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Learn all about our 18th Annual Gala, new and old volunteers and more in this month's issue!
Citation preview
OCTOBER 2013
Family matters
May 2015
Bethesda Project supporters raise over $270,000 at Gala
Bethesda Project’s 18th Annual Gala & Auction was a night we’ll never forget. Held on May 6 at The
Diamond Club at Citizens Bank Park, the event featured great food, old and new friends and lots of
wonderful silent and live auction items. We were so lucky to welcome back auctioneer, comedian and
Saturday Night Live alum Joe Piscopo and legendary Flyers goalie, Bernie Parent. Bob Kelly, Traffic
Reporter, and Karen Hepp, Anchor and Reporter, of FOX 29 News joined us for the first time and they
were the life of the party. This year’s Honorary Gala Chairman was former Pennsylvania governor,
The Honorable Ed Rendell. Bethesda Project also recognized its founder and exiting CEO, Domenic
Rossi, and entertainment for the night was provided by comedian Jeff Norris. Make sure to check out
our Facebook page for photos from the night (and don't forget to "like" us!)
Continued on page 2
Because of the generosity of our donors, sponsors, friends and family, we were able to raise
$270,000 in general operating funds that will help support our 13 different sites across Center City
Philadelphia. Thank you to all those who made this night so unforgettable!
Bethesda Project’s 18th Annual Gala & Auction Some photos from this fun night. For more, visit our Facebook page
Supporters of Bethesda Project enjoy the beautiful view at Citizens Bank Park.
Founder & exiting CEO, Fr. Domenic Rossi, receives Lifetime Service Award
Former Pennsylvania governor, The Honorable Ed Rendell (left) with Bethesda Project’s CEO, Hentzi Elek
Bob Kelly and Karen Hepp of FOX 29 News with Hentzi Elek
Bethesda Project partners with Whole Foods Market Callowhill
and South Street Stores, receives over $20K in in-kind food
donations and cash contributions. Whole Foods Market—Callowhill and South Street stores raise $21,993.38
through Feed4More and Nickels for Nonprofits campaigns.
Bethesda Project received a ‘whole’-hearted donation this
month from Whole Foods Market Callowhill and South
Street stores, who raised $21,993.38 in cash and in-kind
donations of food through their Nickels for Nonprofits and
Feed4More campaigns in the spirit of National Hunger &
Homeless Awareness Week. All items are donated “at-cost,”
with $2,405.75 coming from Nickels for Nonprofits and
$19,587.63 being the value of the food provided by
Feed4More funds.
Feed4More is an annual program where Whole Foods
Market provides a chance for customers to donate a $10
bag of food. This food was then delivered to Bethesda
Project. Customers are given the chance to donate at the
registers or online. This donation goes towards 365
Everyday Value® products such as vegetable soup, black
beans and applesauce. Nickels for Nonprofits allows
customers who bring in their own bags to have the option
of receiving 5 cent credit, per bag, or donating it to a
selected charity.
Whole Foods Market Callowhill Marketing Team Leader
Patricia Delude said the Feed4More program helps provide
much needed support to the communities that surround
Whole Foods Market Callowhill and South Street stores.
“Feed4More presents a tremendous opportunity to help our
neighbors. We’re so thankful to our customers for making
this level of support possible,” Delude said.
The food donations will be divided between eight of the 13
housing and shelter sites that Bethesda Project runs.
Bethesda Project Chief Executive Officer Hentzi Elek said
the partnership helps promote the importance of hunger
alleviation throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.
“It’s important for all of us—organizations and businesses
alike—to support the needs of our most marginalized
citizens,” he said. “Partnerships like these fuel the fight
against hunger and homelessness.”
Organization inspires OBP residents to run towards their dreams
It’s 5 a.m. and most of us—or at least we hope—are sleeping soundly, but for one group of
dedicated runners, 5 a.m. is just the start of their day.
Back on My Feet Philadelphia is a part of
the national chapter of Back on My Feet, a
for-purpose 501(c)3 organization that uses
running to help those experiencing
homelessness change the way they see
themselves so they can make real change
that results in employment and
independent living.
Originally started in Philadelphia in 2007, Back on My Feet has 11 chapters nationwide.
Runners consist of individuals who live at homeless shelters or supportive housing in
Philadelphia and volunteers of Back on My Feet Philadelphia. Every Monday, Wednesday and
Friday at 5:30 a.m., volunteers and guests from Our Brothers’ Place (OBP), an emergency
shelter for 150 homeless men operated by Bethesda Project, meet with laced up sneakers and
the willingness to push themselves a little further.
Pat Duffy and Kevin Dowd are dedicated runners and volunteers for Back on My Feet
Philadelphia. Duffy, team leader for the running group at OBP, has been volunteering with
Back on My Feet since February 2014 and used the organization as a teaching tool for his 14-
year old son.
“My son, as part of his confirmation service project, fundraised for Back on My Feet in order
to gain entry into the 2014 Broad Street Run,” he said. “I wanted him to have a better sense of
the organization other than simply raising money, so I
told him that we were going to volunteer to run with
OBP. I was intrigued by the idea that running can help
address homelessness.”
Dowd has been volunteering for Back on My Feet since
January 2014. As a longtime runner, Dowd has felt the
positive focus and self-discipline that running has given
the residents at OBP and said his day job reinforces the
importance of supportive services for homeless
communities.
“My day job is working in the world of affordable
Continued on page 5
Back on My Feet
housing development, so my respect for the importance of stable, safe, and affordable housing has
always run deep,” he said. “Back on My Feet gives me an opportunity to marry these two very
important aspects of my life.”
The group usually consists of 7-8 guests from OBP and 25-30 regularly active non-residential
members. Duffy said recently, the group has been joined by a van full of Villanova University
students on Friday and fraternity brothers from Temple University’s Phi Kappa Theta.
Duffy said the group generally has 2-3 route options, including runs that go over the Ben Franklin
Bridge or to the Art Museum, and that range from one mile to four miles. He said all skill levels are
present during the runs.
“Some people struggle to walk a mile, and some breeze along at an eight minute per mile pace,” he
said. “All are welcome and no one runs alone.”
Duffy said he enjoys watching his friends and fellow runners from OBP grow.
“I think there are several positive impacts that Back on My Feet has on my friends experiencing
homelessness,” he said. “There is structure and accountability that participating in this program
demands, and there is a tremendous sense of accomplishment as residents reach milestones.
Residents show up tentative and a bit nervous and next thing you know, their team is gathered
around them cheering as we hang a 50 mile medal around their neck.”
Dowd said Back on My Feet provides not only a chance to stay active and healthy three times a
week, but also provides a sense of community for the residents.
“During my time with our OBP team, I have watched a real sense of community develop,” he said.
“I think the sense of camaraderie is great - not just for the residents, but for our non-resident
members as well. We honestly have a blast, which is not an easy thing to do at 5:30 a.m.!”
From page 4
“I have never been around a more inspiring and energetic
group. We also give really great high fives.” - Kevin
MBH residents put creative minds together for mural
Earlier this year, Bethesda Project received a grant from Bloktoberfest to start work on a
project that has been in the hearts and minds of staff for a long time.
Residents at My Brother’s House are creating a mural under the
leadership of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens Founding Artist, Isaiah
Zagar.
The mural will be displayed outside of Bethesda Project’s My
Brother’s House at 609 S. 15th Street, a Safe Haven program
offering pre-recovery housing and an array of supportive services to
20 vulnerable men with chronic mental illness and substance abuse
problems. MBH Program Coordinator, Larry Russock, said the
mural will be a welcomed addition to both the house and the
neighborhood.
“Shelters kind of have a
shabby look to them but
the work people are doing inside the house is
transformative.” He added, “People are coming
from trying circumstances, especially the guys
that come to our house. They are transforming
their lives when they come to us.”
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG) inspires
creativity and community engagement by
educating the public about folk,
mosaic, and visionary art. PMG preserves, interprets, and provides
access to Isaiah Zagar’s unique mosaic art environment and his
public murals.
On April 1, Education & Outreach Manager, Olivia Edlund, came
to MBH to do a presentation on the process of creating the mural.
Residents were engaged, asking questions and showing extreme
interest in the project. A tour and question and answer session with
Isaiah Zagar followed on April 8 at the Magic Gardens, with
residents getting a taste of what they could create.
On May 5, MBH residents designed the tiles that will be used for
the mural, which will be installed on May 28-29. Stay tuned for
more updates in our June newsletter!
Photos courtesy of Misty Sparks
MBH resident enjoys the sights
of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
Tiles made by MBH residents
Residents at MBH create the tiles for their mural
Muslim group serves men at OBP with dignity
For approximately the past five years, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community sets
up shop at Our Brothers’ Place at 3 p.m.—when the cooking begins—every
Monday. At first a once-a-month
gig, Ahmadiyya soon found out that
their presence and service was
increasingly needed at Our Brothers’
Place.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community,
which hails from North
Philadelphia, prepares a traditional
Pakistani meal, which they serve to
the residents at 5 p.m.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has over 70 chapters all across the country,
with Philadelphia’s chapter beginning in 1920.
President of the group, Mujeebullah Chaudhary, said the community
organization finds it important to follow the teachings of the Quran, further
motivating their outreach at OBP.
“Allah commands that you should feed the
hungry regardless of who they are,” he said.
“It is an act of humanity that you share with
those people who are less fortunate.”
Thank you so much to the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community for volunteering for Bethesda
Project. To keep up with the latest from the
group, follow them on Twitter.
Bethesda Project residents receive a “hoppy” gift
Bethesda Project residents had a special treat from Junior Girl Scout Troop #42165 this
Easter holiday. The 12 girls in the Troop made Easter baskets for our guests and residents.
The Troop contributed candy to each of
the baskets. Longtime Bethesda Project
supporter, Mary Ann Flynn, supplied the
baskets and grass, while co-leaders of the
troop, Nicole O’Brien and Christa Amos
and Amos’ daughter, Sophia, helped put
the baskets together, creating a wonderful
team effort. Amos said some of the
Troop’s Girl Scout cookie proceeds
helped pay for the ribbons, decorations,
candy and cookie boxes for the baskets.
Amos said she and Flynn discussed their interest in providing the residences with Easter
baskets. She said the opportunity seemed perfect for the Troop.
“When I met with the Troop, I began by explaining what Bethesda Project is and how it
helps change the lives of individuals who are in need of help,” she said. “I showed the
girls the brochures that show photos of the residents and how happy they are to have a
place to call home and to ‘hang their hat.’"
Amos said working with Bethesda Project could be an impactful teaching lesson for the
4th graders, who Amos said are at the age where they can understand the needs of people
both in their community and out of it.
“My hope is to have them understand and appreciate all types of individuals from all
demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds,” she said. “Everyone has a story to tell and
a heart to share it. It is my hope that the girls will grow as individuals that seek to listen,
understand, care and act.”
Amos hopes to continue the partnership
between Bethesda Project and the Junior
Girl Scout Troop #42165.
All photos provided by Christa Amos
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1630 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Tel: (215) 985-1600
Fax: (215) 732-8214
www.bethesdaproject.org
Our Annual Report is out!
The 2014 Annual Report, titled I am Bethesda Project, is now available online. You may
download a PDF copy by visiting our website, www.bethesdaproject.org and clicking on
About Us, then Publications. For donors who contributed in fiscal year 2014, a printed copy
has been mailed.
Thank you for your continued support of Bethesda Project, a caring family for Philadelphia’s
homeless!