles with regards to Covid, the Group still managed to have a very successful year, predominately meeting on Zoom until returning to the West Haven Community Center in person (in October, 2021). BHB managed to be a wonderful source of support for its current 20 Members. We were able to raise over $500 for Charity with our Annual Community Fundraiser/Raffle. We also had several well attended 'Social Events', including our Summer Picnic at Chatfield Hollow State Park and Holiday Party at the West Haven Community Center. We continue to enjoy our friendship with the West Haven Community Center. We fondly say good-bye to our Friend  Patty Stevens, the former Director of the West Haven Community House and offer our best wishes upon Her Retirement. We welcome Alan O'Dell who is takes over for Patty Stevens and look forward to our continued supportive relationship in the community. Our Sunshine Club was able to offer good cheer and support to our own members taken ill or ensuing misfortune in 2021. We also bid farewell to a prior member we all cared for deeply. Our bonds of support and friendship as a Brotherhood appear stronger than ever.

11/28/21 - One of our members is a member of the Hartford Gay Men's Chorus and there will be a Holiday Stroll on December 2nd, 2021 at 6:30pm - West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, CT (whchamber.com). For more information, please check out the Holiday Stroll website by the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce:

https://www.whchamber.com/events/details/holiday-stroll-2021-8709

5/22/21 - Our Fundraiser/Raffle Pizza Party took place on May 8th, 2021 at Hammonasset State Park in Madison and was a tremendous success. How wonderful to all meet together again in person After a long COVID interruption. Over 40 wonderful prizes were donated by the BHB Members to raise money for charity. Prizes won by members for $1 per ticket included an Air Fryer, Record Player, Power Station, Nintendo Switch, Various Gift Certificates, Handcrafted Wreaths, etc..  Over $400 was raised and proceeds will help the West Haven Community House and the BHB Sunshine Club. We enjoyed laughter, great prizes, delicious food, and the Spirit of BHB Brotherhood. Just a wonderful day. The event was attended by 21 persons.

4/15/21 - Update on Spring Fundraiser/Raffle. Our Fundraiser/Raffle is going terrific. Over 400 tickets have now been sold and there are over 25 prizes which have been donated. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Hammonasset State Park on Saturday, May 8th at 12 Noon. It is going to be great fun as we raise money for charity. Pizza and soda will be served. 

3/1/21 - We have been meeting online (due to Caronavirus) since last March and are now planning to meet in person (with social distancing) in May. This first meeting will be our BHB Spring Fundraiser. We will continue to meet in person throughout the Spring and Summer months). Hopefully by the Fall we will be able to return to the West Haven Community House and continue our in-person meetings.

6/30/20 - The online ZOOM meetings have been going well in lieu of meeting in person. Our Annual Summer Picnic on August 8th at Chatfield Hollow State Park is our first attempt to be together since COVID-19. Many of us are anxious to see one another. Safety will be our first concern and therefore this year there will be no BBQ or food sharing.

9/26/19 - One of our members (George) has contacted me with information on an event that I would like to share with all of you. I am sure this will be a wonderful function that several of you in the BHB group may wish to attend. Please check out the following link and select Bears on the Mountain 2019 for the upcoming event in November:   https://bears4music.com/  You can also check out the following link to see the information: https://bearworldmag.com 

9/6/19 - BHB is happy to begin our 11th year in operation. We continue to enjoy our social funtions, annual Holiday Parties, Summer Picnic and Spring Brunch for charity. The purpose of the group which is for each member to offer support to others in BHB is being fulfilled. We continue to grow and look forward to our forthcoming year.

7/27/19 - This years Summer Picnic on this date at Chatfiled Hollow State Park was an amazing success. The group had tons of fun with the barbeque, water balloon toss, tremendous food and the opportunity to just relax and chill. The function was very well attended on a beautiful day. Look for pictures to be posted here on website.

5/19/19 - Our BHB Brunch at the New Haven Pride Center was a terrific event. It was well attended with wonderful food and very generous raffle prizes. We were able to raffle cash, gift cards and baskets, TV, and many other fine prizes. We raised approximately $275 which allowed us to make a generous donation to the New Haven Pride Center and remaining funds went to establish the BHB Sunshine Club to assist our own members with health issues and loss. Probably our best success yet.

3/8/19 - BHB will be having its annual Spring Brunch at the New Haven Pride Center in downtown New Haven. This is a fun event with lots of food and prizes. The event will be held on Sunday, May 19th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Should be another fund time.

12/18/18 - We had our annual Holiday Party on December 18th of 2018.  Had a great turnout and food was delicious. Everyone participated in sharing and the catered food from PM deli was excellent.  Everyone loved the gift swap and had many many laughs. Party was well attended and a big hit. Everyone had fun.

10/21/18 - Patrick, the Director of the Pride Center in New Haven, is now posting the BHB information and link on his website. Vinny and I will be positing the same on our website. BHB and the Pride Center will attempt to invite one another to their holiday parties. Information forthcoming.

Please note that I have created a new section called Useful Links. It will be in this area where I will post any external website links which may be of use to our members.

9/26/18 - The BHB group is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of a fine member, Steve Loso. Steve passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 22nd. Steve joined the group over a year ago and was an active participant and supporter. Steve enjoyed baking for the group, supporting members with their issues and attending the groups social functions and parties. The group will be planning a short memorial service in Steve’s memory during the November 13th meeting. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steve’s family at this time. He will be sadly missed by the members of BHB.