Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Albert Luo. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Albert Luo still remembers sitting in the New Amsterdam Theatre, waiting for the curtain to rise on the Broadway show Aladdin. When the lights came up and the set was revealed, he was hooked. His chance to join theater came in middle school, designing sets for a Zoom play during COVID. That experience showed him how every piece of a production comes together through collaboration. By high school, he realized not every young person gets that opportunity.
So in ninth grade, Albert founded Shown and Scene, a California nonprofit breaking down barriers to theater for youth. It started with small improv, set design, and media design workshops for elementary and middle schoolers. It has since reached more than 3,500 young people across three school districts. Albert also serves as the organization’s volunteer CFO, leading grant writing, fundraising, and donor relations. He has secured more than $120,000 in grants and in-kind support.
For Albert, the most rewarding moments are the small ones, like watching a shy student at a family arts night join a game of charades and open up. He’s learned that impact isn’t about how many people you meet once. It’s about how many keep coming back, and their personal growth as a result.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Albert? Find local volunteer opportunities.