ST. LOUIS - On Saturday, December 10th, 2011, the Saint Louis non-profit organization Show Me Bears presented four separate metro Saint Louis area charitable organizations with equal donations of $7,500.00.
The charities assisted were Project Ark, Bethany Place, Growing American Youth and Food Outreach. Project Ark and Bethany Place provide services to their respective communities in the effort against HIV/AIDS, while Food Outreach provides food and meals to those with HIV/AIDS or cancer. Growing American Youth gives social support to LGBT and questioning youth in the Saint Louis area.
The $30,000 donated to the four charities was raised during Show Me Bears annual social event, Hibearnation and was supplemented by smaller events conducted throughout the year, such as Mr. Heartland Bear. For the past 17 years, the Show Me Bears have organized and hosted Hibearnation, which is a social gathering for men from around the world here in Saint Louis, donating the proceeds to LGBT and HIV/AIDS related charities. With a roster of 107 members and growing, the Show Me Bears ended their 2011 season with these donations and looks forward to an even more successful 2012.
Pictured L to R: Stacey Slovacek (Project Ark), Dennis Horman (President of Show Me Bears), Mergan Keenan (Growing American Youth), Jason Sallee (Show Me Bears-Hibearnation Chairman), Angela Barnes (Bethany Place), Kenneth Posey (Show Me Bears - Hibearnation Committee Member), Kenny Ritch (Food Outreach) and Matt Goad (Show Me Bears - Hibearnation Committee Member).
