David’s Harp Foundation
It is the mission of David’s Harp Foundation “to inspire, educate and empower system affect and homeless youth to achieve academic success through music education, sound engineering and multimedia production.”
David’s Harp Foundation serves at-risk youth who are referred by various social service organizations (SDYS Storefront Emergency Teen Shelter, Monarch School, Voices for Children), school districts, San Diego Probation Department, and other agencies in San Diego County that share the Foundation’s commitment to improving the lives of young people who are full of potential but lacking mentorship or access to reach that potential.
DHF is serving youth during the critical hours when youth violence, drug use, and other delinquent behaviors are most likely to occur. DHF is providing long-term solutions to these behaviors through: (1) mentorship and academic accountability; (2) providing a safe haven and creative space to form positive relationships; (3) new skills in music production, audio engineering, photography and video creation; (4) academic support, practical job training and transferable entrepreneurial and business skills; and (5) a sense of opportunity, accomplishment and hope for the future. A recent YouTube Video was produced that depicts the positive impact DHF has on our community.
In 2017, with a grant of $20,000, The Parker Foundation was a lead supporter of DHF.
“In 2017, we were at a tipping point as an organization. We had developed a powerful platform to build mentoring relationships with “at-risk” youth and were impacting the community, but we were having a hard time finding organizations in the philanthropic community to invest in our operating expenses. The Parker Foundation empowered us to hire our first Full-time employee and as a result, we have doubled our program capacity from 140 youth in 2017, to 331 youth in just two years. As a young leader in this community, I am truly grateful that Parker Foundation recognized the potential in our vision and decided to invest in the youth that we serve. ”
-Brandon Steppe
Founder/Executive Director
The David’s Harp Foundation
Learn more about David’s Harp Foundation 