The Cynthia Yasuda Annual Giving Society
Honoring the legacy of Cynthia Yasuda (1948–2025) by supporting the VMA Foundation's free Junior Program, student leadership, outreach concerts, and volunteer recognition nationwide.
The Cynthia Yasuda Annual Giving Society recognizes individuals and families whose annual generosity sustains the mission of the VMA Foundation. Named in honor of our founding Board Secretary, Cynthia Yasuda, the Society celebrates her lifelong commitment to compassion, service, and the belief that every person has the capacity to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Annual Giving Society members provide the philanthropic foundation that allows the VMA Foundation to keep its Junior Program free while expanding opportunities for young musicians to serve, lead, perform, and make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Together, our donors help students across the nation grow not only as musicians, but also as compassionate servant leaders whose acts of service enrich the lives of others.
Your Annual Gift Helps Support
Every contribution helps remove financial barriers while creating opportunities for young musicians to serve, lead, and share music throughout their communities.
Free Junior Program
Keeping VMA Foundation membership free for students in grades 1–12, ensuring every young musician can participate regardless of financial circumstances.
Flagship Outreach Concerts
Supporting performances in senior living communities, hospitals, schools, libraries, and community organizations where music brings joy and connection.
Student Leadership
Developing servant leaders through student government, leadership initiatives, mentorship, and meaningful community service opportunities.
Volunteer Recognition
Celebrating extraordinary student service through national awards and recognition that encourage a lifetime of community engagement.
Annual Giving Society Recognition
Membership is recognized based on cumulative calendar-year financial support. Qualifying support may include charitable donations, Leadership Initiative participation, outreach partnerships, sponsorships, checks, online giving, and other qualifying payments that advance the Foundation's charitable mission.
Friend
$50–249Annual Gifts
Patron
$250–499Annual Gifts
Benefactor
$500–999Annual Gifts
Legacy Circle
$1,000–2,499Annual Gifts
President's Circle
$2,500+Annual Gifts
As a gesture of appreciation, members may receive recognition in VMA Foundation publications, invitations to donor appreciation events, advance registration opportunities for select flagship outreach concerts, and other acknowledgments celebrating their commitment to the Foundation's mission.
Members of The Cynthia Yasuda Annual Giving Society
Building the Legacy (2025–2026)
Following Cynthia Yasuda's passing in 2025, the VMA Foundation spent the year thoughtfully developing a lasting way to honor her life and values. During this period, many generous supporters helped sustain and strengthen the Foundation through their financial support.
We gratefully recognize these individuals, families, organizations, and community partners whose generosity helped build both the VMA Foundation and The Cynthia Yasuda Annual Giving Society during its earliest stages.
President's Circle
Legacy Circle
Benefactor
Patron
Friend of the VMA
Distinguished Community Partners
This permanent recognition honors organizations whose longstanding partnership, generosity, and belief in the VMA Foundation have helped strengthen our mission and expand opportunities for young musicians to serve their communities through music.
M. Steinert & Sons
M. Steinert & Sons has helped create meaningful educational opportunities for young musicians while supporting outreach performances, leadership development, and community engagement through music.
New England Music Academy
Honored for its longstanding partnership with the VMA Foundation and its shared commitment to inspiring students to combine musical excellence with compassion, service, and leadership in their communities.
The Legacy Behind the Mission
Behind every outreach concert, every student leader, every volunteer hour, and every life touched through music are generous individuals, families, and community partners who believe in this mission. Together, they carry forward Cynthia Yasuda's enduring example of compassion, kindness, and service to others.
"Be Sensitive to Others."
These four simple words capture the spirit of Cynthia Yasuda's life and continue to inspire the mission of the VMA Foundation. Through the generosity of members of The Cynthia Yasuda Annual Giving Society, her legacy lives on by making possible free Junior Program membership, student leadership, outreach concerts, and volunteer recognition for young musicians across the nation.
Together, we are helping young musicians grow into compassionate leaders who serve their communities through music. In doing so, we hope the values they learn through the Junior Program inspire a lifetime of compassion, service, and leadership in their families, communities, and all they do.
Become a Member of The Cynthia Yasuda Annual Giving Society
Join The Cynthia Yasuda Annual Giving Society with an annual gift of $50 or more. Your generosity helps keep the VMA Foundation's Junior Program free while inspiring young musicians to serve, lead, and make a meaningful difference through music.
Every gift helps build Cynthia's legacy of compassion through music, service, and leadership. Recognition is based on your cumulative calendar-year financial support, including qualifying charitable donations, checks, sponsorships, and other gifts supporting the VMA Foundation's mission.