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09/05/2018 08:30 AMWhile Barbara Simone and her husband, Bill Guerra, don’t have any children of their own, much of their lives is devoted to helping boys in need. The couple has been married for 28 years and devotes much of their free time to the At-Risk Boys Fund (ARBF), which they founded about 10 years ago.
“We spend every weekend together because we’re doing something for the boys every weekend whether it’s going to an event, passing word around, or having a table at a farmers’ market or bringing awareness,” says Barbara, a banker at Liberty Bank. “It’s 24/7 with my husband and because I still work, it’s every weekend for me.”
One weekend for which she’ll surely be fully committed is the fourth annual Cruise, Blues & Brews, an all-day event on Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Chester Fairgrounds.
While ARBF accepts sponsors and donations online at atriskboysfund.com, much of the needed funding is raised through the efforts of Barbara, Guerra, the committee, and volunteers through fundraising events. In the beginning, the group hosted cocktail parties, but as the interest in those began to wane, they wanted a fresh idea.
“We wanted to reinvent our fundraising and everyone was doing cocktail parties and raffles so we got a group together and hashed out some ideas and it worked,” says Barbara.
The answer was Cruise, Blues & Brews, which combines a classic car show, blues bands, beer by Thimble Island, food trucks, local vendors, and a kids’ corner a touch-a-truck section with a firetruck, face-painting, games, prizes, and more. It returns to the fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is $5 for adults. Entry to the classic car show is $15 and the fee includes the car, driver, and a passenger.
“It’s a lot more work than the cocktail party, but it’s a fun event and there’s something for everybody,” says Barbara. “We have six blues bands and high-end food trucks with food from stuffed clams to crab cakes and pulled park. And of course, the classic cars that started it all. We have such great support from the people who own the cars.”
According to cruisebluesandbrews.com, “Connecticut bluesman Ramblin’ Dan Stevens put together the band lineup, which includes his own Ramblin’ Dan Stevens and the Fiery Band, Peter Magrane and the Drive By Blues Band, Blues on the Rocks, Ryan Hartt and Tom Ferraro, and Jake Kulak and the Lowdown with Braiden Sunshine, a semi-finalist on NBC’s The Voice in 2015.”
Over the years, the ARBF has raised more than $60,000 to help at-risk boys in the community and Barbara is hoping to add significantly to that total with this year’s event. She is thankful to the Connecticut Blues Society for supporting the event with its music, the owners of the classic cars, and the team of volunteers who work on the event.
“As this is our fourth year, we’ve matured as a group and are fine-tuning the event,” says Barbara. “We have other people helping us, which is great fun. We have a program this year and sold ads, which has helped raise money so this year, we’re well on our way to having a great September car show.”
While Cruise, Blues & Brews is the year’s major event, promoting ABRF is a year-round activity for the Barbara and Guerra (a 2017 Person of the Week).
“We both have our strengths,” she adds. “There’s not a shy bone in his body and once he gets started talking, we talk with a passion for what we do.”
Barbara can recall the moment when she realized just how important this cause is to her. She and her husband were attending an awards dinner at Mount Saint John School honoring the accomplishments of many of the boys.
“They were getting awards and had worked really hard to get there and there was only one parent there,” Barbara says. “They were so proud of what they did and there was no one there to tell them they’re doing a good job.”
Their mission became clear.
“We give funds to groups who can do that and support those boys,” she says.
The couple has lived in Chester for 26 years and Guerra previously served on the board of Mount Saint John School, which is now the Connecticut Transition Academy at Deep River. When the state pulled the funding for boys who were at risk, they were inspired and Guerra founded ARBF through the Middlesex Community Foundation.
“We were able to continue to do the work for boys who are at risk with no parental supervision at home,” says Barbara.
The ARBF aims to provide grants to non-profit organizations to fund programs that benefit boys and young men. It has funded after-school programs and initiatives in towns not only in Middlesex County, but throughout the state.
One program it has funded is the Buddy Bench, which is now in many schools throughout the state. When students are feeling lonely on the playground, they can go to the Buddy Bench; when other students see someone on the bench, they know to approach them as a friend.
One of Barbara’s favorite things about being involved with ARBF is meeting so many people in the community through volunteering and through partnerships as the ARBF works with many different organizations.
“We go to events where we know nobody and before you know it, we’re fast friends or have people who want to join our committee,” says Barbara. “There is a lot of collaboration and when people find out it’s for kids, they want to help.”
Cruise, Blues & Brews
The fourth annual Cruise, Blues & Brews to benefit the At-Risk Boys Fund of the Middlesex Community Foundation is on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chester Fairgrounds, 11 Kirtland Terrace, rain or shine. A $5 entry fee gives access to the classic car show, blues bands, beer by Thimble Island, food trucks, local vendors, and a kids’ corner a touch-a-truck section with a firetruck, face-painting, games, prizes, and more. For information, visit cruisebluesandbrews.com or atriskboysfund.com.