ABOUT US
Impacting Lives of Young Musicians for 25+ Years
1997-1998
Parents observe inequities at school concert in Oak Park. They discover renting an instrument is a barrier to participation.
- Set out to partner with D97.
- Collect 22 donated instruments.
1998-2000
PING begins serving students including those in grades 4 and 5 eligible for PING! in all eight Oak Park D97 schools by 1998, distributing instruments to 27 young musicians.
2000-2001
PING expands to provide instruments to Oak Park 6th grade students who need support.
2003-2004
PING begins providing access to summer music camps to its members. Early PING students continue with music at OPRF High School.
2004-2005
The Mentoring Program - which pairs OPRF students with PING middle schoolers who play the same instruments - begins with 13 pairs.
2007-2008
PING begins serving students in River Forest D90. Private lessons and Marching band fees covered for PING high school musicians. First elementary workshop held.
2011-2012
PING serves 164 students this year and next, the highest enrollment ever for PING. First parent/guardian focus group.
2015-2016
PING provides support for D97 middle school music trips. Endowment Fund established at Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, which currently has more than $195,000 in it.
2017-2018
PING eligibility requirements expanded beyond those receiving Free/Reduced Lunch. The Donna D’Oro Anderson Lifelong Music Fund is established for music experiences for PING high school students, such as music trips.
2019-2020
First online renewal for members due to COVID pandemic.
PING membership fees are waived to relieve families from financial stressors resulting from the pandemic.
2020-2021
Hired part-time Program Assistant, PING’s first employee. Mentoring and private lessons move online. Supports added: PING!Pals and lessons for elementary students
2021-2022
Hired part-time Executive Director after functioning solely as a working board. Summer Mentoring begins. Artist designed T-shirts by former PING student Hasani Cannon.
2022-2023
Four students receive The Donna D’Oro Anderson Lifelong Music Fund Graduate Awards; all go on to four-year universities including Harvard. Four musicians attend performing arts trip to New Orleans with Donna Fund Experience Award and other local support.
2023-2024
South Town Summer Fest and Dads’ Bands at Robert’s Westside held by community supporters to raise money for PING. Program to celebrate PING's 25th Anniversary held in partnership with the Oak Park River Forest Museum. The Silver Celebration, an in-person 25th Anniversary event, raises more than $10,000.
2024-2025
A music mentoring program for beginning PING students is launched, PING Partners. PING receives its biggest grant ever from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, awarded over three years: $10,000 year one, $12,500 year two, and $15,000 year three.
2025-2026
An all-PING field trip is offered for the first time. An Operations and Program Coordinator is hired, increasing staff from two to three. Summer Mentoring includes PING Partners for the first time.
OUR MISSION
PING believes all students deserve access to instrumental music education.
We are a 25+ year-old community nonprofit organization providing band and orchestra instruments, mentoring, and access to lessons, music camps, concerts, and trips to students who benefit from support that are in grades 4 through 12 in Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois, public schools. In a community with very high-quality school music programs, PING students can be on par with peers regardless of their financial situations and feel like they belong. PING programming also brings diversity to instrumental music classrooms and beyond, providing access to some traditionally underrepresented populations.
PING’s vision is that every student has equitable access to instrumental music—both in band and orchestra classrooms and beyond—unlocking academic, social, and mental health benefits while building a diverse community of young musicians who learn, play, and grow together through the joy of music.
Our Strategic Direction
Expand Access: Reach as many students as possible in grades 4–12 at Oak Park and River Forest public schools who would benefit from support.
Offer True Equity: Not only provide quality instruments, but upgrades as students grow physically and musically as well as programming such as lessons, camps, and other opportunities that help level the playing field with peers who have greater financial means.
Keep the Music Going: Help PING members stay engaged and inspired throughout their musical journeys so they grow, explore, and stay in music for the long haul.
Our 2025-26 Board of Directors
Our Staff
