Harvard Club of Philadelphia

PhillyBOLT Benefit Event – Leadership in Philadelphia Today:
Panel Discussion and Reception 

This panel explores what leadership looks like in Philadelphia today - from youth leaders shaping their schools and neighborhoods, to grassroots organizers building community power, to elected officials driving systemic change. The conversation will center on actionable, hopeful models for strengthening civic engagement, public leadership, and neighborhood-based transformation. 

Panelists will share their lived experiences, describe the challenges and opportunities facing Philadelphia communities, and reflect on how cross-sector partnerships (nonprofits, government, philanthropy, and civic organizations) can drive lasting impact. A networking reception will follow.

Proceeds from the event go to PhillyBOLT.

Event Details:

When: Wednesday, January 21, 2025

Where: IBX Live, 1919 Market St., 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 

Program:

• 5:00 – 5:15 PM – Arrivals
• 5:15 – 6:00 PM – Panel conversation + audience Q&A
• 6:00 – 7:00 PM – Reception & networking 

Panelists:

• Garry Mills: Shoot Basketballs NOT People
• Faustine Gultom: Former BOLT Youth participant / current intern
• Hillary Do, Executive Director, PhillyBOLT

Tickets:

• $35 - Spark Donor (1) ticket – proceeds to PhillyBOLT
• $75 - Lightning Donor (1) ticket – proceeds to PhillyBOLT
• $250 - Thunder Donor (1) ticket – proceeds to PhillyBOLT, includes acknowledgement at event and in program 
• $250 - Event Sponsor (1) ticket – includes acknowledgment at event and in program, helps cover event costs
• If you would like to donate more than the ticket cost or donate but you can’t attend, visit phillybolt.org/donate.
   

Click here to RSVP

Hosted by PhillyBOLT and The Harvard Club of Philadelphia

Refreshments provided compliments of Yards Brewing Company    

Panelist Bios:

• Garry Mills is the Founder of Shoot Basketballs Not People (SBNP), a community-based non-profit born from his lived experiences growing up in Northwest Philadelphia.  Garry's dedication to community transformation has earned him recognition as a Wells Fargo Community Leader, Sixers "Heroes Among Us" Award recipient, Philadelphia Business Journal's Top 40 Entrepreneurs under 40, and a 2022 Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for the Golden Heart Award. Through SBNP, Garry empowers young people to see basketball as a vehicle for change, education, and community-building, reflecting his core belief that lasting change must be created by those who have lived the needs of their community.
     
• Faustine Gultom is a Program Intern at BOLT and alumni of BOLT's youth program. She is also a student at Thomas Jefferson University studying Health Sciences. She is passionate about youth leadership and helping young people recognize the power in their voices. Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Faustine became involved in community work through programs that centered youth empowerment. Through BOLT, she hopes to continue uplifting and advocating for youth voices.
   
• Hillary Do is the Founder & Executive Director of PhillyBOLT. She dreams of a Philadelphia where every neighborhood thrives, led by the people living in them. She is a Central High School alumnus (class of 272!) who graduated from Harvard in 2017 with a degree in Social Studies and Computer Science. She holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was a Leadership for Society Scholar. She has a background in civic technology, local government, community organizing, and business strategy. 

PhillyBOLT (Build Our Lives Together) is a nonprofit that works to cultivate, support, and empower grassroots leaders to drive community-led change. Our vision is for every neighborhood to thrive, led by the people living there. We focus on elevating residents of low-income neighborhoods to lead the change. We strongly believe this work has to be intergenerational, which is why we work with both community leaders to build their capacity and public school youth to build a pipeline of leaders with lived experience.