Who We Are

You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.

Message From
BVMF Founder,
Saeed Deihimi

Saeed Deihimi

Founder of BVMF

Dear Friends,

I started playing music when I was four years old and started teaching music at the young age of 13! Having music in my life from such an early age, provided me with the means of forgetting about my vision impairment and gave me the ability to fill my life with the joy of music. I remember from those early years that when I played music, it gave me a natural high and the ability to ‘see’ in my mind’s eye. And I wanted to bring that same feeling to all of those who could not see.

It is my belief, as I experienced it myself, that music can bring a new ‘light’ and ‘color’ in the lives of blind and visually impaired. Music can bring joy and inner happiness, replacing some of the darkness those of us without sight experience.

I am very proud to say that our Foundation is very unique. We are bringing a service and a benefit to the blind that is unlike any other effort in the US! Through our music training for the blind, we are enriching their lives in a way that no other organization has ever done before, and that makes me extremely proud.

This work couldn’t be done without the help of caring and expert music instructors who bring great knowledge, patience and enthusiasm to every student they teach. I also have a group of caring friends who form my advisory board who volunteer their time to take on all the tasks and challenges of making my dream come true by helping me run this Foundation. You can read more about them below. And of course this Foundation and what we do could not be possible without the generous support and donations from you, our giving and kind supporters. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

With such a wonderful group of caring individuals, I have the greatest hope for continuous growth and success of this Foundation. Until the day that science and medicine provide cure or alternative means to help us see, I am committed to bringing light and enlightenment to my fellow visually challenged friends through the magic of music and the joy it brings.

FOUNDER’S HISTORY

The founder, Saeed Deihimi was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (a degenerative disease that ultimately leads to blindness), at a young age. This unfortunately came on the heels of his older brother, Hamid, having been diagnosed with the same affliction, a few years earlier. Call it a wise, considerate and loving mother’s instinct, from a young age, they were enrolled in music classes, under the tutelage of the great Iranian pianist and composer, Anoushiravan Rohani.

Within a few years, the brothers turned their talents and newfound skills to teaching while progressing along this musical journey. This translated to giving music instruction to others in the basement of their home. That is where it all started, 40 years ago.

Advisory Board

Pouria Abbassi

Advisory Board

Mr. Abbassi is the Executive Director and CEO of ASUCLA at UCLA responsible for multiple business lines serving 50,000+ daily customers through a 1,500 + family of employees. ASUCLA also oversees the global licensing, trademark and merchandizing of the UCLA Brand. Prior to his present engagement, Mr. Abbassi was the President and CEO of the Golbanoo Group, a specialty business management and executive consulting group. Mr. Abbassi previously led Phoenix Houses of California, Inc as its president and CEO. Prior to Phoenix House, Pouria was the CEO of Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), a major regional economic engine with over $1B in annual net economic activity and supporting 12,000 jobs.

A registered mechanical engineer and a graduate of UCLA school of engineering and Anderson School Executive Management program, Pouria has published several scientific papers and is recipient of over 30 businesses and performance awards. In addition to Beyond Vision Music Foundation, Pouria sits on the boards of the Los Angeles Business Council, Providence Tarzana Hospital Foundation, Woodbury University, PAAIA, Norooz Celebration Foundation, and works with various other community and cultural organizations.

Shala Maghen

Advisory Board

Shala Maghen became inspired to help the blind after her son survived a horrific car accident in 2012 but was spurred 20% of his vision. She began her volunteer work at Beyond Vision Music Foundation in 2015 and has made this organization one of her top priorities. Shala is involved in management and investments in real estates. She is a co-host in World of Music television show and has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from California State University Northridge. She has extensive experience in sales and marketing and is the recipient of many sales performance awards. Shala is a proud advocate for her son and is always researching, helping and promoting him in his education and music endeavors. She is also a proud mother of another son who is currently at UCSB, studying to become a doctor. Shala enjoys exercise, poetry, travel and volunteering.

Sina Rezvanpour

Advisory Board

Sina Rezvanpour, Esq. is a managing partner of a boutique law firm, RKR Legal, APC. He has represented consumers in individual and class action lawsuits against public and private companies on a broad range of privacy-related legal matters. While at RKR, Sina has continued develop his practice by advising clients with complex personal injury and wrongful death claims. Throughout the course of his legal career, Sina has worked closely with legal aid foundations such as Public Counsel to provide legal counsel to low-income individuals, nonprofits and small businesses. Sina graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of California, Los Angeles and received his law degree from the University of Southern California.

Kourosh Sigarchi

Advisory Board

Kourosh is a full time faculty member in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of California State University, Northridge (CSUN). His main field of interest includes smart-grids, renewable energy systems, energy storage systems, and Distributed Energy Generation. Kourosh is the recepient of outstanding Engineering Merit Award in 2013. Kourosh is IEEE Senior member and currently serves as IEEE IAS SFV Chapter, TBP Engineering Honor Society. Also, He was IEEE WV Section and WVUIT IEEE Student Branch Advisor.
Kourosh has received his B.Sc and M.Sc in Electrical Engineering from Sharif University of technology. Kourosh earned his Ph.D degree in Electrical Engineering from West Virginia University in May 2004.

Fereidoon Khosravi

Advisory Board

Fereidoon Khosravi holds a Master of Science degree in Information Systems from University of Michigan. With over 30 years in the fields of Computer and Business, Fereidoon is Senior Vice President of Business Development for a software company specializing in digital media technology, managing the company’s operations for Canada, USA, and Latin America.

Through his daughter’s love of Piano and attending World of Music classes, Fereidoon became familiar with Mr. Deihimi’s Beyond Vision Music Foundation and his noble effort in providing music learning to blind and visually impaired and opening up their world. Fereidoon is putting his technical and business experience to use in helping further introduce and promote the Foundation’s goals to the masses.

Ms. Shahrzad Ardalan

Advisory Board

Mr. Navid Nazar

Advisory Board