Today we’d like to introduce you to Vel Lewis
Hi Vel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
About 1973 after touring with an R&B group called “The Delfonics”, I co-founded a nonprofit youth organization and music workshop in the West Oak Lane area of Philadelphia, PA called “YOU”. Our mission was to help clean up the community and curb gang warfare by meeting with owners of businesses in the community who left their buildings dormant because of the gang activity and graffiti, and informing them that they could take a tax write off for their business by donating use of their building to be a place where these gang members could go instead of hanging on the streets, and obtain constructive counseling, play games, pinball machines, etc. and we would encourage these youths to help their community look more attractive by cleaning off the graffiti they put on the walls of these business buildings, repainting the buildings when necessary, and at the same time, reducing (and eventually eliminating) gang warfare in the community. The business owners provided the cleaning supplies to accomplish this work. The music workshop (which I ran) was a place to help young musicians in the community who wanted to form a band/rhythm section, or learn a rhythm section instrument like drums, percussion, guitar, bass guitar, or keyboards. Our mission was so impactful, that we received commendations from Captains of the Police Department for our work over five years. Having this type of experience fed my desire to start a new nonprofit organization where I live, and work with young disadvantaged music students who live in underserved areas of the community, who may be struggling to reach a career in music but needed their own instrument and some support and assistance to be the best they can be academically, obtain a higher education and college degree, and meet the right people who could help them succeed in reaching their goals.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Nonprofit organizations need significant donations and grant awards to exist. F2F Music Foundation has survived for five years now because of donations some people have made to help us accomplish our mission, a few restricted grant awards we’ve received to purchase instruments for students in need, and because of the sincere love we have to reach in our own pockets and help young music students stay out of trouble and stay focused on being the best they can be, both academically and musically. We are not able to grow substantially and bring on employees because we do not have operating funds. We hope and pray that someone will see how important our mission is, and help provide the tax-deductible assistance we need.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Along with being the founder and CEO of a 501(c)(3) public charitable nonprofit educational and performing arts organization known as F2F Music Foundation, I am also a professional Jazz Hammond organist and recording artist. I am known for co-writing and performing one of the “100 Greatest Northern Soul Classics” entitled “Tell Me Why”. This song, along with my catalogue of many radio hits can be found on YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and many other online music outlets. What I am most proud of is what F2F Music Foundation has accomplished over the past five years of its existence, and that we are now preparing to hold our 3rd Annual F2F Music Summer Camp for intermediate music students in Fort Bend County and the Greater Houston areas.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe in taking calculated risks. In other words, I always do research on any venture I decide to pursue, so that I understand the ramifications of any potential failure I may experience. For example, I planned to launch a new F2F program this year. Our target date was January 28th. As we worked very hard all of 2023 to make this program launch successful, I could see as we approached our target date that we would be in big trouble if we continued, so I decided to cancel the launch soon after New Year’s Day and wait. It was a tough, depressing decision to make, but taking a risk to keep going forward would have been disastrous for me and for F2F. We are still planning to launch the program, but only when we have everything we need in place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.f2fmusicfoundation.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f2fmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F2FMusicFoundation
- Twitter: https://x.com/@MusicF2f
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@f2fmusicfoundation
Image Credits
Lena Ringstad Photography, Terri Cannon
