The Bedford Village Chowder & Marching Club was founded in 1956 with the mission
to raise funds for local youth-related programs in the Village of Bedford, NY. The
Club raises funds through two annual events, Spring Clean-up Weekend and the Fall
Dinner Dance. The Club’s fund-raising efforts help provide support for arts programs,
club and school sports, scouts, athletics, youth outreach, scholarship and community
service. Our mission is to raise funds through community events and to donate
all such funds to worthwhile youth-based activities for the children of the Village
of Bedford. Particularly to those activities concerned with the educational, moral,
mental, physical and civic betterment of the youth of our community.
It is thought that Chowder & Marching societies were originally organized during
pre-Revolutionary times where groups of concerned citizens gathered together
over chowder to discuss current affairs and then march into Town to air their grievances. Today, the Bedford Village C&M Club meets monthly to review requests
for funds, plan fund-raisers and discuss issues relevant to its charter.
Membership is limited to twenty families. This is due to the original C&M Club
members’ who thought that a maximum of twenty families could comfortably fit in a
living room, where monthly meetings are conducted.
The Bedford Village Chowder & Marching Club is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.