Building On the Past

Mass Bears & Cubs (MBC) follows in the footsteps of earlier Boston-area bear groups that helped shape and strengthen our community over many years. Those early efforts laid the foundation for what would eventually become a permanent, volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to connection, visibility, and giving back.

The Mass Bearz Era (2010–2016)

A key moment in the modern Boston bear community came with the formation of Mass Bearz in the early 2010s. One of the group’s primary goals was to revive a local bear competition, which had not been held since 2007. In 2011, the first Mr. Boston Bear Competition returned and quickly became an annual tradition.

One of Mass Bearz’s co-founders, Jeff Zirpolo, was a bartender at The Alley Bar and a visible, welcoming presence in the community. Through his warmth and wide network of friends, Jeff helped grow Mass Bearz, recruit members, and build momentum. One of his goals was to see the organization formally incorporated as a nonprofit.

Tragically, Jeff passed away in March 2016. The remaining members continued Mass Bearz’s work for several months, but the group ultimately dissolved in late 2016. Jeff’s impact, however, remains a lasting part of our story and spirit.

For further background information on Mass Bearz, check out these archived articles published by The Rainbow Times:

The Birth of Mass Bears & Cubs (2016–2019)

In the wake of Mass Bearz dissolving, former members and community supporters came together with a shared goal: to preserve the events, relationships, and sense of community that had formed — and to build something lasting.

Mass Bears & Cubs was formed as an unincorporated association and held its first board meeting on December 7, 2016. The group continued many of the community traditions that people had come to love, including:

  • Mr. Boston Bear

  • Annual holiday toy drives

  • Summer harbor cruises

  • Community service and fundraising events

From the beginning, the group committed to honoring Jeff Zirpolo’s original vision of becoming a formal nonprofit organization.

After nearly three years of organizational work, Mass Bears & Cubs, Inc. was officially incorporated on November 12, 2019, and recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The Pandemic Years (2020–2022)

Soon after incorporation, the world changed.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person gatherings across Boston and beyond, impacting many of the community spaces that had always been at the heart of MBC. Like many organizations, we had to pause, adapt, and rethink how to stay connected when gathering wasn’t possible.

During this period, Mass Bears & Cubs focused on:

  • Maintaining communication through email and social media

  • Supporting the community in new ways

  • Preserving momentum so the organization could come back strong when in-person events returned

The pandemic reshaped how people connect — and it reinforced why community spaces matter.

Rebuilding, Growing, and Evolving (2023–Present)

As Boston reopened and in-person life returned, Mass Bears & Cubs entered a pivotal new chapter. In October 2023, the organization elected Marko Zaric as President, alongside a refreshed Board committed to building on the community's foundations while charting an ambitious path forward.

One of the first priorities was strengthening MBC's identity. In December 2023, the Board approved a redesigned logo, and over the months that followed, the organization adopted a new mission statement, core values, and vision, formally ratified in April 2024. The website was migrated to a new platform under the massbearsandcubs.org domain, and MBC expanded its social media presence to include TikTok and Bluesky alongside its established Facebook and Instagram channels.

At the same time, the event calendar grew substantially. While longstanding traditions like Bear Tea at Club Café, Trivia Night at The Alley Bar, and the annual Bear Pride Harbor Cruise continued, the organization introduced several new recurring events:

  • Alley Bears, a monthly Saturday bear night at The Alley Bar

  • Bears Brews & Boys, a monthly Sunday gathering at Dorchester Brewing Company

  • Bear CommuniTea, a first-Sunday social at Club Café spotlighting a different community organization each month, including BAGLY, Network La Red, Boston Living Center, Victory Programs, and North Shore Pride

MBC also established a meaningful presence beyond Boston. A partnership with Worcester Pride led to collaborative events, including the BearSpray block party. During Provincetown Bear Week, MBC has co-sponsored and participated in events as part of the official Bear Week calendar. Board members have also represented the organization at gatherings from Ogunquit to Hartford through a Bear Migration outreach campaign.

In 2024, MBC created the Bear Benefactor program, an annual initiative pairing the reigning Boston Bear titleholder with a community nonprofit for a year of fundraising. The inaugural Bear Benefactor was the Boston Living Center, which received over $4,000 raised across multiple events throughout the year. For 2025, the program supported BAGLY (Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth), raising $5,000 for the organization. In 2026, the Board selected The History Project / Queer History Boston as that year's beneficiary. Between the Bear Benefactor program, event raffles, annual giving, and community fundraising efforts, MBC has raised and donated over $25,000 to charitable organizations to date.

Grant funding became another avenue for growth. A Better Beaches Partnership Grant from Save the Harbor / Save the Bay helped fund Bears at the Beach, a free summer community event at Nantasket Beach in Hull, an event MBC took over and produced independently beginning in 2025. A City of Boston Beyond Pride Grant was awarded in 2026 to support a Community Resources Fair as part of Bear Pride programming.

Behind the scenes, the organization undertook significant structural work. A formal membership program launched in late 2025, with tiered levels for General and Associate members, annual dues, custom MBC dog tags, and a benefits package including discounts at Club Café, Dorchester Brewing, and MBC events. Monthly virtual membership meetings opened a regular channel for the broader community to participate. The Boston Bear Competition was reimagined with co-hosts, a streamlined format, and a renewed focus on contestant and audience experience. The annual Bear Boutique holiday market at Club Café grew to feature eleven vendors and became an anchor event on the fall calendar.

The organization formalized its operations as well, adopting an annual budget process, two-year Board terms, a structured annual sponsorship program, and regular financial reporting. In January 2026, the Board voted to expand from four to five members, reflecting the growing scope of MBC's work.

Today, Mass Bears & Cubs operates with a year-round calendar of programming, a growing membership, active partnerships with venues and nonprofits across Massachusetts, and an organizational foundation built to last. What began as a small group of people determined to keep a community together has become a vibrant, volunteer-run nonprofit with real reach and no intention of slowing down.

Looking Ahead

Mass Bears & Cubs exists because people cared enough to keep showing up — through loss, change, a global pandemic, and moments of rebuilding. Our story is one of continuity, resilience, and community care.

This history isn’t finished. It’s still being written — by everyone who comes to an event, volunteers their time, becomes a member, partners with us, or simply shows up to connect.

Become a member today to be part of the next chapter.