Restoring hope and peace in Philadelphia and beyond

HUGS is here to help you connect with other parents who know what you are going through, as well as help you find the support and services you need to improve the quality of life for your children and family.  

We promote partnership with families, professionals, and the community at large, because it is through partnership that we create a community where our children can thrive. 

 We also create training groups with parents who have children with similar special needs that provide information. The program works in a very simple way: parents who are trained and gain experience are empowered to support parents who are new to the program. 

HUGS began with our founder Ivan Vila, who has been working in the mental health field in Philadelphia, PA for over 18 years. With the challenging pandemic of 2020, he felt that something had to be done to help families in need. With the support of family and close friends, H.U.G.S. (Humanity United 4 Global Support) was created to help the most vulnerable communities during this pandemic. 

Post-pandemic, H.U.G.S began new ventures to support the growing  immigrant population in the Philadelphia area. With the support of now Vice President Emma Gillam and her daughter Emily Gillam, personal development workshops were implemented virtually and hosted once a month in which guest speakers and experts in different fields from around the globe shared their insight into different important and empowering topics.

Now located in NorthEast Philadelphia, we are bridging the gap between local resources and the range of needs immigrant families have (such as medical, educational, legal,etc) in order for them to successfully transition into this country.