Sunday, December 6, 2009

Connecticut's Brotherhood - A Brief History

Here is a brief review of the mission and history of the Brotherhood In Action.

  • Started in 1964 by the respective heads of three Connecticut Fraternal organizations: the Grandmaster of the Connecticut Masons, State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus, and the state president of the B'NAI B'RITH
  • The group was formed from the idea that brotherhood without action has little meaning. Charity was the central focus of the brotherhood.
  • Brotherhoods formed in many Connecticut area towns.
  • In Manchester, the Knights of Columbus # 573, Campbell Council, B'NAI B'RITH Charter Oak Chapter, Manchester Masonic Lodge #73 and Friendship Masonic Lodge #145 joined forces to form a B-I-A in 1967. They held their first charitable event in September of 1967 and raised $7,000.
  • After a dormant period, the Charter Oak Chapter of B'NAI B'RITH approached all the original Fraternal organizations and revived the B-I-A in 1986 and even added two new groups the fold.
  • Today the Manchester area B-I-A is made up of Manchester Masonic Lodge #73, Tuscan Masonic Lodge #126, Friendship Masonic Lodge #145, Knights of Columbus #573 Campbell Council, Brotherhood of Beth Sholom B'nai Israel and Manchester Chapter of UNICO.
  • The revived B-I-A group having the good fortune of healthy families, decided the new focus of the group should be in the support of children with disabilities and/or life threatening illnesses.
  • Beneficiaries of the B-I-A's charity are as follows: the Mansfield Training School, Camp Kennedy, the Manchester Drug Advisory Council, the Manchester Teen Center at the NIKE site, Newington Cripple Childrens Home and Hospital, Manchester Memorial Hospital School of Radiology, the Manchester Scholarship Foundation, and many families in dire need of assistance with medical bills.
Since it's inception, the Brotherhood In Action of Manchester has donated over $80,000 to those in need. This year will be no different. We will try to affect the quality of life for a child and their family. Won't you come to our community breakfast and support the cause?