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Congratulations to our grant recipients!

Bristol, RI: Community String Project: This organization serves students grades 3-12 throughout this area of Rhode Island; they wish to expand their inventory of instruments for families unable to afford purchase of a new instrument. we have offered them a matching grant of $1,479 to further encourage this organization’s development.

Chicago, IL: The People’s Music School: This organization serves students and families from all around Chicago. We have offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to continue supporting the great work they do for at-risk kids in the Chicago area.

Destin, FL: Sinfonia Gulf Coast: This organization provides the musical experience to a number of communities and schools in northwest Florida that do not have string programs presently. They need to expand their inventory for a new initiative that supports beginning strings instruction in a number of the Title l schools they serve. CFKF is offering them a grant of $1,500 to support this organization’s development in a part of Florida we are building presence in.

Dorchester, MA: Conservatory Lab Charter School: This lottery-based charter school serving grades K-8 provides a well-rounded curriculum to some of the most economically disadvantaged areas in Boston, offering Music as a core course. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this innovative school’s orchestral initiative.

Fall River, MA: Bristol County Chamber Foundation: this Foundation supports SouthCoast Creative Arts Lab, an afterschool program serving kids grades 7-8 in this economically challenged community. They need an infusion of instruments to help build this initiative. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this organization’s work with at-risk kids.

Garnerville, NY: North Rockland County SD: This school district 25 miles from NYC has a very active orchestral program, and needs a large infusion of instruments to support demand. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this remarkable School district’s dedication to strings instruction.

Greenbrier, AR: Greenbrier Eastside Elementary: This Title I school is beginning a new music program through ukulele instruction for their students grades four and five; they need a starter inventory for this initiative. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,425 to support this program in an area of the South we are building presence in.

Mattapan, MA: Immigrant Family Services: This large program serves a predominantly immigrant community several economically challenged communities mainly south of Boston. They need a big infusion of instruments to support their music offerings in this expanding program. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this important Boston area initiative.

Oklahoma City, OK: Jubilee Partners Assoc.: This organization serving an older and economically disadvantaged area in Oklahoma City wishes to build a guitar instruction program to augment their existing activity for youth grades K-12. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this new initiative for at-risk kids.

Sister Bay, WI: Midsummer’s Music:  This community-based string quartet residency serving kids grades 3-5 wishes to build their program with an additional infusion of new instruments; many students’ families can’t afford buy or rent, prohibiting participation in strings otherwise. There are no other spring programs in this area. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this innovative community model organization’s growth.

Sunrise, FL: STEAM by Pauls: This Title I school is starting a new string program serving a primarily Haitian and Hispanic student population grades K – 6. Their goal is to provide every student who wishes to enroll with an instrument. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage the development of this new program.

Sykesville, MD: Opus Community Music School: This Baltimore area school serving kids grades K-12 is creating a beginning string program for at-risk and underserved youth in the area. They want to be able to provide all students with free instruments and instrument care knowledge. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this new initiative.

Thornton, CO: A Child’s Song: This Denver area organization serving students grades K – 12 is involved with a broad array of schools, at risk programs, and youth with disabilities and in foster care. This is our second grant request from this organization. They need more instruments to support the many programs they are involved with. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to support their many Community partnerships.

Congratulations to our 1st quarter recipients!

Baltimore MD Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: BSO’s OrchKids program provides quality instruments and training to students in seven schools in the Baltimore area. They are planning on expansion to 2 more schools this year. They need an infusion of more instruments to support this expansive community outreach initiative. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this prominent orchestra’s outreach program in the Baltimore community.

Bristol VA Birthplace of Country Music: this organization’s Pick Along Summer program for kids ages 8- 16 encourages young people to learn the Appalachian music tradition. They learn basic playing skills and some of the history of this great tradition. An important focus is on providing this experience to students from disadvantaged backgrounds; they serve kids from numerous Title 1 schools in the area. We’ve offered them a matching grant of $540 to further encourage this private organization’s work.

Burlingame KS Burlingame Schools Orchestra: this rural public school orchestra program in eastern Kansas serves kids grades 3- 12; this request is specific to students grades 7-12. They need an influx of new violins to allow access to students and families unable to afford them. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this rural community’s growth in an area the lower Midwest where we have little presence.

Columbus OH Horizon Science Academy: This urban public charter school in Columbus has an orchestra program serving students grade 7-8. They need and influx of new instruments to support and encourage new enrollment. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this school’s educational initiative.

Davis UT USD: This public school in the Salt Lake City metro area is building its music program for grades 3-12 via ukulele instruction; many of the kids in the school have expressed interest in starting their music experience through this medium. Most students involved are on free or reduced lunch, and CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this Western school’s growing string program.

Denver CO Young Artist Orchestra: this organization’s TuneUp program serves several schools in the Denver and Aurora Area with instruction and instruments for kids grades 3-8. They need more instruments to support their work in the schools. They focus on supporting the most disadvantaged students in the district; CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $972 to encourage this youth orchestra’s expansion in the Intermountain West.

Elgin IL Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra: This youth orchestra’s Starter Strings program serves nearly 90 kids in the fourth grade from two schools in the Elgin area. They need more inventory to support this growing program. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this Midwestern youth orchestra’s admirable community outreach program.

Jacksonville FL Global Outreach Charter Academy: This school is creating a Global Arts Ensemble. The School, which serves nearly 2,000 kids grades 3-6 in the Jacksonville area, is starting a new string initiative, bringing strings education into their existing cultural and educational programs. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this academy’s musical growth.

Los Angeles CA Global Arts Orchestra: This organization’s school is starting a new string program to complement an existing wind ensemble; they need an infusion of string instruments to start developing this new program. They serve disadvantaged kids ages 8–13 in an industrial area of LA that lacks Green space and cultural opportunities. CFKF is offering them a grant of $1,500 to encourage the development this new initiative in in economically challenged area of LA.

New York City, NY Opportunity Music Project: we have given a few grants to this organization over the past several years; they serve kids ages 5–18 from around the New York Metro area with instruments and teaching. They are building a bass ensemble and need a few more instruments to help establish and run this new initiative. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,100 to further encourage this urban youth initiative’s artistic activism.

Newport News VA Peninsula Youth Orchestra: this youth orchestra, involving students ages 7-25 from the Virginia Peninsula, needs a small infusion of better instruments for their more advanced players. They support Title one schools in the area with after school musical training and performance experience in the area. We are offering PYO a matching grant of $886 to encourage this youth orchestra’s continued growth.

Norman OK NPS: this suburban community near Oklahoma City hopes to build its beginner string program, particularly for young cellists, with an infusion of new instruments. Most of the Elementary and middle schools are Title I, and CFKF is offering them a grant of $1,500 to encourage this public school’s growing ensemble program.

Oahu HI Grace Place HI: this organization has an after-school program that they are building a music component for through ukulele instruction. They serve kids K-12 from around windward Oahu; their goal is to provide a safe and inspiring after school environment with music as a core experience. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this afterschool program’s music experience.

Paterson, NJ Second Generation Music: this organization in the NYC metro area, which offers musical training and instruments to young musicians from around the Paterson area, is starting its first Youth ensemble. They need and infusion of new instruments to accomplish this goal. We are offering them them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this New Jersey youth initiative’s new program.

Raleigh NC SMART BUS: this organization serving Wake County has started a new community-based orchestra program for kids grades 3-7. Their hope is to explore classical music in ways that are relevant to the population they serve. Their student population is historically underserved; CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to support this after-school program’s new initiative.

Salinas CA Alisal Center for the Fine Arts: This program serving students in the Alisal School district is building a Mariachi ensemble program and needs an infusion of guitars for that purpose. They serve a predominantly Hispanic Community with many migrant workers, often with single parent families. The Center has created a music program to fill a void in the public schools. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this program’s important work.

San Luis Obispo CA San Luis Obispo Symphony: This orchestra has created the Strings in Schools program, working with beginning string players grades 3-6. This program replaces the spring programs that were eliminated in the California schools in the 1980s. They wish to expand to a fourth school and need more inventory to support that growth. 59% of the students qualify for the Federal free lunch program.  CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this local orchestra’s admirable education outreach program.

Savannah GA SK Taylor Community School: This community school serving kids grades K-8 is starting a new string program to introduce students to music learning and performance opportunities. They need a collection of new instruments to accomplish this goal. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this Southeastern school’s inaugural string program.

Stamford CT INTEMPO: we gave a Grant submission to this organization several years ago; they serve disadvantaged kids grades K – 12 in the Stamford area. They need some new instruments to serve there more advanced students, allowing them to explore more advanced repertoire. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,273 to continue to encourage this strong program’s activities.

Surprise AZ RNL Youth: This organization serving kids grades K-8 is starting a new afterschool strings program through ukulele instruction; they operate in the western suburbs of Phoenix. They need an infusion of new instruments to begin this program. We are offering them a matching grant of $350 to encourage this organization’s new strings initiative.

Tacoma WA Tacoma Youth Symphony: TYS offers free ukulele instruction to students of all ages in the Tacoma area. They need many more instruments to serve their growing program. The focus of this request is for 4^th Grade students in two area schools; we are offering them a matching grant of $950 to encourage this youth orchestra’s growing ensemble program in an area we have little presence.

Talkeetna AK Denali Arts Council: This organization serves a very rural area in Alaska, working with kids grades 6-12. They are creating musical opportunities otherwise unavailable in this remote area. Many families there live without running water and off the grid. The student population is predominantly Caucasian and Native Alaskan, with many low-income families and kids at high risk. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this remote Alaskan music program for young people.

Tampa FL Roland Park K-8 Magnet School:  this magnet school has a vibrant violin program; their teacher wishes to start a new cello ensemble to complement their offerings. This program serves kids grades K-5; CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this organization’s new cello initiative.

Whittier CA Jordan Elementary Mariachi Juvenil: this school in Southern California serving grades 3-6 has a mariachi program that was started by a teacher donating his own instruments for use. There is a strong demand for more instruments to help the program expand. We are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this individual teacher’s dedication and community support.

Wilmington DE Edge for Tomorrow: This organization’s new “Pluck and Play” program’s goal is to offer basic music learning and performance opportunities through guitar instruction. They serve kids grades K-5 in the Wilmington area; we are offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this youth program’s growth.

Worcester MA Chamber Music Society: This organization sponsors Neighborhood Strings, a fairly new and innovative after-school program supporting the music experience for kids at risk in the Worcester area grades 2-12. We have given two other grants there in the past few years. The student population includes many immigrant families and refugees. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to continue to further encourage this pathbreaking organization’s work.

Congratulations to our 3rd quarter grant recipients!

Montrose, CO: Colorado West Christian School: This is our second grant offering to this school; we gave a grant there in 2021. Their string program is growing quickly and they have a need for more new inventory to support that growth. CFKF has offered them a matching grant of $1,000 to further encourage this private school’s work in this area of the intermountain West.

Nampa, ID: Ridgeview High School: This school serving students grades 9-19 in a large rural area needs an infusion of new cellos and a double bass to support their growing class and allow students to leave their larger instruments at home. We’ve offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this rural community’s growth in an area we are hoping to build our presence.

New York Mills, MN: Roots and Wings Forest School: Located in a small rural community (pop.: 1,000), this private school for kids grades K-4 is starting a new music program with ukulele instruction, teaching students fundamentals of rhythm, ear training and more. This is the only string program in the area. CFKF is offering $240 to encourage this rural community’s new string program in the upper Midwest.

NYC, NY: Harmony Project Hudson: This Harmony Project serves kids grades pre K-8 in Title I schools in the Hudson area. The program is growing quickly, and they have a need for more inventory. They offer year-round music instruction and ensemble experience. We’ve offered them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this Harmony Project’s growing string program.

Newark, DE: Christ the Teacher Catholic School: This faith-based school serving kids grades pre-K through 8 is starting a new string program to teach kids fundamentals of strings training. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $950 to encourage this Delaware school’s music experience.

Oklahoma City, OK: Harding Fine Arts Academy: This public charter school arts academy located in central Oklahoma City serves kids grades 9-12; they wish to expand their ensemble program to offer this experience to more of their students. Students come from around the metro area (students from 40 zip codes participate) We’ve offered them a grant of $1,500 to encourage this Academy’s growing ensemble program.

Washington, DC: Payne Saturday Arts Academy: The Payne Academy serves kids grades K-5 from around the DC area; their goal is to provide a weekend music experience and access to instruments without cost to any student wishing to attend. They offer beginner lessons alongside music literacy. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this urban program’s growing weekend string program for young people.

Washington, DC: Two Rivers Charter School: This open enrollment charter school serving kids grades 3-8 is creating a middle school orchestra. They need an infusion of new cellos to allow further access to the program for cellists grades 6-8. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,085 to encourage this charter school’s growing string program.

Waterville, ME: Public Schools: This is our second grant offering to Waterville; this economically disadvantaged community with high unemployment serves students grades 4-12 in this central Maine community. The program is growing rapidly and they need more instruments to keep pace with that growth. CFKF is offering them a matching grant of $1,500 to encourage this Maine school’s continued growth.

By the end of the program, they stood at the front of the row, eager to play and show off their skills.

Boys and Girls Clubs of San Dieguito

“What has been most exciting is seeing how the kids have blossomed and grown, from knowing little to nothing about music to being able to strum, learn chords, read measures and notes, memorize and perform a song, and even teach each other. When a little girl came to class wanting to learn, the other children taught her how to hold the ukulele, how to play the notes, and helped her perform a song with them. We hope that this inspires them to pursue further music education, and maybe even become a musician themselves one day. “”What has been most exciting is seeing how the kids have blossomed and grown, from knowing little to nothing about music to being able to strum, learn chords, read measures and notes, memorize and perform a song, and even teach each other. When a little girl came to class wanting to learn, the other children taught her how to hold the ukulele, how to play the notes, and helped her perform a song with them. We hope that this inspires them to pursue further music education, and maybe even become a musician themselves one day. “

“Throughout the program, 5 ukuleles at each site were left for youth to use between lessons. Consistently, youth used them for their private practice. One young boy played the ukulele for three hours, not stopping until his parents came to pick him up: he was determined to play “Peaches” by Jack Black and continued to learn the song with the instructors’ help.”