MARCH 2022 NEWSLETTER

The Relief Committee continues to receive a steady flow of applications requesting financial assistance from the Benevolent Society. Recent requests are from individuals who face unexpected medical diagnoses, single mothers making ends meet, contract workers still trying to overcome challenges caused by the pandemic, and senior Brits struggling to pay for desperately needed medical equipment.

We remain in contact with a Brit who has had a tremendously difficult several months. He suffers from a very rare autoimmune condition and is receiving chemotherapy treatment. Just a little over a year ago he was an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. After a lengthy diagnosis process coupled with an inability to work, he struggled to pay rent, buy food and manage day to day activities. This is a particularly heartbreaking case because terminal illness can lead to financial devastation and unforgiving personal hardships. The BBS has been able to provide a lifeline for this recipient with compassionate financial assistance.

Another case involved a British family who traveled to LA to participate in a clinical trial for their 12 year old son who has a brain tumor. The journey to the US was particularly difficult for the child and sadly he was unable to participate in the trial because of brain swelling. The family was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to not participating in the trial and return to be with loved ones in the UK. His health declined so quickly that the outlook became bleak. The BBS provided financial assistance to help with some of the unexpected medical expenses incurred while in LA.

We also received a request for repatriation from a Brit who could no longer afford to wait for his Green Card. After more than 9 months without work, it became impossible to support himself and he asked the BBS for assistance in returning to the UK.

The pandemic continues to cause financial stress on many who rely on short term contract work. One of our recent applicants, Sara, received a huge setback when she was hired for a voiceover job but the company canceled the contract and paid her a fraction of one month’s salary. The BBS provided her with a $1,500 Covid19 Grant which she will use to make rent.

Thank you for your donations, support and memberships, which all help the BBS to provide financial assistance to Brits in need.

Calling All Volunteers

We are ramping up planning and organizing our 2nd annual MidSummer’s Eve Celebration!

Last year was a huge success and the BBS was able to raise more than $11,000 for Brits in need. The afternoon was a lot of fun and we hope to do the same thing again this year….but slightly bigger. We are going to need your help. We are looking for volunteers interested in helping with various stages of planning as well as support on the day of the event. There is room for everyone to become involved and make this special event even more spectacular.

Please contact Jenn Baker or call us at 415.421.7195 for more information about volunteering with the BBS.

Upcoming Events

Monthly Happy Hour

Date: Thursday April 21

Time: 5:30

Place: King George Hotel in San Francisco

Tickets: $20 for BBS members + complimentary non-member ticket

Come celebrate St. George’s Day with us!

This mixer and new member drive event will be a fun social gathering bringing together members of the BBS and the British American Business Council Northern California. The aim is to bring the British community together and introduce potential new members to both our organizations.

Tickets:

• $20 BBS Members
• BBS Non-Member Guest of a member – Complimentary

Space is limited and registration is required.

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and one drink ticket included.

Great British Bake Off

Date: April 23

Time: 3-4:30

Place: The Comfort of Your Own Home

Registration: $30 per team

As a way to have some fun and bring the community together we are doing the most British thing possible…hosting our 2nd Great British Bake Off virtual fundraiser! We hope that you will participate and invite your anglophile friends to join. This year the Bake Off will be particularly special as we celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee!

In keeping with the theme of the Jubilee, we are asking all participants to plan and bake their favorite dessert. Just as last year, the day before the event (Friday 22 April), participants will be asked to submit a short video of what they plan to bake — just like the show. All the participant videos will be edited together and shown at the virtual fundraiser on Saturday 23 April.

The winning dessert will be an important part of the celebrations marking Her Majesty’s 70th year as Monarch. The winner of the BBS Great British Bake Off will play a special role in celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee alongside our partners at the British Consulate General in San Francisco.

You will need register for the event and complete the Google Event Form so that we know what you will be baking. Questions? Contact us.

BBS Events Calendar

We are pleased to share with you an independent film produced by one of our members Lawrence Aldredge.  SCRUM follows the journey of one of the first Black college rugby coaches in the US as he builds a championship-winning team.

All you will need to do is register with the site and pay the small ticket price of $10, you will receive a link providing access to the film. The BBS will receive a portion of the proceeds.

Thanks Lawrence and we hope all of our rugby fans enjoy the film!