Sailor Circus to merge with Circus Sarasota
The Greatest "Little" Show on Earth, the PAL Sailor Circus opens it's 62nd edition on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Sarasota. Shows are March 30-31, April 1-2 and 7-9, 2011. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Craig Litten)
By Carrie Seidman
Published: Monday, August 29, 2011 .
from: Sarasota Herald Tribune
SARASOTA - You could say it's a move to bring everything under one big top.
If all goes as planned, Circus Sarasota, the nonprofit founded in 1997 to present high-level circus acts and preserve the city's circus heritage, will merge with Sailor Circus, a children's circus training program administered for seven years by the Police Athletic League of Sarasota County.
Sheriff Tom Knight, who is executive director of PAL and oversees its youth programs, confirmed the merger is likely to be completed Sept. 20, pending approval by the Sarasota County School Board, which owns the Sailor Circus property on Bahia Vista Street.
The goal is for Sailor Circus to maintain its rich history and singular identity, while ensuring its future, Knight said.
The two groups would be "separate but equal" under an organizational structure where business operations would be consolidated under a single governing board.
"At the end of the day, it's about putting similar programs under one umbrella so they can share fundraising, facilities and the opportunity to raise money for capitol campaigns," Knight said. "It's a win win."
PAL took on the Sailor Circus in 2004, absorbing the cost of insurance for the facility and the program. But it was always somewhat outside the typical scope of PAL, which creates programs for at-risk youth that "fill classrooms, not courtrooms," said Knight, quoting the league's motto.
PAL has kept the Sailor Circus program running, but has not had the money to make building improvements or expand its offerings.
At the same time, Knight said, PAL is under pressure to supply more youth programming in North Port, where needs are greatest. The merger will open up possibilities for other PAL programming.
"The main goal for me is to add programs and right now, we're not able to do that," he said. "This way, PAL won't be financially supporting Sailor Circus anymore."
Knight said others in the community, including the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, are supporting the merger and that Sarasota County school Superintendent Laurie White also is on board. The decision rests with the School Board.
If all goes as planned, Circus Sarasota, the nonprofit founded in 1997 to present high-level circus acts and preserve the city's circus heritage, will merge with Sailor Circus, a children's circus training program administered for seven years by the Police Athletic League of Sarasota County.
Sheriff Tom Knight, who is executive director of PAL and oversees its youth programs, confirmed the merger is likely to be completed Sept. 20, pending approval by the Sarasota County School Board, which owns the Sailor Circus property on Bahia Vista Street.
The goal is for Sailor Circus to maintain its rich history and singular identity, while ensuring its future, Knight said.
The two groups would be "separate but equal" under an organizational structure where business operations would be consolidated under a single governing board.
"At the end of the day, it's about putting similar programs under one umbrella so they can share fundraising, facilities and the opportunity to raise money for capitol campaigns," Knight said. "It's a win win."
PAL took on the Sailor Circus in 2004, absorbing the cost of insurance for the facility and the program. But it was always somewhat outside the typical scope of PAL, which creates programs for at-risk youth that "fill classrooms, not courtrooms," said Knight, quoting the league's motto.
PAL has kept the Sailor Circus program running, but has not had the money to make building improvements or expand its offerings.
At the same time, Knight said, PAL is under pressure to supply more youth programming in North Port, where needs are greatest. The merger will open up possibilities for other PAL programming.
"The main goal for me is to add programs and right now, we're not able to do that," he said. "This way, PAL won't be financially supporting Sailor Circus anymore."
Knight said others in the community, including the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, are supporting the merger and that Sarasota County school Superintendent Laurie White also is on board. The decision rests with the School Board.
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