Send/keep Alyk Kinkade Fuller to Circus School

Hi, I'm Alyk! I love to flip, I love to teach and I love to perform. I've spent most of my life working to get better at flipping and teaching and performing, and I'm ready to hit the next level: going to a professional circus training school.

UPDATE: I have made it to circus school and survived the first week! It was full of strength, flexibility, and more challenging assessments in things like trampoline, juggling, and hand balancing! I have not raised the full tuition for year one yet but I have found a job in Brattleboro within one week to pay for housing food, and by the end of the year what is left of tuition. I’m already looking for work opportunity in the industry and on my own time to begin paying for year 2. In the event that there would be donations made to exceed the original first years goal than 100% of donations will be going towards funding my second year at circus school.

please read below for updates and more on the story. :)



I auditioned and was accepted at the New England Center for Circus Arts - the number-one circus school in America. Their Professional Track is three years of studying with top-level circus coaches from all over the world and building my own acts and relationships with my future professional circus colleagues.

I'm the first person in my family to pursue higher education, and circus school doesn't do student loans or scholarships. I'm working hard right now (3 jobs!) to save money for living expenses, and I've already lined up jobs for September. But $10750 first-year tuition is due in advance, and that's where you come in!

(If you're already on board, go ahead scroll up and hit the Donate button of your choice! If you want to know more, here's some of my personal story)

Starting when I was 10, my family experienced some tragedies: I lost two stepdads, my dad struggles with multiple sclerosis, and my mom passed after a long fight with addiction. I've been lucky enough to find a community of friends and family who have encouraged me to work hard toward my goals, and helped me serve as a role model to my little sister. When I was 15, Water's Edge Gymnastics made a deal with me--cleaning the gym in exchange for lessons. Gradually, I gained parkour, gymnastics, and teaching experience, and discovered my love for coaching.

At age 16, I met Starfish Circus when they came to a local high school. I participated in the program as a student for three years, then became an intern and traveled around the country to teach acrobatics, parkour, aerial skills and more to kids, regardless of their ability to pay. Through Starfish Circus, I found out that "circus performer" is a real job! I also figured out last year that I've gone about as far as I can go on my own: I need access to more equipment and serious coaching for a sustained period of time to make this my career.

(If you love this story and you're on board, hit the Donate button! Or let me tell you how I'm gonna spend the next three years)

Circus training is INTENSE. I'll be conditioning, training in ground and aerial skills, learning complementary skills like dance and acting, creating acts, and rehearsing, five days a week from 9AM-8:30PM. I think they let us have lunch :) On the weekends, I'll be working one or two jobs to pay rent and food. I'm also keeping an eye out for any extra work I can do this summer before I go, to save up an emergency fund. And thanks to her own hard work, my girlfriend Michelle Mazzarella has also been accepted to NECCA, and sharing a room will help us both with rent and utilities. (Plus, I love cooking for her!)

This isn't just my "dream"--it's my goal, one I've worked very hard to be ready to achieve. I want to take my abilities, my talent and my drive to reach the highest level I can to share joy and movement with the world.

You're seeing this because you've been important in my life--or you're about to be. It's going to take a village to get this kid to circus school. If you can afford to donate, I appreciate any amount you can give. (And there's some great donation rewards, too!) If you can't afford it, I appreciate your good wishes, liking, sharing, and sending this directly to the inbox of three people you know who can afford to help. And if you're having a great year, thank you for sending some of it my way!

Thank you for all your help. I promise I'll make you proud.


WANT TO SEE HOW THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING?
Follow me on social media: I'll be sharing updates and daily surprises!

Instagram handle: Alykkinkade
Snapchat: Alyk231
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ZvbfK3mE5v68R73fX-bzg


REWARDS!

Even though GoFundMe doesn't do "reward tiers," we have some great gifts available for donors. If you're heading for one of these gifts, please say so in your comment - first come, first serve! (You're also totally OK to just enjoy the warm glow of generosity and kindness).

For all donations, a social media shout-out!

For all 10$ donations or more and to whom it may apply, I will offer up to 1 minute of coaching advice on up to 30 seconds of video.

For all donations of $20 or more, I'll mail you a handwritten thank you letter.


One artistic $75 donor can choose a 1-hour private lesson at Traverse City Dance Arts - thank you Michella Mazzarella and Traverse City Dance Arts Academy! [Reward has been claimed by Elsa/Jared Gugnitz! Thank you to Michelle for donating this lesson and too the Gugnitz family for donating!]

For all donations of $75 or more I will send a personal thank-you video including one of my cool circus skills!

Five lucky $100 donors can choose a thank-you video including cool circus tricks and a promotion of your brand or social media (you can script 15 seconds of dialogue or I will!)

There are Five awesome 1 hour Private lessons available to people who donate 100$ or more.
(Private lesson can be online, or in person. I will offer coaching on Handstands, Gymnastics, Parkour, Cheer-leading, tumbling, Partner Acrobatics and more) 


One savvy $150 donor can choose a Social Media Consultation to optimize your online presence, from social media expert Allison K Williams. Includes a review of your online presence, followed by a 45-minute video call to develop strategy for your social media. ($200 value - keep this for yourself or share it with a friend!) Thanks, Allison! [ Reward has been Claimed by Alexandra! Thank you so much Allison for the contribution and Alexandra for the monetary donation ] 

One literary $750 donor receives a manuscript evaluation from The Unkind Editor, Allison K Williams. This is a read-and-respond to your novel or memoir manuscript up to 90,000 words (additional words at 1 cent/word). This is a $1200 value, from an editor whose clients have been published by Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, and independently. For more information, check out Allison's editing work at www.unkindeditor.com. [ Reward has been Claimed by Alexandra! Thank you so much Allison for the contribution and Alexandra for the monetary donation ]


If donations exceed the initial 10,000$ goal then every penny extra will be saved and used for the tuition over the next 2 years of circus school. Thank you all so much for your time, support, and love.