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The Chance to Finally Perform Together

Macedonia ES Uke Ensemble, 2021

It’s been a difficult year for music at Macedonia Elementary
dealing with temporary shut-downs, COVID-19 restrictions, and having
no chances to make music outside of school. These instruments saved
us and gave us the chance to finally perform together. The hole left
behind by the lack of recorders was filled and over 200 4th and 5th
graders got to play a ukulele.

Our two ensembles, nearly SO strong, were very successful and
gave our students a much-needed outlet for ensemble performance.
Additionally, greater interest in music has been created at home for
many students. About ten parents bought their students their own
ukuleles after seeing their increased interest in music. At least two of
them are pursuing private lessons for their students now, as well.

Macedonia ES Uke Ensemble, 2021

Many younger students have seen and heard the instruments
now, too, and can’t wait until they get older and get to play them with
their own hands. Our 5th grade graduation wouldn’t have been the
same without music, and I’m glad our ensembles’ recorded
performances got to liven up the atmosphere. I’ve received several
grateful messages from parents who were thrilled to hear that we
finally made an ensemble this year. Thank you so much.

2021 1st Quarter Grants

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.

2020 4th Quarter Grants

Congratulations to our 4th Quarter grant recipients!

Albuquerque, NM: Tierra Adentro of New Mexico: This charter school serves kids grades 6-12 from around the Albuquerque area, including students from the Navaho and Pueblo reservations nearby. They have an active music program and need more guitars to provide needed instruments for their music program, which teaches flamenco and some popular Spanish music. We’ve offered matching support for 6 guitars.

Bronx, NY: Heilbrunn School of Music: This inner-city music school provides lessons and instruments to underserved kids grades K-12 in the South Bronx. They need more inventory in order to provide instruments for more kids, and to have instruments they can take home to practice. We’ve offered a grant of $2,000 in matching funds to support their instrumental needs.

Brooklyn, NY: Noel Pointer Foundation: We’ve given one grant to NPF; they offer music instruction in 22 schools across Brooklyn, and they have a great need for more instruments that students can practice at home with, particularly during Covid. CFKF’s offered a grant of $2,000 in matching funds to support this worthy and venerable program serving kids most at risk.

Brookville, IN: An Orchestrated Journey 4H: This is the first 4H program we’re supporting; they serve kids grades K-12 at their center in a rural area of eastern Indiana. They’ve adapted well to the pandemic with a combination of online and distanced in-person learning, and need more instruments for students to be able to learn in this hybrid environment. We’ve offered $533 in matching funds to support this program in a rural area of the Midwest.

Canton, GA: Madedonia Elementary School: This is a new program that aims to offer the musical experience to kids grades K-5 while avoiding issues around singing during Covid. They’re building a ukulele program, and we’ve offered $1,000 in matching funds to support them.

Cascade, ID: SD PTO: This small rural Title I school in western Idaho wishes to build a new string program for 3rd and 4th grade; this will continue later through 6th grade, with the goal of students being able to participate in an extracurricular area orchestra.  CFKF’s offered a grant of $2,000 in matching funds to support this program’s inventory needs in a rural area of Idaho.

Cleveland, OH: Cleveland School of the Arts: This School serves kids grades 9-12; they have a strong need for more instruments for kids whose families cannot afford to rent them. Their student population comes mainly from around Cleveland; we’ve offered a grant of $2,000 in matching funds to encourage the growth of this program and its need for more instruments.

Columbus, OH: Columbus MS Orchestra: This middle-school program in Columbus has insufficient inventory for their large program; students have to share instruments, and are unable to take them home to practice. We’ve offered $2,000 in matching funds to encourage this program’s growth.

Lenoir City, TN: Lenoir City Intermediate School: This middle school has a need for more ukuleles to supplement their inventory; 50 students have to share 12 instruments. We’ve offered $950  in matching support for 20 ukeleles tosupport this program in rural Tennessee.

Los Angeles, CA: A Place Called Home: This was our second request from APCH; we gave them a grant last year. They serve kids grades 2-12 from around LA; they need more instruments to loan to students, particularly now when there’s no in-person teaching. CFKF has offered a grant of $2,000 in matching funds to support this program serving kids most at risk in LA.

Los Angeles: Friends of Gardner: This school offers ukulele instruction to kids grades 4-5; they need more inventory so that students can take instruments home to practice, and so they can build a ukulele ensemble. We’ve offered a matching grant of $1900 to support this worthy program and their building program.

Medford, MA: Tufts University: Tufts has created an outreach program for kids grades K-12, along with the goal of providing instruments to each student involved. CFKF has offered $2,000 in matching funds to encourage this program and the venerable institution that runs it.

Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Public Schools: This is our second grant to MPS; they’re working on expanding equitable music instruction across the district, and this grant will support their effort to provide first-time access to music to three more schools serving kids grades K-8. We’ve offered  grant of $2,000 in matching funds to continue support for this exciting large initiative.

Philadelphia, PA: West Park Cultural Center: This small program in an underserved area of Philadelphia is starting a guitar program (first online during Covid, then in-person after) to provide musical experience and community connection.  Kids in this program and the area are drawn to the arts, and this would be their first playing opportunity. CFKF has offered $750 in matching funds to support this new direction.

Placerville, CA: El Dorado HS Music.: This Title I high school is working on providing more access to music for their ethnically diverse student population. Placerville is a small former mining town in a very rural agricultural area. CFKF’s offered $450 in matching funds to help them build a ukulele class.

Portland, ME: Palaver Strings: This is our second grant offer to Palaver; they serve kids pre-K and 1st grade in the Portland area. The program is growing; this grant will help provide new instruments for beginners, and larger instruments for their advancing grade. CFKF has offered $1,000 in matching funds to support this building program.

Raleigh, NC: Community Music School: This school serves kids grades 3-12 from around Raleigh; they only work with students from economically disadvantages families. They’re building a sequential music program designed to bring music to kids as early in their development as possible. CFKF has offered a grant of $950 in matching funds to support their purchase of 20 ukeleles.

San Antonio, TX: Classical Music Institute: This program serves kids grades 2-12 from around the Bexar County area of San Antonio; their goal with this grant is to provide greater access to instruments so that students can take them home to practice. We’ve offered matching support of $2,063 for 7 instruments.

Sidney, ME: Snow Pond Center for the Arts: This longstanding organization in rural central Maine provides music instruction and instruments to kids from around the area; they’re starting a new program for students in Grade 3, with the eventual goal of building a full string orchestra program. CFKF has offered matching support of $1,479 for 6 violins to encourage this rural program.

St. Louis, MO: St. Frances Cabrini Academy: This school serves kids grades K-8; they have a general music class, but are starting a new string program to give the students a chance to learn an instrument and to create opportunities to bridge cultural divides and bring students together. They serve students from around South St. Louis; we’ve offered a grant of $2,000 in matching funds to support this interesting new program.

Stamford, CT: Intempo:  Intempo serves kids K-12 from around the Stamford area; they need access to more and better instruments to cover increasing demand for their services. They need 6 instruments, and we’ve offered a grant of $1,559 in matching funds to support this program serving kids and families in need.

Tucson, AZ: Arts for All Inc.:  This program serves kids K-12 from all around the Tucson area; for many, this is the only musical opportunity they have.  Arts for All wishes to expand its instrument instruction to include ukuleles; we’ve offered $450 in matching funds to support this program’ growth.

Williamsburg, VA: Providence Classical School: This school started a new string program last year for kids in 2nd grade; they’re building on this so that 3rd graders will have access to violins as well, with the hope to add viola soon. CFKF’s offering agrant of $1,500 in matching funds to encourage this growing program.

2020 3rd Quarter Grants

Congratulations to our 3rd Quarter grant recipients!

Bloomfield, KY Elementary School Music Program: This is a Title 1 school serving kids grades K-5 in a rural area of Kentucky. They are building a school-wide music program to supplement their academic program; they started the program with bucket drums. The kids responded enthusiastically and want more musical experiences. CFKF gave support for 20 ukeleles to support this worthy program.

Boston, MA: Boston Arts Academy: BAA is Boston’s only public arts high school; they have a growing program and need more inventory for both home use (during Covid) and to replace rental instruments. We’ve offered support for 6 instruments to support this important program serving the arts in Boston.

Clearwater, FL: Sandy Lane Elementary:  This is a new program to build a robust musical experience for students grades K-5 in Clearwater. They are offering traditional string family instruments as well as guitar and ukulele; CFKF offered support for 30 ukeleles to help this exciting new initiative.

Cleveland, OH: Play It Forward Cleveland: This organization offers free instruction and instruments to kids around the area who have no access to either at their schools; they work in partnership with the Cleveland Orchestra and the City of Cleveland, among other orgs. They serve kids grades 6-12.  The student population comes from areas with high poverty and greatest need in Cleveland; they are getting CFKF support for 20 instruments.

Honolulu, HI: Saint Louis School:  This boys’ school serving students grades K-12 has one of the oldest music programs in the Islands; they integrate music and academics for their ethnically diverse student (primarily Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Island ethnicity). They are expanding their musical offerings and need considerably more inventory; there is a strong focus on connecting students with Hawaiian culture. CFKF has offered a grant of $2,000 in matching funds to support this program, with a focus on their need for ukuleles and violins.

Kahului, HI: Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra: This organization is starting a new program designed to be the first string program ever on the island of Maui. Their focus is on preschool-5th grade. They are starting a pilot program in the town of Waihe’e; the school there supports an ethnically diverse population. CFKF is supporting their request for 7 instruments with a matching grant of $3,110 in matching funds to help this new program.

Kingston, TN: Harpeth MS Band Program:  Harpeth MS is starting a new string program to complement their existing band program; this would be the first string program in the County. Kingston’s a rural community, and this program will serve kids grades 5-8.  CFKF has offered grant of $1,500 in matching funds to support them.

Miami, FL: Area Stage Co.: This musical theater company in Miami is creating a new program to teach ukulele and guitar for kids involved grades K-12, with the goal of having them perform musically as well as theatrically. We’re offering matching support for 25 ukeleles and guitars to encourage this innovative program.

NYC, NY: Third Street Music School Partners Program:  Third Street is the oldest community music school in America (125 years old); they offer music instruction and instruments to an ethnically diverse student population from PS 42 in NYC (they offer all of this and dance in 20+ high needs schools in this area). Covid has necessitated the need for many more instruments; CFKF has offered matching support to help build more inventory for worthy and venerable program.

Paducah, KY: Lone Oak Elementary:  Lone Oak is starting an ambitious new program to give the musical experience to all kids grades K-1st grade at the school, starting with small guitars. These lessons will take place before and after school. This is a Title I school; we’ve offered matching support for guitars for this this innovative and inspiring new program.

Paducah, KY: Reidland Elementary:  Reidland is starting a new string program for kids grades 2-3 in this Title I school; this would be the first time for them to engage in strings instruction. They’ve been offered matching support to help them build an inventory of new violins.

Sandpoint, ID: Music Conservatory of Sandpoint:  This is our second grant to Sandpoint; they are building a lending Library of instruments for the kids in their Conservatory serving grades K-12. Students would take out instruments on loan, like a book from the library. This is the only organization in the area that offers music, working with the schools in an after-school setting. We have offered matching support for 6 instruments to support this interesting model for MCS.

San Diego, CA: San Diego Youth Symphony:  CFKF worked with this excellent organization when we shared a benefit there around 10 years ago. They wish to expand their inventory to enable students on scholarship to have access to instruments (they loaned 363 instruments out last year). The student population (grades 4-12) they serve is ethnically diverse. CFKF has offered matching support for 6 instruments at a cost of $4,244 to support this very worthy program.

Tucson, AZ: Quest for Education and Arts: This private program offers string ensemble and orchestra training to students K-12 in southern Arizona. They wish to expand their ability to offer instruments for use by low-income students involved in the program. We’ve offered a grant of $2,000 in matching funds to support this program.

Wausau, WI: Wausau Conservatory of Music:  This private conservatory wishes to build a new program for younger kids (they have an existing program for older students; students K-12 are able to attend). This grant supporting their acquisition of 10 ukeleles will help them to expand their offering to young students otherwise unable to be involved. They also have a small youth orchestra.

Woodside, NY :New York Edge: NY Edge provides music programming to IS 318, a middle school in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn. They’re wishing to expand their after-school and online instruction to include more kids, especially those in high financial need families. CFKF has offered support for 16 ukeleles and guitars at a cost of $2,850 to help this worthy program and the low-income families they support.

2020 2nd Quarter Grants

Congratulations to our 2nd quarter grant recipients!

Alameda, CA: Bay Area Music Project:  This program serves kids K-8 in the Alameda area near Oakland with after-school music, academics and other activities.  They work with both an elementary school and a Title 1 feeder school; the student population is ethnically diverse. CFKF offered a grant of $1,000 in matching funds to support this inspiring model.

Billings, MT: Billings Christian School:  This eastern Montana faith-based school serving kids grads 5-12 is growing; they wish to provide greater access to this program for families unable to afford rentals. The slump in energy prices has particularly affected those families in this area.  Classics has offered $1238 in matching funds to support this worthy program.

Chapel Hill, NC: Carrboro Public School Foundation:  This public school program serving kids grades 6-8 with string orchestra needs to develop its inventory in order to better serve students unable to afford rentals. All of the instruments in this grant would be offered to students of color, and 100% of the students in this program qualify for the Federal free lunch program. We’ve offered $2000 in matching funds to support this public school program serving at-risk kids.

Detroit, MI: Detroit Suzuki Academy of Music:  This program serves children pre-K through grade 12 with private and group lessons; emphasis is on family involvement.  They need more inventory for families unable to afford instrument rentals. We’ve offered support for 4 violins.

Filer, ID: SD 413: This school district is starting a new program featuring ukulele instruction in the 5th grade; the goal is to provide a musical experience for nearly 800 students. CFKF has offered matching support for 35 ukeleles to support this district and their kids in a rural area of Idaho.

Hazelwood, MO: Blossom Wood Day School:  This school, located in a high-risk northern county of St. Louis, offers after-school and summer programming to kids ages 4-12. The student population is almost entirely African-American, the majority are single-parent families; they need more inventory to support families that can’t afford rentals. We’ve offered $2000 in matching funds to support this program in a socio-economically challenged area.

Honolulu, HI: PAI Foundation:  This Foundation’s goal with this grant is to support traditional Hawaiian music experience for kids grades 6-12 through a new music program, focusing on music performed on ukulele, guitar and double bass. They hope to reach Native Hawaiian kids, along with students of a variety of ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds; CFKF has offered $2000 in matching funds to support this Foundation’s work.

Hyattsville, MD: DeMatha Catholic HS:  This faith-based school serving students grades 9-12 wishes to expand their inventory of excellent quality new instruments to provide inclusion for families otherwise unable to participate along with providing incentive for recruitment. The school serves an ethnically diverse population of boys, and over 60% of the students in this program qualify for financial support. CFKF is providing $1496 in matching support for 6 beautiful new instruments.

Marysville, KS Elementary School Music Dept.:  This public school program located in a rural part of Kansas aims to build on an existing program offering recorder and band instruments for kids grades K-6; the goal is to offer strings through ukulele to fill out their musical experience. We’ve offered $1800 in matching support for 40 ukeleles in this rural area of Kansas.

Miami, FL: Guitars over Guns Organization:  This innovative organization offers after-school music programs to at-risk kids in Chicago and Miami; they’re currently looking at expansion to another major metropolitan area. A goal is to offer the musical experience to youth during a period of the day when most violence and crime happen in their neighborhoods. The population served is almost 100% African-American and Hispanic; 99% of the students in this program qualify for the Federal free lunch program. We’ve offered matching support for 16 guitars and ukuleles to this innovative and inspiring model for support of kids at risk.

Miami, FL: Hive Prep:  This Title I Charter school serves kids grades K-8; they have an active violin program and wish to both expand that program and include other instruments. The school’s demographic is almost completely African-American and Hispanic; most students live in poverty. CFKF is offering $2000 in matching funds to support this school’s work.

NYC, NY: Bloomingdale SOM:  This private music school serves kids grades 1-12 from Manhattan and other boroughs with strings education; they wish to expand their offerings to include more violas, cellos, and ukuleles for beginners. They offer beginning instruction, an intermediate orchestra, and chamber orchestra for more advanced students. We’ve offered a grant of $1500 in matching funds to support this private program’s growth.

Oakland, CA: Oakland Youth Chorus:  This organization offers choral music and culturally relevant instrumental performance programming to several schools in a high-risk and economically challenged area around Oakland. We’ve offered $2000 in matching funds to support this innovative program’s new direction to help them purchase ukuleles to augment their kids’ musical experience.

Paducah, KY: Lone Oak Intermediate School:  This Title I elementary school serving primarily low-income students in a rural area near Paducah wishes to add ukulele to their music program in order to provide an additional hands-on music experience for their kids in 4th and 5th grade. CFKF has offered matching support for 30 ukeleles.

Roselle, NJ: Roselle Board of Education:  This public school string orchestra program wishes to expand its offering to 7th and 8th grade kids, and to build more quality inventory so that more kids can participate. The program is in a highly urban area of Union County with high rates of gang membership and poverty. We’ve offered $2000 in matching funds to support this program’s ability to offer the musical experience.

Valley Center, CA: Valley Center High School:  This school serving kids grades 9-12 has a choral program that wishes to expand its offering to include ukulele. This creates an outlet for expression during the pandemic where students may not be allowed to sing, or need to do their work in a hybrid online and in-person environment. We’ve offered matching support for 30 ukeleles to support this innovative new program in a rural area of California.

Wadsworth, OH: Access the Arts: This new initiative to create a musical experience in the Medina County Juvenile Detention Center aims to provide a positive artistic experience for detained kids grades 6-12. Many of these youths are depressed and have little family support; the hope is to provide hope and joy through music. We’ve offered matching support of $2275 for 22 guitars and ukeleles to support this unique program and the challenged kids they serve.

2020 1st Quarter Grants

Congratulations to our 1st quarter grant recipients:

Bowling Green, KY: Drakes Creek MS: This middle school in a suburban and rural area of south-central Kentucky has decided to start a new music program with guitars due to strong demand from their students (they already have an orchestra and band program). They’ve been offered matching support for 24 guitars.

Chicago, IL: Chicago Bulls College Prep Music Program: This private high school offers free tuition and rigorous academics in Chicago Near West Side,, one of Chicago’s most underserved areas. Their music program consists of orchestra and guitar, and has a strong need for more inventory; all of their instruments need to be shared, CFKF has offered matching support for 4 new instruments to help them build their inventory.

Chicago, IL: The Peoples’ Music School: This school provides a tuition-free music experience to students K-12 to underserved students around Chicago. They are growing quickly (tripled ins size since 2015 to over 900 students); they partner with the Chicago Symphony for performance opportunities; they provide private lessons, orchestra and music theory to all of their kids. We’ve offered $2000 in matching funds to encourage this quickly growing initiative.

Clarksdale, MS: Griot Arts: Clarksdale is a small community in central Mississippi that has a rich history of blues music. This small school offers music education to students grades 3-12; they have a strong need for increased inventory as they grow. They’ve been offered matching support toward 14 new instruments to provide more access to this great program.

Dallas, TX: Dallas Symphony Orchestra: This is our second grant to the DSO; their Southern Dallas Residency program is expanding rapidly, supporting underserved kids grades 1-5 with free music instruction and events. We’ve offered $3000 in matching funds to again support this exciting initiative.

Detroit, MI: Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts: This quickly growing new school serving students grades 9-10 in Detroit has inspired over 1/3 of the students to become involved in music; they need a new infusion of inventory to keep pace with demand. They’ve been offered $2000 in matching funds to encourage this growing initiative in an economically challenged area.

Detroit, MI: Detroit Public Schools Foundation: This large public school system requested support for its orchestral program for kids grades 5-12; they have a strong need for more inventory as the program grows, as well as for replacement of aging and unplayable instruments. The system as a whole has made a substantial new commitment this year to music education, an exciting development after years of terminated music programs. This system’s student population comes from one of the highest poverty rates in the U.S.; they’ve been offered $2000 in matching funds to support this very encouraging new initiative.

Fall River, MA: Atlantis Educational Foundation: This public charter school is launching a new string program in Fall 2020 for kids grades 4-8 in Fall River, an economically challenged community with high rates of poverty.  They need a starter inventory of new instruments to be able to launch the program, and CFKF is offering $2000 in matching funds to support them.

Ft. Collins, CO: Off the Hook Arts: Off the Hook Arts is a recent private initiative aimed at creating musical opportunity for disadvantaged kids grades 1-5; they are expanding quickly at 2 locations in Ft. Collins with their Meadowlark program offering violin and guitar instruction. This is the only musical opportunity for underserved kids in the area; CFKF is offering $2000 in matching funds to continue encouraging this private program’s growth and the underserved kids they support.

Portland, OR: Bravo Youth Orchestra: This program serves kids grades pre-K-9 in one of the poorest areas of Portland, providing music instruction to over 600 students in 6 schools in the Roosevelt School District there; we’ve offered $2500 in matching funds to continue encouraging this program’s expansion.

Sedona, AZ: Chamber Music Sedona: This different model for string education by a chamber music society offers private instruction, access to public concerts, and music appreciation initiatives to kids grades 7-12 around the area. They’ve been offered  $1478 in matching funds to support this interesting model’s needs.

Winooski, VT: Winooski Schools: This program serves kids grades 5-12 in Winooski, which is close to Burlington. The town has the lowest per capita income in the state. The student body is truly international; a total of 25 languages, many African, Far Eastern and Middle Eastern dialects, are spoken. CFKF has offered $2,000 in matching funds to encourage this diverse public school system.

2019 4th Quarter Grants

Congratulations to our 4th quarter grant recipients:

Augusta, GA: Salvation Army Kroc Center: This Kroc Center music program that serves kids K-8 with guitar lessons and instruments is located in the Harrisburg area; This program is intended to reach the kids there through music, and to improve their prospects in life. CFKF has offered support for 12 guitars.

Brooklyn, NY: Noel Pointer Foundation: This is our second grant offer to Noel Pointer Foundation. NPF serves kids from around Brooklyn grades 3-12 with afterschool and weekend instruction. They support two orchestras, which perform around the New York area (including Carnegie Hall). We have offered $3,000 in matching funds to encourage this highly dedicated strings initiative.

Heathsville, VA: Rappahannock Concert Association: This program serves the fairly remote area of the Northern Neck of Virginia where there is currently no music instruction other than from this organization. They serve kids grades 1-7  with lessons and access to instruments, and we’ve given support for 3 cellos to encourage this program’s further development.

Kansas City, MO: Heartland Chamber Music: This is our second grant offer to Kansas City HCM; they serve economically disadvantaged kids pre-K-5 at 4 sites around KC with instruction for beginning violin and cello.  We’ve offered $3,075 in matching funds to encourage this growing initiative.

Lexington, MI: Camp Cavell: This is our 2nd grant to Camp Cavell; this is a summer program, and their desire is to provide a musical opportunity that’s a gateway to the music experience, while being affordable. The students come from around Southeast Michigan (including Detroit and a total of 35 cities and towns) we’ve offered $500 in matching funds to help them purchase 10 ukeleles and to continue encouraging their summer program’s growth and the underserved kids they support.

Los Angeles, CA: A Place Called Home: This is our second grant offer to APCH; they serve 1,000 kids grades 2-12 from around LA, and our last grant there has stimulated considerable growth and interest. We’ve offered $2,047 in matching support for 13 instruments to encourage this growing program.

Louisville, KY: Marion C. Moore School: This public school, serving kids grades 6-12 in an urban area of Jefferson County, has a strong need for new and better inventory for their students, and for instruments that the students can take home to practice on. We’ve offered $3,534 in matching funds to continue encouraging their growth and the underserved kids they support.

Padukah, KY: Redland MS:  This is a public middle school serving kids grades 6-8 in the same area as our recent grant site in Padukah; it’s a rural school district with many low-income families. They needed support for 7 instruments, and we’ve offered $3,043 in matching funds to help this school provide access to instruments for those in greatest need.

Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Orchestra: This prestigious orchestra has created the School Ensemble Program serving kids grades K-3 and 5-8 in two different public schools serving several hundred kids. They provide orchestral training (by PSO teaching artists and musicians) as well as instruments; there’s a strong need for more inventory, as many students have to share them. These programs are located in West Philadelphia; CFKF has offered $5,000 in matching funds to further support this exciting young program and the kids they serve.

Rancho Mirage, CA: Steinway Society Riverside County: This organization provides musical experiences and instruments to schools all around the Coachella Valley in southern CA. This particular program is offering musical support for kids grades 3 and 4 including instruction and ukuleles. We’ve offered recommend $5320 in matching funds for many new ukuleles to encourage this program’s vision and all of the kids in the area they support.

Richton Park, IL: Matteson SD 162: This public school string program serves kids grades 6-8; the program started 3 years ago, and they need more quality inventory to provide access to their growing participants. We’re offering matching support for 4 cellos and 3 double basses with $3,573 in matching funds to support this growing public school program’s needs.

Rutland, VT: County Public Schools: This string program in a rural area of Vermont is working to expand its orchestral program, but is inhibited by lack of quantity and quality of inventory. We’ve $4,000 in matching funds to encourage this public school system in a state we have little presence; this is our second grant in Vermont.

Sandy Springs, GA: North Springs Charter HS: This school serving students grades 9-12 has a limited inventory, and there’s a strong need for more double basses so that students can practice at home.  The school is a dual magnet school, and many students travel as long as 2 hours to attend. CFKF has offered $1557 in matching funds to encourage this program’s efforts to bring music to low-income kids and families in a state we’re expanding our presence in.