uploaded to flickr.com by tomfs
Thinking of running away for an evening at the circus? How about helping out a great cause at the same time? On Friday, October 22, you can kill the two proverbial birds with one stone by purchasing a ticket to see “Ovo,” Cirque du Soleil’s newest touring show at National Harbor.
Zip Zap Circus is an after-school program currently running with children from Northeast DC public schools. The program teaches conflict resolution, leadership, and cooperation using circus arts. The program was started in 1992 in Cape Town, South Africa and expanded to the United States in 2006. Recently Zip Zap arrived in Washington, DC with the assistance of trainers from the Trapeze School of New York at Washington. Zip Zap USA is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. The programs are run entirely by volunteers and are funded exclusively through donations. No fees are collected from the young participants.
So here’s where you come in: buy a ticket to the October 22 performance of “Ovo” by contacting Zip Zap at www.zipzapcircususa.org or calling 202-657-5947. Some of the best tickets in the house have been reserved for this benefit. Each seat is $125, but 100% of the purchase price goes to Zip Zap and is tax-deductible. While you may think that’s a steep price for a show, know that the regular price for these same seats is upwards of $90 when you factor in service charges, and all of the money you spend is going to a worthy cause.
I got to see the OVO show and it was amazing and I can’t think of a better way to enjoy it, than knowing you are helping kids in the area!
Which “Northeast DC public schools” have students in this program? I couldn’t find the information on their web page.
Two Rivers I believe participates. There was one school on the Hill in NE that also was involved but my notes are at home at the moment.
Dear Sebastian – Zip Zap USA is now working with Higher Achievement in Ward 6 and the program is open to all the participants of the after-school program. To find out more about Higher Achievement’s work in Ward 6 you can visit their blog: http://www.ward6families.blogspot.com/
Are there students from any other Northeast DC public school than the well endowed Two Rivers charter school? Direct answers about this benefit seem to be hard to come by.
Curious, Sebatian…are saying Two Rivers is large breasted or that we have received an Endowment? Please tell…I haven’t heard of any and as far as I know we receive the same funding the rest of the charter schools and the fundraising done by the parents has been used to pay the salaries of the art and music teachers.
I need to correct this. Zip Zap is not working at Two Rivers. Jon was referring to the fact that some Two Rivers students are involved with the Ward 6 Higher Achievement program. Higher Achievement is open to all middle-school aged kids from Ward 6. That is the only group of children they are working with at the moment, at least as far as I know.
As far as Two River’s endowments…i wasn’t aware there was one. The parents do organize one fundraiser each year that Ruthcarol mentioned.
Dear Sebastian,
Thank you very much for your interest in our program. Our partner Higher Achievement made me the following lists of the “feeder schools” for their excellent middle school academic enrichment programs. We are working in the Ward 6 Center this year, so will be working with scholars from up to 8 middle schools, depending on which students choose to participate in the Zip Zap elective. FYI: In previous years we have worked with Higher Achievement centers in Ward 7 and Ward 4 who come from the schools indicated in those lists.
We hope to see you at the show!
WARD 6
Center City – Capitol Hill Campus
Stuart Hobson
Two Rivers
Hardy
Watkins
Payne ES
Tyler
Miner
Friendship-Chamberlain
WARD 7
Kelly Miller
ATA
Friendship – Blow Pierce
Burrville
Houston
Aiton
Kimball
Smothers
WARD 4
Brightwood
Center City – Petworth
Paul
West
Center City – Brightwood
Sheryl, thanks for providing the detailed list.
Jon,
Thank you for writing about the show. We are fortunate to be working with Higher Achievement and their great program, and hope many people are able to get tickets to the benefit show on the 22nd through http://zipzapcircususa.org/.