The Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) Johns Creek chapter selected the Atlanta Music Project (AMP) as its Ultimate Gift service project for 2023/2024. The YMSL Ultimate Gift Project, inspired by the novel of the same name by Jim Stoval, began in 2010 with the intent of providing an act of service for philanthropy that it may otherwise not have had the manpower or resources to do for itself, while also growing the hearts and lives of young men in service.
Each year, AMP serves over 700 children to reduce barriers to accessing music education in under-resourced communities. All AMP programming is offered tuition-free in exchange for the requirement that all participants commit to attending all classes. AMP also provides all participants with a musical instrument, class materials, teaching artists, and performance opportunities.
This year, the Johns Creek chapter of YMSL helped AMP organize their first-ever AMP Experience, a concert featuring the entire roster of AMP’s young musicians, for their families, neighbors, friends, and the communities they serve. Nearly 80 mom and son YMSL volunteers gave 246 service hours to make the event a success. It enabled approximately 500 AMP musicians and their families to connect and experience performances by the choir, band, and orchestra programs. Volunteers assisted with setup, music instrument loading and unloading, ushering, and YMSL provided a $1,500 donation.
“Our mission was to help strengthen the connection with our young men and show the impact of having access to educational resources without barriers in a marginalized community; the power of being committed to learning a new skill and staying dedicated to the hard work will determine your success; and how practice makes perfect, regardless of social economic constraints, racial diversity, and geographic location,” says Angie Williams, Ultimate Gift Chair for YMSL’s Johns Creek chapter.
YMSL is a four-year program for moms and their high school sons serving together to impact local communities. Chapters.ymsl.org/chapter/johnscreek
