Cherry Children’s Music Outreach

About the Program

 Cherry Children’s Music Outreach was formed in 2005 to provide quality early childhood music programs to children ages 1 to 6 years, with a strong emphasis on poverty level, low and middle income families and the daycare centers that support them.   The foundation was started in the memory of Albert David Cherry who was a Washington area singer, actor and choir director.

The program is proud to provide music school tuition assistance and music programming in daycare centers and nursery schools in the Washington, D.C. metro area.   In fall of 2005, the program awarded its first full-session scholarship and began anoutreach music program at Martha's Table, an organization dedicated to fulfilling the needs of low-income and homeless children, families and individuals in Washington D.C.  We have expanded our program at Martha’s Table and increased the number of scholarships awarded in 2006 and 2007.  Next year, we plan to continue to develop pilot programs at other centers serving lower income families.                                                                       

All of the outreach programs utilize professional musicians and music educators while offering well-researched, age-appropriate curriculum to expose children to the wonderful world of music. In addition, the classes help enhance focused listening, teach steady beat (an important precursor to reading), and strengthen motor skills and body awareness. Classes embrace a variety of music including classical, jazz, folk and world music. 

Our goals for the next year are to:

• Expand our work with additional day-care centers and preschools through outreach programs.

• Continue and expand our partnership with Martha’s Table.
• Double the number of scholarships awarded per year.

• Provide instruments and other educational materials to day-care centers and preschools.

Your donation can help us meet these goals and fund our current program costs: 

• Your $50 donation will help pay for musical instruments for the children to use.

• Your $90 donation will pay for one visit to a classroom at Martha’s Table.

• Your $150 donation will help fund a new scholarship for a child to attend a music class.

• Your $900 donation will pay for a month of visits at Martha’s Table.

We make every effort to ensure that your donations go to programs and scholarships that help children and families in need.  All administrative/management services are donated and we strive to keep our fundraising costs to a minimum. 

All children deserve to have access to these stimulating, educational programs and to receive the developmental benefits that these classes offer, regardless of their family’s economic status.  Please consider making a donation today.  Thank You!