School Days: The VAD Variety Show

Tickets start at $25 and include access to streaming the show for 30 days. The show starts at 7:00 pm EDT/4:00 pm PDT.

Join us for an exciting line-up of music, comedy, stories, and magic! Featuring Valentino Achak Deng (co-founder of the VAD Foundation), Dave Eggers (author and co-founder, VAD Foundation), Greg Larson (Board President, VAD Foundation), Kenan Thompson (actor, comedian, and longest-tenured SNL cast member), Pete Yorn (singer /songwriter), Erik Liberman (Broadway star and storyteller), Nicole Blaine (comedian), Blake Collins (singer/songwriter), Shane Brady (magician), Dina Morrone (actress and storyteller), Emily Beyda (author and storyteller), Rory Scholl (comedian and writer), David Crabb (comedian and storyteller for The Moth), Joachim Cooder & Ry Cooder (singers and songwriters), and Lois Yaroshevsky (teacher and comedian). 

The VAD Foundation's mission is to empower children, youth, and women from poor communities in South Sudan with educational opportunities and other sustainable development initiatives. Our programs include traditional education, farming, aquaculture (fish farming), animal husbandry, and vocational skills such as carpentry, masonry, and tailoring.

The organization was co-founded in 2006 by Valentino Achak Deng and author Dave Eggers using proceeds from their book What Is the What, which was based on Valentino's early life story as a refugee from South Sudan. In addition to overseeing the VAD Foundation's operations in South Sudan, Valentino has extensive leadership experience in the private and public sectors. As a premier member of the African diaspora, he is a sought-after speaker and advocate on how issues like education, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship are key catalysts for sustainable development and economic growth.

Our first-ever virtual fundraising event is focused on expanding our commitment to education in South Sudan. As the country prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary of independence this year, after years of civil war, there is no greater challenge than ensuring South Sudanese girls, women, and youth have access to high-quality educational opportunities - especially in poor, rural regions.

With your help, we will continue and expand our programs to provide quality education to the young people and future leaders of South Sudan.

For more information about the VAD Foundation and the work we are doing, please visit www.vadfoundation.org.