“Setting The Stage” Campaign Receives $10,000 Challenge Grant

Great news! Our campaign to strengthen AYCO is already in full swing. In May, AYCO launched a campaign to raise the money we need to strengthen our organization and prepare us for the next 10 years. Our target is to raise $25,000 by August 31, allowing us to create a new website and hire professional staff to manage our operations. With this structure in place we can move ahead with our plan to help youth circuses achieve a tenfold increase the number of youth they serve.

Early in the campaign an unknown donor made a $10,000 challenge grant, meaning that for every dollar raised by our supporters, we get two. To meet this challenge, we’re asking our supporting circuses to raise $5 per student towards this campaign. Together, firm pledges and donations already total $3,230. We have some way to go, but if all the youth circuses help us, we can meet this challenge.

In just two weeks, all these circuses have stepped up to contribute to this campaign.

• The kids at CircEsteem in Chicago, IL are setting aside earnings from gigs for AYCO
• Circus Harmony, St Louis, MO will pass the hat at shows in August (after they finish with their own campaign to get to Israel this summer!)
• Circus Minimus, New York, NY will dedicate end-of-camp shows to AYCO
• Youth from The Circus Project in Portland, OR have committed their time to help with the campaign
• Hope St Circus, Los Angeles, CA is making thank you cards for AYCO
• My Nose Turns Red in Covington, KY is pledging $5 from each of its advanced troupe members
• Circus Arts Institute, Atlanta, GA is sending a portion of student fees
• One World Circus in Knoxville, TN is passing the hat at the Leaf Festival in NC and at the Reading Festival in Knoxville
• Stone Soup Circus, Princeton, NJ is asking students from their free classes to make a contribution and dedicating their end-of-camp show to AYCO
• CircusMecca, Mendocino, CA is donating the earnings from their gigs, and all the class proceeds for youth classes in May and June to AYCO
• Sailor Circus, Sarasota, FL is joining in through a letter campaign to reach their students
• Amazing Grace Circus, Nyack, NY has promised to find a way to help out
• Xelias Aerial Arts Studio, Minneapolis, MN is passing the hat and raising money at student showcases
• Philadelphia Circus School in PA will raise money from their youth programs

What can your circus do? However you can help, let us know your plans. E-mail zoe@americanyouthcircus.org