OrchKids operates year-round in collaboration with community partners. Together, they provide music education, instruments, meals and academic mentorship to Baltimore's underserved youth and their families. OrchKids is intended primarily to address the most pervasive social challenges affecting underserved youth, using music to cultivate fundamental life skills such as self-expression, cooperative learning, discipline, support for academic achievement and creativity. Started in 2008, OrchKids now serves more than 1,300 pre-K through 11th-grade students from 8 city public schools. OrchKids offers workshops, enrichment activities and summer lessons. During the school year, the students spend 3-4 hours in the program four days a week.
Funding from The Baltimore Women's Giving Circle will be used for general operating support.