On Saturday, August 3, Philadelphians will have a chance to get to know two of the city’s unsung team of do-gooders, Bebashi: Transition to Hope and Urban Angel Foundation. Separately, each of these nonprofit organizations addresses health and wellness concerns, hunger, volunteerism and other issues facing disadvantaged communities. Read this Q+A to learn more about the organizations, then visit HalosforHope.org for information on what just might be one of the most fun—and beneficial—nights of the summer.

1.
On
Saturday,
August
3,
Philadelphians
will
have
a
chance
to
get
to
know
two
of
the
city’s
unsung
team
of
do-­‐gooders,
Bebashi:
Transition
to
Hope
and
Urban
Angel
Foundation.
Separately,
each
of
these
nonprofit
organizations
addresses
health
and
wellness
concerns,
hunger,
volunteerism
and
other
issues
facing
disadvantaged
communities.
Though
they
maintain
a
low
profile
among
donors
and
the
media,
their
visibility
is
high
among
the
individuals
they
serve.
And
despite
their
under-­‐the-­‐radar
personas,
their
impact
is
felt
among
a
population
that
struggles
to
stay
healthy,
educated
and
fed—essential
keys
to
success
and
wellbeing.
How
can
you
help?
Simple:
read
this
Q+A
to
learn
more
about
the
organizations,
then
visit
HalosforHope.org
for
information
on
what
just
might
be
one
of
the
most
fun—and
beneficial—nights
of
the
summer.
(Please
note
reply
source,
listed
as
BTTH
or
UAF)
What
are
your
mission
sound
bites?
BTTH:
Sexual
Health,
Breast
Health,
Hunger
Relief,
Education,
Empowerment
and
Advocacy
What services do you offer?
BTTH: We do so many things here, it’s
overwhelming at times to try and meet all the
needs that exist in our community. The short-
list includes prevention
education
workshops,
counseling
and
testing
for
HIV
sexually
transmitted
infections
and
pregnancy,
early
intervention
services,
psychosocial
support
groups
for
HIV+
individuals,
breast
health
education,
outreach,
and
referral
services,
and
an
emergency
food
cupboard.
Of all the demographics that you serve, who has the greatest need?
BTTH: Generally speaking, it’s underinsured
and
uninsured
minorities,
particularly
African
Americans.

2. What is the incidence of AIDS in Philadelphia?
BTTH:
The
rate
of
individuals
receiving
concurrent
HIV
and
AIDS
diagnoses
has
declined
in
recent
years,
a
result
of
more
individuals
undergoing
HIV
testing
earlier
during
the
course
of
their
infection.
But,
African
Americans
are
disproportionately
affected
and
infected
with
HIV
in
Philadelphia
and
nationwide.
Racial
disparities
in
HIV
infection
locally
are
particularly
marked;
African
Americans
represent
45%
of
the
Philadelphia
population
but
66%
of
new
HIV
infections.
What impact are your programs having on the teens that you serve?
BTTH:
We
offer
them
the
opportunity
to
receive
free,
walk-­‐in
testing,
counseling
and
referral
services
for
HIV,
Syphilis,
Chlamydia,
and
Gonorrhea
for
individuals
as
young
as
12—without
parental
consent—and
we
provide
them
with
free
contraception
and
strategies
for
risk
reduction,
along
with
a
judgment-­‐free
space
to
talk
about
their
sexual
habits
and
social
pressures.
What
are
the
most
important
messages
that
you
want
Philadelphians,
and
perhaps
local
politicians,
to
hear?
BTTH:
1:
We
need
to
eliminate
the
stigmas
and
deal
with
the
real
problems
around
health
issues.
2:
HIV/AIDS
is
still
increasing
in
our
city,
as
opposed
to
many
other
major
cities,
which
have
been
able
to
suppress
the
disease.
3:
We
are
in
need
of
support
as
we
trying
to
continue
and
expand
our
programs
and
services,
which
have
been
meeting
the
needs
of
so
many
of
their
constituents
for
28
years
now.
What are the benefits of your new partnership with UAF?
BTTH:
Right
away,
we
think
it
will
help
us
increase
our
visibility,
and
enhance
our
efforts
to
raise
awareness
among
their
members
as
well
as
the
local
community.
Moving
forward,
it
will
also
help
us
develop
new
relationships
and
avenues
for
in-­‐kind,
monetary
and
volunteer
support.
What
characteristics
and
skills
are
you
looking
for
your
volunteers
to
bring
to
the
organization?
UAF:
We
simply
want
people
to
pledge
TIME
and
the
willingness
to
improve
the
quality
of
life
in
the
communities
in
which
they
live,
and
work.
Volunteers
can
have
nominal
to
professional
skill
sets
and
we
will
disperse
volunteers
to
work
with
existing
NGO's
that
impact
education,
civil,
health,
social
service,
religious,
and
the
arts.

3.
How
do
you
acknowledge
those
who
volunteer
for
UAF?
UAF
volunteers
typically
get
an
instant
ROI
on
their
time
and
effort.
We
utilize
social
media
to
acknowledge
volunteers
and
highlight
their
contributions
at
monthly
social
gatherings.
Additionally,
we
use
established
best
practices.
How
many
volunteers
do
you
currently
have?
UAF:
We
currently
have
over
400
people
waiting
to
be
assigned
volunteer
opportunities
but
have
to
build
our
infrastructure
to
coordinate
their
dismemberment.
This
fundraiser
will
help
to
do
so.
BTTH:
We
have
approximately
30
volunteers
assisting
us
with
our
initiatives.
What
are
the
most
important
messages
that
UAF
would
like
Philadelphians,
and
perhaps
local
politicians,
to
hear?
UAF:
Many
of
Philadelphia's
social
and
economical
problems
could
be
slightly
to
dramatically
improve
through
volunteerism.
Our
state
ranks
31
out
of
50
states
in
volunteerism,
and
UAF
is
working
to
bridge
that
gap
which
will
provide
MILLIONS
of
dollars
via
in-­‐kinds
services
to
the
region.
How
will
your
new
partnership
with
Bebashi
benefit
UAF?
UAF:
The
money
raised
will
enable
us
to
launch
our
staple
program
URBAN
ANGEL
365.
The
goal
of
the
program
is
to
provide
50,000
hours
of
skills
based
volunteering
and
pro-­‐bono
services.
In
lieu
of
an
official
website,
where
can
supporters
find
information
on
Urban
Angel
Foundation?
UAF:
Currently
Facebook
is
the
best
place
to
keep
up
with
us,
but
the
event
website
talks
about
the
whole
picture.
ON
THE
EVENT...
Give
us
the
5Ws:
Who:
Bebashi
-­‐
Transition
to
Hope
and
Urban
Angel
Foundation
What:
Halos
For
Hope
When:
Saturday,
August
3
at
7pm
Where:
Pennsylvania
Academy
of
Fine
Arts
Why:
To
raise
funds
for
greatly-­‐needed
health,
nutrition
and
volunteer
services
provided
throughout
our
community

4. Where
will
funds
go?
The
proceeds
will
support
the
health
disparity
related
programs
and
services
of
Bebashi:
Transition
to
Hope
and
the
capacity
building
efforts
of
the
Urban
Angel
Foundation.
Bebashi
aims
to
further
extend
its
reach
into
the
urban
communities
of
Philadelphia
in
able
to
assist
great
numbers
of
undeserved
minority
populations
by
connecting
them
to
health
services.
Urban
Angel
Foundation
has
a
goal
in
mind,
of
services
hours
for
its
new
volunteer
year.
The
organization
is
striving
to
connect
as
many
urban
professionals
to
local
service
projects
as
possible
in
an
effort
to
support
the
initiatives
of
community-­‐based
organizations.
Why
is
this
event
important
outside
your
organizations?
During
difficult
economic
times,
people
are
truly
in
need.
The
level
of
need
goes
beyond
individuals
and
families,
and
extends
to
nonprofits
that
are
trying
to
address
problems
within
local
communities.
With
obstacles
like
funding
cuts,
nonprofits
and
their
staffs
must
work
harder
and
be
more
resourceful
at
finding
ways
to
keep
their
doors
open
and
their
services
available
to
the
general
public.
This
fundraiser
is
a
huge
effort
to
support
the
wonderful
and
critical
work
being
done
by
these
two
organizations.
The
absences
of
the
services
being
offered
by
both
organizations
would
leave
countless
local
residents
displaced
in
a
number
of
ways,
and
we
cannot
let
that
happen.
We
want
to
connect
with
and
engage
our
audience
and
help
them
to
understand
just
how
very
valuable
they
are
in
terms
of
making
a
difference.
No
act
of
generosity
is
too
small,
and
this
is
the
message
that
we
want
to
convey.
We
are
trying
to
evoke
a
spirit
of
giving
and
impress
upon
people
just
how
far
their
gift
can
go.

5.
For
those
who
cannot
attend
but
wish
to
contribute,
where
should
they
go
to
make
a
donation?
Please
visit
halosforhope.org
and
click
"Donate".
Or,
call
(215)
769-­‐3561,
ext.140,
to
discuss
additional
ways
to
show
support.