Jenkins Youth & Family Village has a rich and inspiring legacy rooted in the power of music—especially jazz. Founded in 1891 as the Jenkins Orphanage in Charleston, South Carolina, the organization became internationally known through the Jenkins Orphanage Band, one of the earliest groups to popularize jazz music across the United States and Europe. These talented young musicians blended ragtime, spirituals, and early jazz, helping to shape the sound of a new American art form while raising funds to support the orphanage.

Today, Jenkins Youth & Family Village honors that extraordinary musical heritage by continuing to uplift and empower youth through education, cultural enrichment, and community programs. Its jazz legacy remains a symbol of resilience, creativity, and the enduring impact of investing in young lives.