Did you know?

Our Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) helps kids with scholarships. You might be interested in helping too!

The CAC stewards several scholarship funds. You can donate to one of these funds to support those students and families who cannot afford program tuitions and fees!

The CAC actively seeks contributions throughout the year and awards scholarships on the basis of need to deserving students. Did you know that 100% of students receive partial or full Sailor Circus Academy tuition support? The same is true for students with their summer camp fees. Tuition and fees never really cover all program costs. It takes the help of donors like you. Perhaps you would like to contribute?

Generous benefactors helped create our special purpose funds and funds that honor individuals for their outstanding service to the circus arts. These funds can cover summer camp fees, Sailor Circus Academy tuition, Summer Circus Spectacular group admission, personal training attire and equipment and even post CAC career or college costs.

Please consider helping our kids through one of these funds:

Sailor Circus Fund: is the main fund for assistance with student tuition, training equipment, performance costumes and more, along with the maintenance of the Sailor Circus Arena which is the home of Sailor Circus Academy, the nation’s longest running youth circus.

• This fund also encompasses three named scholarship funds:
  
  Jessica Lynn Leonard Scholarship: helps offset training costs for Sailor Circus students who not only have financial need but also demonstrate the character, spirit of friendship and selfless heart as exemplified by 7th-year circus student, Jessica, whose life was cut short in a car accident.
  Jennifer Gemmeke Scholarship: provides a full annual scholarship for a Sailor Circus Academy student in honor of Jennifer’s nearly 20-year development career with the CAC.
  Samantha “SAM” Pellicano Scholarship: assists with Sailor Circus Academy tuition in honor of Sam, a young lady who loved circus; was a house manager for the CAC; and who at age 27 lost her battle with cancer.

Summer Camp Fund: provides partial or full tuition for a week of circus arts summer camp experiences for youth ages 8-15 who cannot afford camp costs.

Summer Circus Spectacular Fund: underwrites free tickets for large groups of disadvantaged youth to experience, sometimes for their first time, professional circus performances produced by the CAC in the Historic Asolo Theater at The Ringling.

Senior Scholarship Fund: is a special CAC Board of Directors award to graduating Sailor Circus Academy students to further their academic studies or work careers. Unlike athletes and artists in other fields who are eligible for numerous scholarships, our graduating circus artists don’t have such opportunities. The CAC is changing that with your help.

Not sure which fund to support? Let us designate your gift to where the need is greatest. In this way, as needs arise you can be sure your gift is making the most immediate difference.