The mission of Wasatch United Front is to inspire the people of Salt Lake City to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors through compassion, education and community support.

Goals

• To help build a community that works together to strengthen and support each other.
• To enhance the quality of life in Salt Lake by raising and distributing funds to established and successful programs that are responsive to the needs of individuals, families, and groups seeking assistance.
• To educate the public on the issues and challenges facing members within our community.

Wasatch United Front (WUF) is a local 501 (c)(3) that was founded in 2007 by Nova Tall who has spent several years working on behalf of the homeless and other vulnerable groups by organizing various fundraisers. Ms. Tall organized her first benefit concert when she was only 22 with all proceeds being donated to programs for children with cancer. Two years later she spearheaded a masquerade ball to help raise money for paraplegic youth in Salt Lake City.

Ms. Tall has received community wide support and recognition for her efforts to help those less fortunate. In March 2008 she was honored at the annual Utah Red Cross luncheon for Heroes due to her contribution to the community through the first Benefit for the Homeless. In addition to receiving a Gold Book Society award at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, she has also received special letter of thanks from Peter Corroon and other government officials.

Inagural Benefit for the Homeless

Based on her experience working with the homeless population through AmeriCorps, Ms. Tall feels very strongly that this issue deserves more attention. The total number of people to experience homelessness is on the rise increasing 12% since 2005. According to Utah Point-in-Time Count on January 31, 2008, there were 3,316 people reported as homeless. Of those, 3,068 were sheltered and 248 were unsheltered. Of the 3,068 sheltered homeless, 1,820, or 61% are male and 39% are female with the fastest growing segment of the homeless population being families. WUF is dedicated to help prevent chronic homelessness among single individuals and families in the Salt Lake County.

On September 9, 2007 Wasatch United Front organized the Inaugural Help Prevent Homeless Benefit which was held downtown at the Gallivan Center. Close to 1,000 people attended the all day concert which featured various local bands including the reggae beats of Afro Omega to the rocking sounds of the Debbie Graham Band to the popular indie rock bank Calico. The event also features several local artists and tasty treats from various locally owned and operated restaurants. Through ticket and beverage sales over $7,000 was raised and distributed to various programs that target moving people from homelessness to self sufficiency. The Harp Program used the proceeds to purchase and organize “starter kits” which included basic household supplies distributed to over 80 homeless families and individuals that were moving into apartments.

*2nd Annual Benefit for the Homeless*

We are pleased to announce that WUF will be partnering with KRCL to host the 2nd annual Benefit for the Homeless which has been renamed LAHPAH Fest. LAHPAH stands for Local Artists Helping Prevent and Assist the Homeless. We believe the name better reflects the goals and mission of the benefit. This year’s festival will be held on September 7, 2008 from 12 PM to 10PM at the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake City. The event will feature an even wider variety of local artists and food vendors as well as a second stage which will feature local acoustics artists. Featured local musicians will include the reappearance of the Debbie Graham Band and Our Time and Space and also sounds of Collin Robinson’s Honest Soul whose soul, blues and roots music is influenced by artists as varied as Jeff Buckley and Ray Charles.

All money raised from this year’s benefit will go towards assisting kids through donation to the groups Youth City and Utah Youth Mentor Project.

Future of WUF

WUF will continue improving and increasing public awareness of LAHPAH Fest and the programs it supports for years to come. In addition we are looking at alternative ways to raise funds and bring the community together to support an even wider variety of programs. In the spring of 2009 we have tentatively scheduled a masquerade ball in conjunction with a silent auction in which funds raised will help offset some of the administrative costs of WUF as well as contribute to programs targeted at helping the homeless. Long term WUF would like to create an after school facility that will offer various classes to kids ages 10-18 and provide assistance for foster kids in transitioning into adulthood.