From left: Phat Friends off the Hizzle Youth Hosts Tony Bush, Jr, Hellen Li, Amani Barnes, Eulanna Allen; BACIC President, Joyce Dattner; BACIC Director of Youth Programs Dr. Elouise Joseph; Youth Hosts Latiisha Hester, Jolene Blessing, Malique Cooper and Luis Garcia

On May 3, the Bay Area Center for Independent Culture (BACIC) held its second annual Phat Friends off the Hizzle! Awards Dinner to benefit the Bay Area All Stars Talent Show Network. The Phat Friends benefit, which honors unsung local adult heroes and heroines, was held at Scott's Seafood Restaurant in Oakland and attended by 155 donors and their guests. The evening was co-hosted by BACIC's Director of Youth Programs, Dr. Elouise Joseph, and All Stars emcee Tony Bush, Jr. The honorees were selected by a committee of young people and included three Oakland school teachers, an athletic coach and a beloved All Stars security guard.

Each table was hosted by an All Stars youth, and the evening's highlight was several high-energy dance performances by All Stars alumni Little T and the Pee Wee Crew, the Little Mamas and Maj, followed by an ensemble finale in which the audience was invited to join the young performers. The spirited event raised $40,000 for the Bay Area All Stars.

On May 20 BACIC held a Sidewalk Spectacular (volunteer street-fundraising campaign) in the heart of San Francisco's Castro district, bringing together its seasoned street fundraising team with a volunteer team that spanned all ages.

The Bay Area Center for Independent Culture (BACIC), an independently funded San Francisco/Bay Area nonprofit, produces the All Stars Talent Show Network youth development program in the region. For more information on future events, to donate, or to get involved, please call 415-986-2565 or visit BACIC's website.