Congratulations to our 1st Quarter grant recipients!
Anaheim, CA: Anaheim, CA ESD: This elementary school district in urban Anaheim has an innovative program whereby students grades 4-6 rotate through different kinds of instruments. During this time, ukuleles are ideal instruments to work with during Covid; they also have violins and guitars. We’ve offered a matchinggrant of $1,500 to support this worthy program.
Batavia, OH: Clemont NE Community Schools: These K-5 schools serve a rural area of Ohio; the area is large, with endemic pockets of rural poverty. Most of the students have never touched a stringed instrument. We have offered agrant of $850 in matching funds to support this rural and growing program’s need for ukuleles.
Bay Harbor, MI: Dorothy Gerber String Program: This string program serves kids K-12 in rural northern Michigan (some on Beaver Island are only reachable by air in the winter). They have a need for more instruments so that students unable to afford rentals or purchase can participate. We’ve offered $1,500 in matching funds to support this program serving kids in a rural area of the Midwest.
Boston, MA: Boston Music Project: This large program serves kids pre-K through high school from around Boston; their Morning Music program serves kids pre-K through middle school, which is the focus of this grant. 6 years ago we gave a grant to Josiah Quincy Elementary; BMP now hosts programming at 4 elementary schools, and they are planning on programming at two more schools. They also provide a host of other skill-building activities, including composition and recording skills. CFKF has offered $2,000 in matching funds to support this very thorough and broad-based program.
Chicago, IL: Peoples’ Music School: We gave a grant here last year; they serve low-income families from around Chicago from nearly 50 zip codes. Their goal is to provide quality instruments to as many kids as possible in order to maximize their musical experience and keep them involved. We’ve offered $1,500 in matching funds to again support this well-run and expansive program serving kids most at risk.
Dover, DE: Code Purple Kent County: This is a new program serving kids K-12 that is purposed to support the areas of Dover and Kent County. They presently only have small ensembles, and are planning their first orchestra in 2021. This is presently the only string program in the area. CFKF has offered $1,500 in matching funds to support this new program serving kids most at risk in Deleware.
Greenfield, IN: Central School Foundation: This program serves kids grades 7-12 around Hancock County; they need an influx of more instruments to provide them to students whose families can’t afford to own or rent them. CFKF is offering $1,000 in matching funds to support this program in a rural area of Indiana.
Henderson, KY: East Heights and Jefferson EMP: Henderson is a rural community a fairly short drive from Evansville, Indiana. This program plans to offer ukulele instruction to kids grades K-5 to give them a hands-on experience of learning, music-reading and performing. This would be their first string program; they’ve mainly provided choral instruction. We’ve offered $760 in matching funds to support this rural program in an area we don’t have a lot of presence.
Henderson, NV: Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation: This program serves children from birth through age 22; last year they worked with 96 young people. They provide audible and tactile experience of various instruments through individual and group lessons. CFKF is offering $2,000 in matching funds to support this program to serve this worthy program in a state we don’t have a large presence in.
Kansas City, MO: Heartland Chamber Music: This is our second grant offering to Heartland; they serve economically challenged kids in KC, and need support for more instruments for their first-year violin and cello students. The program serves kids grades K-5 from almost all Title I schools. CFKF is offering $1,500 in matching funds to support this vibrant program’s needs for more and better instruments.
Knoxville, TN: Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley: This Club works with kids grades K-12 through its Youth Arts initiative to provide them with access to the arts in four of its community settings, including low-income housing. We’re offering $1,850 in matching funds to support this worthy program serving kids most at risk in an area of Tennessee we have little presence in so far.
Miami, FL: Youth Enlightenment System Corp: This organization is building a full orchestra program and needs to expand its inventory of instruments to reach that goal. They work with students ages 3-20, and have existing band and chorus programs. CFKF is offering $1,500 in matching funds to encourage the growth of this program.
NYC, NY: WHIN Community Music School: This public charter school serves kids grades K-5 in the Washington Heights and Inwood areas of New York. They have a strong need for more instruments to both build inventory and to replace damaged instruments (their need has increased during the pandemic for instruments the kids can have at home). CFKF is offering $1,500 in matching funds to encourage this school and the at-risk kids they serve.
Odessa, TX: Ector County ISD Education Foundation: This middle school string program needs an infusion of more new instruments to better allow access to the program from those unable to afford rental or purchase of instruments. CFKF is offering $1,500 in matching funds to support this established program serving kids most at risk in an area of Texas we haven’t had a presence in yet.
Paducah, KY: Concord Elementary School: This elementary Title I school wishes to begin a new program to provide ukulele instruction in the curriculum; the area has a strong string program in the middle and high schools that the students could participate in afterward. We’re offering $1,000 in matching funds to support this new program in Paducah.
Plattsburgh, NY: Plattsburgh City SD: This string program serving kids grades 5-9 has an active orchestra program, but needs an infusion of new (and better) instruments in order to better serve the students and have age-appropriate sizes available. CFKF is offering $1,000 in matching funds to support this solid program in upstate New York.
Port Arthur, TX: Bob Hope String Program: This program serves a large area of southeast Texas; this request is for their charter middle school program. They have a strong need for more inventory to support the influx of students into middle school from the area. These schools are Title I. CFKF is offering $1,500 in matching funds to support this program and build our presence this area of Texas.
Salinas, CA: El Sistema USA/Salinas Inc.: This program in a largely agricultural area serves kids grades 1-12 in Salinas; they have a need for more new instruments to inspire continued participation, and to have sufficient inventory for new students this coming summer. We are offering $2,000 in matching funds to support this Sistema program in a new community in California.
Veazie, ME: Veazie Community School: This school serves kids pre-K through 8th grade; they wish to expand the number of students who can play ukulele or guitar. CFKF is offering $1,500 in matching funds to support this program in rural Maine.
West Valley City, UT: Monticello Academy: This charter middle school has a comprehensive required music program including music appreciation; students in that class will play ukulele to learn to play and read music, perhaps enabling them to participate in other performance programs. CFKF is offering $1,425 in matching funds to support this program and its great model.