Heroin is the deadliest and most widely abused opiate in the United States.  According to the 2005 (the last year for which figures are available) National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 3.5 million Americans aged 12 or older reported trying heroin at least once during their lifetimes, representing 1.5% of the population aged 12 or older.  Heroin is not a “hobbyist” drug: tragically, youthful curiosity often leads to experimentation, addiction and death. 

The Sam Vance Foundation was established in 1997 by eyewear designer Sheila Vance in memory of her son Sam, who lost his life to heroin experimentation while a nineteen-year-old freshman at U.C.L.A.  Named by Interview magazine as one of the “Most Noble Crusaders of the Modern Era,” Vance was determined to turn her personal tragedy into a positive force for change by helping young people and their families avoid a similar tragedy.  The Sam Vance Foundation was the motivation behind Sheila Vance’s return to the optical industry and the inspiration behind Sama Eyewear. 

A longtime philanthropist, Vance knew that establishing a charity and funding a charity were two different things.  “The primary concern of most companies is making money.  They get into charity and develop a social conscience, if at all, as an afterthought…but Sama is different.  I founded the Sam Vance Foundation first, then I created Sama as way to fund the foundation.”  Leading by example, Vance donates 100% of the net proceeds from Sama’s Visionnaires collection, as well as a percentage of the 1001 Nights collection and a portion of Sama Eyewear’s total annual sales to the Sam Vance Foundation.

Determined to make a significant impact as quickly as possible, Vance took her “fashion with a cause” message to the world’s most powerful purveyors of youth-oriented culture: the fashion and entertainment industries.  “Heroin chic is anything but chic,” says Vance, “the fact that the fashion and entertainment industries were glamorizing drug use was unacceptable and needed to be changed.”  Vance’s focus on style over substance (abuse, that is!) was ultimately embraced by the tastemakers and trendsetters in fashion, film and music, and the Sam Vance Foundation was off and running!

During the past ten years, the Sam Vance Foundation has assisted teens and young adults the world over to overcome drug dependency and re-discover life.  Sheila Vance’s enthusiasm and tenacity are contagious, and numerous celebrities including Andy Garcia, William Shatner and Lynda Obst are members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.  In addition to its anti-drug efforts, the Sam Vance Foundation also contributes to other humanitarian institutions and foundations, including: Hetrick-Martin Institute, Friendly House, Candie’s Event to Prevent, The Rainforest Foundation Carnegie Hall Benefit, The Nerine Shatner Friendly House, A New PATH, The Westside Center for Independent Living, The Shanti Foundation, the Lakers Youth Foundation, the Staples Center Foundation, The Vision Awards, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Project Angel Food, The Foundation Fighting Blindness and MusiCares.

With the continued support and encouragement of caring people from around the globe, the Sam Vance Foundation will be able to continue in its vital mission to prevent drug use amongst teens and young adults, and to help young addicts get on the road to recovery.