Brandon Nguyen
North Hollywood Chapter
California, USA
"At first, I joined mostly on a whim...
however, realizing the huge difference
one person could make, I found myself
going to meetings for the next few years."
Read the rest of Brandon's answers.
Richard Liang is from Fremont, California. He actively participates in the arts program at his school, playing cello in his school’s orchestra and percussion in the jazz band. Richard founded and led the VAMS Chapter at Mission San Jose High School. During the end of his junior year in high school, he was selected as our Director of Growth and Development. He likes that VAMS not only serves the community, but also encourages student leadership. He hopes to "learn a lot from VAMS, including communication, writing, and leadership skills."
FAQ’s
What does VAMS stand for?
VAMS is an acronym for Visual Arts and Music for Society.
What type of organization is VAMS International?
VAMS International is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Who can get involved?
Anyone. Some possible ways to get involved include joining an existing chapter, starting a new chapter, interning, requesting service, providing donations, or simply spreading the word.
Who is responsible for VAMS International?
The club owes its life to the student volunteers of various high schools and communities. As an organization run by youth, VAMS strives to maintain an open and inclusive structure. The VAMS Executive Board manages the larger aspects of the nonprofit, cementing its place in the present and laying the foundations to reach out even further in the future, while the individual High School Chapters are able to act independently, organizing their own outreach events for those most at need in their communities.
Where is VAMS International headquartered?
VAMS International is currently based in Northridge, California.
What differentiates VAMS from other community service organizations?
It is completely student-organized, and relies on the leadership abilities and talents of youth around the world. Moreover, we do not earn anything, except the smiles and happiness of others; all of our members and advisors volunteer their time and receive no monetary compensation.
Can I write-off for my monetary contribution?
VAMS International is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 corporation, or a non-profit organization. As such, anyone who makes a monetary contribution to our organization will be issued a receipt, which can be used to deduct his or her contribution as an income tax deduction. For specifics, please contact your tax advisor.
If I can’t make a monetary contribution or time contribution, is there any other way I can help?
Yes. Our organization's future success depends on public awareness of VAMS and its efforts. If you know someone who might be interested in contributing or benefitting from our cause, please refer them to our website.
Where can I view this website's site map?
View our site map here.
If you have any other questions, please contact us or stay tuned for updates to this page.
Ian Clarke received a full ride to Indiana University, where he studies music composition. He has also been selected as a Berklee College of Music presenting film score composer, and earned recognition from the Beverly Hills Literary Society and the Kauai Peace Project. In high school, Ian studied the piano, flute, piccolo, guitar, and Indonesian gamelan. He used his expertise to reach out to the community through VAMS. What does this musician have to tell us about music? "One of the most important things to understand about creating music is that, regardless of how much music theory you know, or how much technical ability you possess, your music will be hollow and uninteresting if you lack emotional integrity."
