Q Spot Philly, an initiative that offers LGBTQ youth resources, information, entertainment and social opportunities, will host its first gala next month.
Q Spot Philly is a program of the Educational Justice Coalition, which provides career and educational development for LGBT young adults.
The Q Gala will be held from 6-9:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
EJC founder Quincy Greene created Q Spot Philly to provide an alternate and safe social experience for LGBT youth. The monthly program is currently housed at William Way.
The gala will serve as a fundraiser for Q Spot Philly and will feature speakers such as Philadelphia City Councilman Mark Squilla and out chef and former “Hell’s Kitchen” contestant Joy Parham, as well as members of the Q Spot Pageant Royal Court and the Philadelphia Young Leaders Council.
William Way and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia will be honored at the event due to their longstanding support of Q Spot.
“The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has given us free space and hygiene kits for the young people who attend our events. They talk about pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV testing and they have been the most selfness people in the world,” Greene said. “The William Way LGBT Community Center has given us a space at a discounted rate to host our programming.”
Greene is aiming for the gala to raise $5,000 for Q Spot programming. He said the monthly program relies primarily on private donations.
“When we were founded, we had very little money and most of the work was done by volunteers,” he said. “We have low resources but it was the power that moved things forward, and our volunteer and community partners are the only way we are able to do the much-needed work. But there comes a point where you need to raise money to keep programming going.”
The monthly Q Spot Philly event provides LGBT youth free food, social opportunities, HIV testing, access to life-skills training, public-transportation fare and other resources.
“Many of the youth who come to our program are housing-insecure or homeless,” Greene said. “They are lacking daily nutritious meals and the amenities they need. The young people love and need this program.”
Greene said the youth involved with Q Spot have been directly involved in developing the program.
“We have a great and dynamic group of young individuals,” he said. “Last month, we hosted a pageant and these young people raised $500 in two weeks’ time for the event. They went out there on their own and hit the pavement and raised all of that money on their own.”
Greene said he is energized by the response he’s already seen for the gala, with five tables already sold.
Tickets for Q Gala, which include dinner, are $25 for individuals and $100 for a table of eight.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.gofundme.com/az95k0.