(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Autistic Wings Dance Company, a non-profit in Colorado Springs, is at risk of closing due to financial struggles.
FOX21 News first brought you their story at the start of this year. The dance company was founded by 13-year-old Leta Rundell and is run by her mother, CEO Amanda Trisdale. The company aims to provide an inclusive space for dancers with unique challenges.
“If we could get just 140 people to donate $20 a month, we would be able to keep the doors open over the next few months. That would cover our rent and the two new staffers we want to bring in so we can add classes,” said CEO and President, Amanda Trisdale. “Leta’s dad and I are still going to cover the rest of the overhead until we can’t anymore.”
She added that they have been paying everything out of pocket, and “we have kind of maxed out the cards.”
Autistic Wings provides an inclusive space for dancers with disabilities such as autism, with classes starting at $55 a month. Like many nonprofits, Autistic Wings is struggling to pay rent, insurance, and teachers. They’re currently renting their location from another local dance company, which has led to additional issues with time and space.
Since our first story aired, they have seen an influx of interested dancers. They’ve outgrown their current studio, and are fundraising to purchase a space of their own. A new location would help save money on rent and get more students involved. It would also allow them to make more safety and sensory accommodations.
Until they reach their fundraising goal for a new studio, they are asking for help to keep the doors open. You can donate by clicking here.
“Our host studio has been amazing. They’ve tried to give us as much time as they can possibly give us, but we cannot both continue to be in this itty bitty, teeny, tiny square,” said Trisdale. “I probably have had about 40 kids we’ve had to turn away because we do not have the space for them or the time.”
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by FOX21. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by FOX21 staff before being published.
