Annual Report 2021-2022
About Trenton Circus Squad
Proudly based in Trenton, and the only social circus in New Jersey, we engage youth in free after-school and summer circus arts education.
Serving Trenton and surrounding areas, our Squad Members reach thousands of youth and families throughout the state with educational workshops, public performances, and summer residencies.
We inspire youth to take big leaps in life!Photo credit: Camden Community Partnership, Avi Steinhardt
TCS programs are free for all participants, all year!
Message from the Board Chair
Woohoo! What an amazing year! Trenton Circus Squad made great leaps forward by charting an organizational path that includes growth for increased impact. From launching the Big Top Tour in Camden to creating a new three-year strategic plan, we are poised to reach new heights.
We are proud that our levels of service this year exceeded pre-pandemic levels. At the Camden Waterfront this summer, thousands of community members delighted in exhilarating performances and workshops. In Trenton, we expanded our outreach to even more schools and partners.
As we continue to learn and grow together, we remain grateful for a supportive community of donors and partners who make our work possible. Renewed funding from major partners helped advance our work in Trenton and beyond.
With this report, we invite you to “Step Right Up!” and learn more about our recent work and impact. We encourage you to reach out and connect with us to support New Jersey’s only social circus.
Thank you for supporting the transformational power of circus arts. Together, we can continue to promote positive youth engagement.
Adriana Abizadeh Board Chair
OUR TEAM
Board of Trustees
Adriana Abizadeh, Chair Kelly Ganges, Vice-Chair
Michael Shapiro, Treasurer Michele Russo, Secretary
Kieanna Childs Alexander
Elizabeth Borland Eric Geoffrey Anne Hoppenot
Staff
Thomas von Oehsen, Executive Director
Karen Ladd, Lead Coach
Nichelle Hill, Director of Development
Regina Mundy, Director of Operations
Kordell Garland, Coach
Lori Troilo, Human Resources
Andre Thomas, Life Skills Coach
Chanelle Williams Lester Ayanna McKay
Mussa Sanoe Kimberly de los Santos
Ermine Smith Christian Wallace William Watson
Bilal Halley, Jr. Coach
Breanna Moreland, Jr. Coach
Cam von Oehsen, Jr. Coach
Jamaya Blount, Intern Isaiah Mitchell, Intern Tyquan Williams, Intern
TCS expands its impact through the Big Top Tent
Trenton and other area youth delighted audiences with 11 public performances to sold out crowds. When they weren’t performing, the Squad was running morning and afternoon workshops, teaching circus skills to Camden youth.
The Big Top Jersey Tour builds on the success of the summer traveling residencies for the past few years to Camden, Asbury Park and Newark. In addition to performing, Trenton youth have opportunities to build additional skills by learning aspects of a traveling residency from concession to operations.
Highlights
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Building community and partnerships
Assisting with the
and taking down of the big
tent
raising
top
Engaging
youth and audience members
~ 3,000
Expanding partnerships with youth organizations
Living in dormitories on the Rutgers campus, the Squad had a taste of college life
to work with the
with
Learning
media
interviews and live TV morning show appearances
Learning customer service skills
Photo credit: Camden Community Partnership, Avi Steinhardt
Coming in 2023!
The Big Top Tent Summer
Trenton youth will continue to have the opportunity to travel around the state with the Big Top Jersey Tour making two week stops - not only in Camden but also Asbury Park.
The goal is to have the three-city tour Camden, Asbury Park and Newark in place by summer 2024.
Photo credit: Camden Community Partnership, Avi Steinhardt
TCS By The Numbers
Workshop Participants & Audiences
Income Expenses
Corporations, Foundations & Grants
Myers Squibb
Foundation Byrd-Borland Fundation Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s Realty Carter Rowe Foundation
Borden Perlman Church & Dwight City of Trenton Curtis W. McGraw Foundation Grunin Foundation Janssen Pharmaceuticals Jewish Community Foundation
Wallace Memorial Fund
Abrams Foundation Amazon Smile Amon Galbraith Fund Bristol
Foundation Burke
CBIZ
John
Pannepacker, LLC Mary
Roebling
Lear and
C.
Foundation
Borden
County Division of Youth Services
Center for Economic Development Network for Good NJM Insurance PACF Arts and Culture Recovery Fund PACF Community Impact Fund
Hastings LLP Philip S. Harper Foundation PNC Bank Princeton Area Community Foundation Reder Engineering, Inc. Roma Bank Rotary Club of Trenton NJ Stark and Stark Attorneys at Law The George H. Sands and Estelle M. Sands Foundation
Arts Endowment
Mary Owen
Foundation Mercer
MIDJersey
Paul
Trenton
Partners
Achievers Charter Progam
Boys and Girls Club of Camden County
Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County
Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County
Boys and Girls Club of Newark
Camden Community Partnership Inc.
Camden County
Center For Family Services, Camden
Christina Seix Academy
Circadium
City of Trenton
Collingswood Public Schools
Corner House
CURE Arena
CYO Mercer County
Fennelli Design
Grounds for SculptureHealthy Relationships, Healthy Choices
Henry Austin Health Center
HomeFront
Isles
Lewis Center for the Arts
McCarter Theater
Mercer County Community College
Mercer County One Stop Career Center
Mercer County Park Comission
Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office
Millhill Child and Family Development
Monmouth University
NJEDA
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
Pace Center for Civic Engagement
Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
Princeton Friends School
Princeton Public Schools
Princeton University
Princeton YMCA
Princeton-Blairstown Center
Robert Perry Video Editing
Rutgers University Camden
Rutgers University Newark
The City of Camden
Steve Sarafian
The College of New Jersey
The Father Center
The Neighborhood Center in Camden
The Watershed Institute
Trenton African American Pride
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
Trenton Health Team
Trenton Peer Leaders
Trenton Police Department
Urban Promise
Waldorf School of Princeton
Donors
Adriana Abizadeh
Anne Akers
Barbara Aldofova
Farran Ames
Peirson Backes
Eric Belcher
Zoe Brookes and Alastair Binnie
Lisa Boulanger
Brogann and Jon Bowden
Teri Boyd and Sasha Hemon
Juanita Brooks
James Burke
Jessica Burnett
Brandi Carr
Gene Cascone
Ahmed Chabboubi
Ann Chapman
Francis Craig
Emily Croll and Clifford Zink
Mara Connolly-Taft
Jeesica Corrigan
Alex and Doug Davis
Kimberly de los Santos
Robert Denby
Jon Erikson
Gosho and Caren Falco
Mona Fixdal
Quadesha Funches
Paula Basile Flory
Neizhma Francis
Z’yahne Funches
Tasha and Mark Gajewski
Erin Galbraith and Joe Amon
Kyle and James Galbraith
Victoria Gammino
Kelvin Ganges
Deborah Gartenberg
Alison Gerber
Rachel Gray and Joel Studebaker
Jennifer Guy Jane Hadley
John Hatch
William David Henderson
Maricel Hermann
Karen Hernandez-Granzen
Quincy Hill
Anne and Herve Hoppenot
Ashley Huitz
Raquel Ince
Kimberly Jingoli and Anthony Chiurco
Barbara Kaplan
Megan Keeney
Lestiel Kelly
Georgia Koening Matthew Kohut Rick Lazarick
Chanelle Lester Min Li
Ronnie and Andrew Lowenstein
Amy and Teresa Loux
Andrew Lichstein
Jenny Ludmer
Bonnie Lynne Nancy and Duncan MacMillian
Jana Manning
Amy Mayer and Daniel Oscar Elizabeth Mayer
Florence McAuliffe Annalivia McCarthy
Major McCullough
Ayanna McKay
Julie Meyers
June Millington
Robert Monsour
Isadora Mota
Rosalind and Thomas Muir
James Neu
Xoe Nunez
Ana Obika
Scot Pannepacker
Drew Panson
Tari Pantaleo
Winston Peloso
Danielle and Jeremy Perlman
Maureen Penn and Thomas Burkart
Nancy Podeszwa
Laura Poll
Joy Power
Melissa Printon Yareliz Puebla
Jennifer and Scott Raison Josuha Raymond Emily Reeves
Bonnie Bassler and Todd Reichart Belinda and Ferrill Roll Andrew Ross
Donna and Allan Rubin
Michele Russo
Sarah Ryan
Kenichi Sakamoto
Jessica Scarborough
Stacey Schlosser
Dodi and Frank Schmidt
Wendy Kaczerski and Roger Shatzkin
Rachelle Simon
Jennifer Slutter
Ermine Smith
Thelma Soc
Jessica Stevens and Stephen Pollard
Andre Thomas
Calvin Thomas
Carolyn Tighe
Jackie Tillman
Peter and Caroline Travers
Lori and Tad Troilo
Michele Turansick
Nelida Valetin and Jeff Vega Imajia Vazquez
Robert and Kimberly Vogel
Bill and Helen von Oehsen
Thomas and Jane von Oehsen Chris Wallace
John and Majorie Wallace Shari and Steve Washburn Will Wauters
Silvia Weyerbrock and Sanjeez Arora Tyrone Williams
Kate, Duke, Woods & Harriet Wiser
Kathy Wooley
Doretta Wright-Simmons Caroline Wylie
Maureen and Frank Yandrisevits
Anja Zimmerman
Julie Zimmerman and Adam Ratner