Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients

First-time Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients share its impact

A collage of 2023-24 Presser Scholar Award recipients.  One year ago, The Presser Foundation implemented several significant changes to the Undergraduate Scholar Award program. These changes included adding 32 Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) to the program, shifting the focus from institution to student recipient with the addition of a…

open door policy

Having an open door policy

In a guest blog post written for Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, staff discussed transparency, why it matters in the work of philanthropy, and how it is manifested at The Presser Foundation. Here, we seek to add another concept related to transparency that has been practiced for the past ten years at the Foundation – having…

Wilmington Children's Chorus Ariel Alvarado teaching and playing music.

Empowering young people to change their world through music

Wilmington Children’s Chorus Ariel Alvarado during her Fellowship year.  By Ariel Alvarado One would imagine a children’s chorus would solely serve children, but this year the Wilmington Children’s Chorus (WCC) expanded its services to include a twenty-four-year-old. Some background: WCC is an organization dedicated to empowering young people to change their world through music. This…

The interns' final day in the office outside of the Presser Home for Retired Music Teachers.

Learning about equitable access to music

Summer intern Chris Dolich with fellow intern Kayleigh Howard outside the former Presser Home for Retired Music Teachers. By Chris Dolich, The Presser Foundation Summer Intern During my time as a summer intern at The Presser Foundation, I have been exposed to the many ways that the Board and staff strive to achieve their mission…