Help Scarlett Finish the Year

In the summer of 2023, our daughter, Scarlett McConnell Elder, went to a three-week Acting program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. By August, she had applied and was accepted as a boarding student and an Acting major at Interlochen Arts Academy. Due to the extraordinary generosity of friends and family, Scarlett was able to attend. She is thriving at Interlochen, learning and growing as an artist and a person. She is excited about the adventures and opportunities coming in her final semester in the program.

Many of you are aware that in the last two years, our positions (Walter and Dana) as theatre educators were eliminated due to institutional budget and program cuts after COVID. We are moving forward together as a family but are rebuilding our financial foundations after a challenging period of instability. We have created this page in response to the many additional offers of support to our family as a place for you to donate to support Scarlett's training. Even with meaningful financial aid from IAA, our second-semester bill is $18,000. We are grateful for your love and support in all forms. We invite you to contribute here or share this with others in your social network who might be interested in getting Scarlett across this educational and creative line.