Empowering Underprivileged Children
Our Story
OC United has partnered with Biola University Conservatory of Music and Omaha Conservatory of Music and launched a pilot program called String Sprouts at Valencia Park Elementary School in Fullerton, CA. String Sprouts provides violins, violas and cellos, teachers and class lessons for children aged 3-7 years old who come from families who live well below the poverty level. The instruments and weekly lessons are provided gratis with the understanding that the student and one parent or caregiver commit to the 5-year program. We currently have two classes and are poised to grow in the fall of 2020.
Our Immediate Need
Our String Sprouts are in dire need of funds to cover the costs for additional instruments, translation of teaching curriculum in Spanish, weekly class material, and video tutorials, classroom translators, yearly evaluations, training for teachers, and transportation for Sprouts Kids.
The Opportunity
Among preschoolers and kindergartners in Orange County CA, the areas of greatest vulnerabilities are language and cognitive development (26% at-risk), communication skills and general knowledge (27% at-risk). A staggering 47% of children in Orange County are not ready for Kindergarten.
*Source: 25th Annual Report on the Condition of Children In Orange County, 2019.
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String Sprouts is designed to:
1. Close the learning gap for underprivileged children.
2. Enable underprivileged children to break the cycle of poverty.
3. Equip caregivers and/or parents of children with resources to enable successful study habits that promote kindergarten readiness and towards a trajectory of success.
According to a study by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute, String Sprouts has shown to:
1. Give kids a jump-start on academic subjects, including math, language, and science.
2. Extend attention span.
3. Strengthen motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
4. Improve classroom behavior.
Thank you for your generosity and for considering this very special program.
Jonathan David Neal OC United String Sprouts
