AMERIKIDS
Service and Song, All Year Long
Our Mission
The Amerikids mission is to build core values in the youth of Chester County including girls of all backgrounds and abilities in grades 5 through 12. We develop skills that make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. Amerikids accomplishes this by providing a program that celebrates citizenship through service and song via community outreach, service projects, performing and by providing instruction & exposure to music and entertainment. Amerikids strives to continue our 33-year heritage to reach more youth and instill the same sense of civic pride, patriotism, confidence and responsibility that our graduates have been able to transform into life and career skills.
Who We Are
Amerikids History
In the summer of 1986, a husband and wife music teaching team, John and Nancy Wylie, had a vision to organize a choral group of students that would entertain at various civic and social events in the West Chester area in honor of the Statue of Liberty Centennial. Today, thirty-three years later, the Amerikids continue to offer musical performances throughout the Chester County area. Amerikids has earned a reputation on the local, state and national level for providing patriotic, inspirational musical performances and community service to civic and health care organizations. Performances are scheduled at hospitals, retirement homes and communities, veteran facilities, community and civic events.
What We Do
The AMERIKIDS is a youth choir comprised of 20 students representing 13 different schools in Chester County offering musical performances throughout the Chester County area. The current musical program includes show tunes, Latin rhythms, jazz and patriotic selections, including a salute to the Armed Forces. Many numbers are choreographed and include sign language. Last year, the group gave 21 choral performances throughout southeastern Pennsylvania at civic and health care organizations, as well as at hospitals, retirement communities, community events, and veteran facilities. As a service organization, AMERIKIDS performs voluntary service projects for senior citizen groups, homeless shelters and members of the physically and mentally disadvantaged community. Other service projects include face painting at community events, gleaning, playing bingo with seniors and working as volunteers at Project C.U.R.E. AMERIKIDS members have helped athletes at the Chester County Special Olympics, visited hospitalized veterans at the Coatesville Veterans Administration Medical Center, sent letters to troops overseas, and collected toys and gifts for the Toys-for-Tots Program. Our organization provides a wonderful opportunity for young people to give back to their community. Students will gain confidence in their performance skills, learn the qualities of true leadership and enjoy making friendships that will last through the years.
Mail for the Military
Our group writes and sends approximately 2,000 letters to servicemen and women all around the globe each year. AMERIKIDS was recognized by the organization “Friends of Our Troops as the #1 Independent Youth Group nationally participating in Mail for the Military.
Project C.U.R.E.
Project C.U.R.E. is the largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world. The AMERIKIDS participate by volunteering at a local Project C.U.R.E. warehouse where we sort through and organize vast amounts of medical supplies.
Rise Against Hunger
Rise Against Hunger is an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable, mobilizing the necessary resources to end hunger by 2030. The AMERIKIDS participate in local Rise Against Hunger meal packaging events whenever possible.
Toys for Tots
Every holiday season our members collect unwrapped gifts for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program. The basic mission of the program is to collect new toys and distribute them to America's less fortunate children. The program's primary goal is to help deliver the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope through the gift of a new toy.
