OrchKids Receives $1 Million Gift

Robert Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker have donated $1 million to OrchKids, the BSO-sponsored afterschool music program. 

The announcement was made during a City Hall ceremony earlier today that recognized OrchKids with a Certificate of Achievement for “promoting measurable academic and social change.” 

According to a program-wide study recently conducted by UMBC, OrchKids students score higher on standardized math tests and show improved school attendance. 

The money will be used to expand the program from five to eight city schools and bump enrollment from 750 to 1,600 students. 

This is the second million-dollar gift from Meyerhoff and Becker. The first, in 2008, was used to help launch the program.