PHILADELPHIA – Several trailblazing community organizations supported by the City’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) will be honored at the UniverSoul Circus’ “Violence Prevention Night.” The event will be held on Wednesday, November 27 at 7:00 p.m. at 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue in Fairmount Park.

Ten recipients of OVP’s Targeted Community Investment Grant program will share details of their work, supported by City seed money to help prevent and reduce gun-related tragedies among youth and young adults in neighborhoods most prone to violence.

The public is invited to come out for a night of fun, acrobatic talent, and a celebration of culture while learning about the important life-saving work of the recipient groups.

First launched by Mayor Jim Kenney in 2017, the Office of Violence Prevention is responsible for assessment and coordination of funds for anti-violence programs spread out across several departments. OVP’s work is guided by the Philadelphia Roadmap to Safer Communities, a comprehensive action plan to address the root causes of gun violence in neighborhoods in the city.

The Targeted Community Investment Grant Program is a fundamental part of the Roadmap. Grant recipients can receive funding ranging from $500 to $20,000, to support new or existing programs that focus on preventing or reducing gun violence among youth and young adults. A special emphasis will be place on funding projects in areas most impacted by gun violence.

More than 25 million people have seen the UniverSoul Circus in more than 14,000 shows performed over 25 years. For tickets to the UniverSoul Circus “Violence Prevention Night” visit UniverSoulCircus.com.