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Hurricane Maria Relief: Bees and Community Foundation to Host “Community of Caring Night” May 19th

A “Community of Caring Night” will be hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) and New Britain Bees to raise funds to aid people in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and help those displaced by the storm who are in New Britain.

TheĀ “Community of Caring Night” will take place as part of the Bees game on May 19, 2018. The Bees have pledged to donate 50 percent of all ticket sales to the Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico Relief Fund managed by the Community Foundation.

Community Foundation President David Obedzinski said, “This is a magnanimous gesture on the part of the Bees and their ownership group to make a tangible impact by assisting so many victims of Hurricane Maria both here and in Puerto Rico.”

The Bees are also working with the New Britain school district to distribute tickets for free admission to the game and food and drink vouchers to students from Puerto Rico who are enrolled in the city’s schoolsĀ after temporarily relocating here following the storm, as well as members of the students’ families. The city school district says that there are more than 260 displaced students from Puerto Rico enrolled in the school system in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

In the front row, left to right, NBHS students displaced from Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria, Yederly Hernandez Rivera, Nahira Sosa Sanchez, Isari Ortiz Delgado, Joshua Altiery Morales and Erick Pacheco Villanueva. Back row, left to right, New Britain Bees General Manger Brad Smith, Community Foundation President David Obedzinski and Bees owner Vic Picone.

“Giving back to our community is a cornerstone of our philosophy,”Ā said Beesā€™ owner Vic Picone. “We are privileged to have this unique opportunity not only to support this cause, but to treat those whose lives have been turned upside down by this storm to a great night of family fun at the ballpark.”

The Bees are joined, in making theĀ “Community of Caring Night” possible, byĀ Ulbrich Stainless Steels and Special Metals, Inc., andĀ Beacon Prescriptions of New Britain

Thirty percent of the Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico Relief Fund is reserved to help local nonprofit organizations in their work to assist people displaced by the storm. Seventy percent of the Fund is to be sent to Puerto Rico to assist with rebuilding in the wake of the hurricane.

The Community Foundation says that more thanĀ $42,000 has been raised for the Fund so far. It has said that the fundraising goal is $50,000.

“We canā€™t thank the Bees enough for their support of this important fund,” saidĀ  Obedzinski, “and look forward to a great turnout on May 19.”

In the May 19th game, which starts at 6:35pm, the Bees will take on theĀ York Revolution.

Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.nbbees.com, or by calling the Bees at 860-826-BEES (2337).