In Wednesday’s (12/9) Baltimore Sun, Tim Smith reports, “OrchKids, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s innovative educational initiative launched last year at an inner city school, will receive a $1 million gift from Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker. The Baltimore philanthropists were among the early supporters of the project, which received its initial seed money of $100,000 from BSO music director Marin Alsop. … Currently, more than 150 pre-K to second-graders are part of the OrchKids program at Lockerman Bundy. The Meyerhoff/Becker gift is estimated to cover 50 percent of the expenses over the next four years, as more grades are added to the program; more than 300 students are eventually expected to participate. Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Andres Alonso are scheduled to appear at the press conference announcing the gift. The school system is a partner in OrchKids, which is provided by the BSO at no cost to students or schools. … The $1 million gift will be used to fund more teachers, musical instruments and an additional administrator for OrchKids.”
Posted December 10, 2009
