To help expand its ongoing year-around free music education program. Now in its seventh year, OrchKids serves more than 800 inner-city students living in low-income Baltimore communities. It provides music instruction and instruments for students aged 3 to 15 years, along with life skills training, academic assistance, field trips, positive mentorship, healthy meals, and a safe learning environment. The nationally recognized program uses music as a vehicle to help children expand their creativity, self expression, cooperative learning, and self esteem, improving odds that they will stay in school, and decreasing odds of their turning to gangs or drugs.