Support Maria's Dream: Circus School Tuition Year 2

update! Nov 20, 2024

hello everyone! Looks like I will be able to complete Year 1 due to these donations and some that were made outside of GoFundMe. THANK YOU!

I must decide by the end of February 2025 if I will stay in Chicago and complete Year 2 of this program. I would very much like to do so. If possible, please consider donating to this campaign.

if you need an excuse, there’s Giving Tuesday next week and also my birthday next month.

pS If you are in Chicago, you can contribute to my tuition by attending Communion at Aloft Circus Arts. Next show is this Saturday and then Jan 18.

thank you SO MUCH! ❤️❤️❤️

Original message: Hello! As you may know, I have found my life’s purpose through circus and specifically through social circus. Now, I have been awarded a spot in one of the top three professional circus training programs in the country! I chose not to apply for the scholarship from the school because they give priority to BIPOC, as they should! And I did not want to take away from that.

I am now beginning my second month of school and it is everything I had hoped for! I can’t wait to get out there and do more social circus work using the skills and connections I am gaining in school!

At the same time, it is almost impossible to work. I am training 40 hours a week and my body and mind are exhausted. I worked full-time while I was in college, but that is not an option now. I have some remote work, but it does not cover my bills.

I will be applying for artist grants in the new year, and I work whenever I can. In the meantime, please consider donating to my GoFundMe to help me cover the next two months of tuition while I wait and hope I can receive artist grants or find more remote work that I can do while my body is recovering from training.

I promise to work hard, make you all proud, and take these skills and go out and serve the world when I graduate.

Thank you!

Love,

Maria