H2 stands for Human Harmony.
We create safe platforms for youth to discover, experience, & express who they are through music while nurturing them toward hope, healing, & harmony in the process.
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H2 Foundation has created a California state-wide talent search and songwriting competition to provide the opportunity for youth to discover, experience, & express who they are through music using emotional intelligence.
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Human Harmony will impact millions of kids over the next decade through the support and leadership of music and entertainment executives and talents, teachers, counselors, parents, and volunteers.
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The Safe Place to "Be"...
During these challenging times in an environment where often both parents work and considering the restrictiveness from the COVID-19 pandemic, our youth are starved for healthy interaction, often left to grow without example of proper social and emotional development within today's society.
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The H2 Foundation recognizes the need for redefined social boundaries, at-home learning, and teaching healthy communication skills in an effort to eradicate bullying as well as teaching safe and healthy forms of expression and social awareness that have ceased to exist in our world since the arts have been removed from their school curriculums. We understand that art is an expression of emotion and that emotional intelligence begins and ends with affirmation and a safe place to express those emotions through the arts.
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The H2 Foundation has created this platform to meet those needs as well as providing opportunities for professional growth within the entertainment industry and most importantly this platform is “a safe place for them to be!”
“We Feel You Loud And Clear!”
The Problem to Solve
Clearly Kids are becoming more and more disconnected from social interaction and those experiences that serve to develop emotional intelligence.
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The more time kids spend on their devices – texting, emailing, posting, surfing, game playing, the more diminished their capacities to focus attention for long periods of time, and the less tolerance they possess for dealing with difficult emotions, and relating face-to-face with others; thus, diminishing capacities of empathy, or even understanding the value of empathy.
As a result they show less interest in solitude and self-reflection so necessary for the brain’s integration of coping with difficult experiences.
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Research has proven technology dependence increases impulsivity and lowers frustration tolerance. Without developing the ability to self-regulate, kids remain emotionally immature and mired in early childhood behaviors such as bullying.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in kids using digital platforms, not just for personal use, but for education purposes as well. For many kids, social distancing guidelines mean the only contact they will have with their peers will be done virtually. As a result, kids are using social platforms more frequently than in the past. As school work has moved home, so has bullying and harassment (i.e. cyber bullying).
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Suicide among kids has skyrocketed in midst of the Covid-19 pandemic due to a disconnect from peers and support groups. Now more than ever, our kids need us, as their trusted source, to facilitate an emotionally intelligent mind-set within.
Leadership
ViAnna Anderson
CEO H2 Foundation
ViAnna Anderson has been a California certificated teacher in Milpitas
Unified School District for 20 years. She has a master’s in curriculum development and California administrative credentials. ViAnna has worked as an assistant principal, lead numerous committees on writing, language development curriculum development. She has received recognition for projects that involved social-emotional intergenerational connections with kids and seniors. During the summers, ViAnna has worked at Microsoft in the PowerPoint division, at Intel, the Toyota NUMMI plant, and KLA in the human relations department.
Robert Young
Founder & Director of Business Development H2 Foundation
Robert Young “The Blue Eyed Soul” has over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, and in the field of Emotional Intelligence. Robert is as an award winning international recording artist, record executive, and Life Management Head Facilitator for Corporate America and Olympic teams. Working alongside his mother - renowned therapist, author of "Healing The Inner Child", and owner of The Center For Integral Living Skills - Robert and his mother have facilitated emotional intelligence learning for the Canadian Parliament, several major oil companies, and 7 Treaty Native Canadian Nations.
Mike DiRubio
Co-Founder & Director of Public Relations H2 Foundation
Mike DiRubio is, along with partner Robby Young one of two founding members of the H2 Foundation and is the Managing General Partner. Mike has grown as a nonprofit professional after having been both the Director of Public and Community Relations in past nonprofit organizations as well as an entertainment professional. Mike has worked directly with world renowned artists such as Eddie Money, Brian McKnight, Survivor, Queensryche, Keifer Southerland, Gamma, Christopher Cross, Andy Timmons, Polo Jones, Heaven Below, Amy Grant, The Tubes, Robert Berry, Uli Jon Roth, just to name a few and maintains a well earned and solid reputation in the entertainment industry. Mike’s passion is to develop a world community of emotionally mature and educationally sound generation of children through the use of music and the entertainment arts and the H2 Foundation is the perfect platform to realize that vision.
Tammy Reese Williams
COO H2 Foundation
Tammy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Sports Management -Kinesiology. She is a teacher, and non-profit consultant for 75 schools and 3 districts. Tammy is a former boxer, and has been featured in Shape Magazine, Star Magazine, and LIVE on Shop NBC as a spokesmodel endorsing healthy living products. Tammy currently is the Executive Nutrition Director of a non-profit overseeing 30+ staff members, 100+volunteers, 10 Congregate Meal Sites, and 2 Homebound Meal Programs in both the Northwest and Northeast Region of the San Fernando Valley.
Pamela Charlles Arthur
Content and Media Technology Consultant
Pamela is an award-winning media production executive with over 30 years of industry experience. She has developed digital media for major studios in LA, fortune 100 companies in Silicon Valley, and traveled the world as lead consultant for Sony Broadcast in Interactive Media and MPEG compression technologies. Pamela is a published author and speaker in Interactive Media and the Digital Experience. Pamela has spent the last 10 years with her main focus in interactive media, distance learning, and virtual education endeavors.
David Parsons III
Brand & Marketing Consultant H2 Foundation
David is a singer-songwriter, producer, & motivational speaker who left the world of celebrity advertising with a one-way ticket to Kaua'i, Hawai'i in 2013. By trade, David is a personal brander and marketing expert for celebrity athletes and entertainers, operating a full-service ad agency out of Los Angeles, CA before moving to Kaua'i. While living in Kaua'i David discovered a life lived "island-style" and learned he had a gift for singing and began writing & recording music. In 2015 he founded DEPIII Music Group & Studios a music label servicing youth of Hawai'i and incoming tourists looking for a spot to record their music accompanied by the natural beauty and awe Kaua'i inspires. One opportunity led to the next and now David's music is featured on TV and radio across the US with songs streaming/sold in over 35 countries.
Board Of Directors
Tony Johns
President of the Board Director H2 Foundation
Tony Johns is a U.S. Army Veteran who in 1981 took the Oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States and its people against all enemies. Tony’s passion and dedication for facilitating the well-being of people has continued since connecting emotionally with others through his musical talents as a professional jazz funk musician “The Hammond”, his involvement as a producer of Bay Area Blues Festivals, and most notably by way of his inspirational work with children in the educational system.
Advisory Board
Merl Saunders, Jr.
Advisory Board H2 Foundation
Merl Saunders Jr., the namesake of legendary keyboardist Merl Saunders, grew up in the heart of the Bay Area music scene with other well known “music families” like the Grateful Dead and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
From his first tour with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, to subsequent gigs with Michael Jackson, Robert Cray, David Crosby, and Frank Zappa, Merl developed a unique ability to excel in the music business. As Director of Marketing and Artist Relations at Gibson Guitars, and as Senior Marketing Coordinator and Artist Relations with Dean Markley Strings, he led creative teams to produce successful campaigns and endorsements for many top GRAMMY® winners.
Merl produced Gibson’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. Pulling together talent, Merl brought to the stage Country Joe and the Fish, Little Feat, Greg Kihn, Gregg Allman, Elvin Bishop, Hot Tuna, Moby Grape, and Bob Weir, as well as his dad, Merl Sr.
In July 2000, Merl was named Executive Director of the San Francisco Chapter of the Recording Academy. His mission was to help to promote music and arts education.
In early 2013 Fenix Supper Club opened in San Rafael, CA and Merl was named Executive Director of Fenix Entertainment Group. Merl's objective was to expand the Bay Area music scene by creating a state-of-the-art venue for live performances along with the technology to record and share music by streaming it to the world.
Libby Gray
Advisory Board & Contributing Educator H2 Foundation
Libby Gray is a Lighting Designer and Lighting Director in the music industry, currently working for the legendary rock band Styx and renown Canadian recording artist (Lawrence) Gowan. On tour, Gray functions as her own programmer and board Op while directing followspots.
Gray has toured internationally for over 30 years with A-level musical artists, athletes, and performers ranging from Natalie Cole to Scott Hamilton to Metallica. After graduation with an Honors B.A. degree in Theatre Arts from Douglass College at Rutgers University, Gray worked her way up every rung of the lighting ladder.
Starting her career as a climber ‘grunt’ in the late 80's with the Big Apple Circus, she there learned the basic ropes of touring and fundamental skills necessary to employment with a larger rock ‘n roll outfit, including power generator management, forklift and tractor trailer driving, structures of labor management, and the time sensitive, high-pressure schedules of load-ins and load-outs. Hired in 1991 by Morpheus Lights, formative innovators of the moving lights and consoles of today, Gray gradually advanced through the lighting crew positions of climber, moving light technician, dimmer beach technician, crew chief, Board Op, and Programmer, ultimately leaving Morpheus when hired directly by artists as Lighting Director and Designer. Along the way Libby accumulating peripheral skills in Vectorworks drafting and Madrix video programming.
Gray is considered one of the premier live Spot Directors working in the industry today, having made it her specialty for decades.
Beyond innumerable festivals, the usual corporates, and one-offs, some of Libby's full tours (outside of Styx and Gowan) have included John Mellencamp, Steely Dan, Anita Baker, Natalie Merchant, Luther Vandross, Van Morrison, REO Speedwagon, Olympic Ice-Skating- and Gymnastic- Championship tours, Bad Company, Pat Benatar, Metallica, and George Benson.
Never having owned white gloves, Libby still pulls lighting snakes and helps load the Styx truck nightly.
Victoria Sanchez De Alba
Advisory Board H2 Foundation
Victoria Sánchez De Alba is a former National News Emmy Award-winning Journalist-turned-Communications professional. She combines her passion for social justice, starting her own business focusing on Multicultural PR. “We tell the stories that don’t get told.” One good example is a story De Alba was instrumental in bringing to the public eye lay buried in our country’s desegregation history. The 1954 U.S. Supreme Court Case Brown vs. Board of Education is widely known, but not many know of its 1946 precursor, the precent-setting case Mendez vs. Westminster, that led to the desegregation of schools in California and paved the way for Brown vs. Board of Education. Victoria worked in television journalism and investigative reporting, with past positions that include the Center for Investigative Reporting, Inc. – where she was part of an Emmy award-winning national news team; ABC/7 KGO-TV, San Francisco; and CBS KOVR TV-13, Sacramento. Victoria maintains strong relationships with English language and multicultural media across the U.S.
Artist Nicolosi
Advisory Board H2 Foundation
During the past two decades, Dr. Nicolosi’s distinctive style of contemporary artwork has been frequently featured on Entertainment Tonight during the coverage of all the major award shows, including Emmys, Grammys, Golden Globes, Oscars, and The Cannes Film Festival.
Nicolosi artwork was chosen to be in Dr. Eileen Guggenheim’s New York Academy of Arts, co-founded by Andy Warhol, placing Nicolosi on Guggenheim’s 100 Most Influential Artists in America.
Nicolosi has been called upon to create his original style of portraiture for an impressive roster of legendary subjects including: Hillary Clinton, Placido Domingo, Gary Sinise, President Barack Obama, Meryl Streep, Madonna, Michael Jackson, World Championship Boxers Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather & Muhammad Ali, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Prince Charles, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Harper Lee.
Nicolosi has proudly created a series of Pictorial Cancellation Stamps/ Commemoratives in conjunction with the United States Postal Service, including the USPS Commemoratives for Mrs. Frank Sinatra, the 40th Anniversary of American Graffiti the legendary funk/ rock band Earth, Wind, and Fire and that of the 50th Anniversary of the 1962 American Film Classic “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Chuck Panozzo
Advisory Board H2 Foundation
In 1972 he co founded the multiplatinum band, "Styx ." He’s toured for over four decades and continues to perform and record. He graduated with a BS in Education and was a Chicago HS teacher as a leader preserving the quality of life and equal rights in the LGBTQ community .
For the past 20 yrs he’s spoken at many World AIDS day events .
He has also a published author the Grand Illusion love lies and his life with Styx.
Paul Simpson
Advisory Board H2 Foundation
Paul Simpson is a British Strategic Adviser and Business Mentor now living in Dallas, Texas.
Paul has a keen eye when it comes to spotting potential and has helped significant numbers of Entrepreneurs develop hyper growth in their organizations.
Paul has won multiple international awards and recognition for his work, including between 2005 and 2008 being classed as one of Europe’s leading business mentors.
Paul's experience is diverse with deep knowledge of Technology, Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, compliance based industries, IT and Software Development, Manufacturing, Retail and Corporate Sales/Marketing/Recruiting, Leadership Development, SME's, Startups and Innovation Consulting.
Chris Wirsig
Advisory Board H2 Foundation
Chris Wirsig is an award-winning composer, songwriter and producer, who enjoyed classical training on piano and saxophone, studied audio engineering at SAE Technology College, and has more than 20 years experience in music production. His music can be heard in games like the acclaimed Top Ten iPad game "Alien Tribe 2," the multiple award-winning short movies "Intervention," "20 Matches," "Cat Dexx: Inkosi," and "Trick Of The Old Cat," the comedy feature film "39 And A Half," and in numerous TV shows on ABC, E!, MTV, Fox Sports, Audience Network/DirecTV, and others.
Kat Dyson
Advisory Board H2 Foundation
Southern-born guitarist/vocalist Kat Dyson relocated to Los Angeles from Montreal via Minneapolis where she was a featured guitarist & vocalist with Prince as a member of the New Power Generation. Her contributions to this musical alliance can be heard on the following recordings: Emancipation, The Truth and Newpowersoul.
She completed over 200 shows with italian rock artist ZUCCHERO on the highly acclaimed FLY TOUR 2007 and ALL THE BEST TOUR 2008. At present, she continues to tour with him on CHOCABECK TOUR 2011. She is a member of the rock trio, CHALLENGE with T.M.Stevens and Cindy Blackman-Santana. She also continues to be a go-to guitarist for many; including playing for Black Rock Coalition events such as THE BRC all female orchestra, conducted by Tamar Kali. In addtion to releasing her EP 'COLOUR KOMMENTARY, she continues composing music for television and film in Los Angeles.
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