A fiddle program for boys and girls ages 10 to 12 has been selected the winner of Arlington’s first "America’s Promise - Site of Promise" Award.

At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, the Arlington City Council will recognize Butler Elementary School and Pope Elementary School for their Fiddle with the Future Program. Council Chamber is located at 101 W. Abram St. in downtown Arlington.

The Fiddle with the Future program was organized by volunteer teacher Aleta Caraway seven years ago. It started as a weekly, after-school program for 10 students and was designed to promote cultural enrichment and the study of American folk music in youth.

Today, the program has grown to include about 60 students who perform at school carnivals and banquets. They were showcased in Arlington’s Independence Day Parade last summer. The youth fiddlers perform at the Scottish Festival in Arlington, the Irish Festival in Dallas and the Celtic Heritage Festival in Bedford.

"My life revolves around my desire to enrich children’s lives," Caraway said. "This program creates a sense of community and challenges students with a different type of learning."

Fiddle with the Future was one of 12 Arlington programs nominated for the Site of Promise Award, according to Social Capital Coordinator Lynda Freeman. The winning schools will receive miniature red wagons and certificates of recognition.

America’s Promise was established in 1997 as a challenge to the nation by all of the living U.S. presidents to make youth a priority by fulfilling five promises. The promises are to assure that all young Americans have caring adults, safe places with structured activities during non-school hours, a healthy start and future, marketable skills through effective education and opportunities for community service.