Dear Carousel Friend,

 

This year zipped by like a carousel ride—full of ups and downs, laughter, and cherished memories. It’s astonishing how swiftly time moves when you’re doing meaningful work together! With your generous support we have been able to continue offering public events that are affordable for our diverse community providing fun and joy to all who visit us. Our carousel rides brought smiles to visitors from 47 different states and 54 countries this year alone. As an organization, we are sensitive to the different facets of our community.

 

Our CARES program has been a huge success providing complimentary ride tickets to those with disabilities and their caregivers and has also provided “Sensory Hour” the first Monday of every month where the experience is catered to support those with sensitivities to sound and light.

 

“When I bring my individuals to the Carousel and they are allowed to ride for free because of the CARES ride ticket, it brings them so much joy. To see that joy on their faces means the world to me. Thank you so much for the work you all do.” - Ksenia A.

 

“The CARES ticket program at the Carousel benefits those with special needs. Here, individuals like my son Travis, enjoy riding the carousel. Here [at the Carousel] you belong to the community.” - Heather R.  

 

We could not offer this program or our public events without donations from you. Donations of any size can help us maintain affordable access to our beloved carousel and expand our programs and offerings. As we look forward to 2025, we will continue to bring our artisan studio to fruition through fundraising efforts and building plans. “The Stables” will be the future new home for our artisan studio where teaching the next generation of carvers and painters will be the cornerstone of the project.

 

Together we can continue to create unforgettable memories for our community and for families who visit us from across the country and from around the world. Thank you for being a vital part of our carousel journey and keeping the magic alive! Warm regards,

 

Warm regards,

Marie Bradford-Blevins

Executive Director

 

P.S. Whether you donate $50 or $500 you can make your donation in a variety of ways; online, by mail or in person. We can help set up monthly pledges, future gifts and bequests or apply your payment to designated areas like our Artisan Studio or endowment fund. Either way, every dollar counts, every donor matters and it has never been easier to give.