Resounding Campaign Profiles Brown Challenge Report Year1 (2)

BSO OrchKids
B rown C hallenge
Greetings!
Report Year One
Welcome to the first yearly report for the Brown
Challenge fundraising initiative. This annual publication
is one way we are keeping the community informed about
important updates concerning OrchKids and to report
on the fundraising successes and challenges of the special
grant given by the Brown family in support the OrchKids
program at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Stuart Simms
Overview of the Brown Challenge--- In early 2016,
Brown Challenge Committee Chair
the Brown Family, Eddie & Sylvia Brown, announced
that the OrchKids program—a program focused on musical instruction in Baltimore City Public
Schools-- was the recipient of a generous 5-year, $500,000 challenge grant from their foundation,
the Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Family Foundation. The terms of the grant stipulate that the BSO
and OrchKids must raise $100,000 annually through December 2020 from Baltimore’s African-
American community; with the goal to raise $1,000,000 in total at the conclusion of the pledge
period. All of these dollars are going directly to support OrchKids – a transformative program that
is bringing music to children and creating social change in Baltimore City’s most underserved
communities.

We are very excited to announce that we met our $100,000 goal for year one early, and are well
into raising funds for year two. Thanks to all our founding donors, we raised a total of $156,100
in contributions during the first year with gifts ranging from $50 to $100,000.This would not
have been possible without your generous support – thank you!

Another top item on our agenda for year two is the creation of a formal committee to
support our efforts. I am thrilled that Ms. Ava Lias-Booker, a noted attorney and BSO
Board member has agreed to help lead this committee with me and we look forward to
working together to build a strong base of support and connecting with each of you in
2017. We both wish you and your loved ones a peaceful, happy and healthy new year!
Sincerely,
Stuart Simms
Brown Challenge C ommittee C hair