The VAPA Foundation invites the community to Applause for a Cause on Thursday May 7, an evening that celebrates the power of arts education and the students whose lives are changed by it. Formerly known as Beyond Brilliance, the event carries a renewed sense of purpose and energy. It is more than a fundraiser. It is a call to stand up for creativity in our schools.
This year’s event honors two women who have quietly and consistently helped shape the future of arts education in San Diego, Doreen Schonbrun and Phyllis Epstein. Their leadership has opened doors for students to discover their voice, their confidence, and their sense of belonging through music, theater, dance, and visual art.
Doreen Schonbrun has spent years championing the belief that every child deserves access to the arts. As a former commissioner with the San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, an art historian, and a founding leader of the VAPA Foundation, she has worked to keep arts education at the center of public life. She understands that when students create, perform, and express themselves, they begin to see what is possible in their own lives.
Phyllis Epstein shares that same conviction. A board member of the San Diego Symphony and a generous supporter of arts organizations throughout the region, she has long believed that the arts build discipline, empathy, and courage. Through her work with the VAPA Foundation, she has helped ensure that students, especially those in under-resourced schools, have the chance to experience high quality arts instruction during the school day.
Applause for a Cause arrives at a critical moment. Schools continue to face budget cuts that threaten the stability of arts programs. For many campuses, sustaining strong arts instruction requires more than good intentions. It requires partnership, planning, and community investment.
That is the heart of Arts Access, the Foundation’s signature initiative. Arts Access does not simply add programs to a school’s schedule. It carefully studies data, listens to educators, and curates strong partnerships that fit each campus. Programs are designed to be consistent, high quality, and woven into the life of the school. When this happens, students do more than learn a skill. They build confidence. They learn to collaborate. They find pride in their work. They feel seen.
The momentum behind this work has grown through support from the Prebys Foundation and its Sparx initiative, which funds expressive arts and social emotional learning across dozens of schools. This investment strengthens a model that is thoughtful, data informed, and focused on long term impact.
During the evening, guests will experience student performances that remind us why this work matters. There is nothing quite like watching a young musician take a bow, or hearing a student share a story they were once too shy to tell. These moments are not small. They are life shaping.
By honoring Doreen Schonbrun and Phyllis Epstein, Applause for a Cause celebrates leaders who understand that arts education changes lives. Strong arts programs do not happen by chance. They are built with vision, commitment, and a community willing to invest.
Applause for a Cause is both a tribute and an invitation. It asks San Diego to believe in its young people and to act on that belief. When we invest in arts education, we are not funding a program. We are helping a child discover who they are and who they can become.
For more information, sponsorship opportunities and tickets please visit www.vapafoundation.org
