Circus Arts Conservatory Honors Longtime Supporters

October 18, 2021 – Sarasota

During the recent 4th annual Legacy Society Luncheon, the Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) honored longtime supporters Tess Koncick and Don Malawsky as its 2021 Legacy Society honorees, while providing updates on the organization and encouraging guests to consider making legacy gifts of their own.

The event included remarks by the CAC’s co-founders, Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs, executive vice president/COO Jennifer Mitchell, and VP of philanthropy Zoltan Karpathy. The keynote address, “American Circus in Transition,” was presented by Rodney Huey, Ph.D., Advisor of the World Circus Federation and manager of Global Circus Schools.

Koncick and Malawsky became involved with the CAC not long after their arrival in Sarasota in 2002. Malawsky has served for a dozen years on the CAC board of directors. The couple has made scores of gifts to the CAC, attended more than three dozen circus events, and has made a commitment to the CAC’s future with their Legacy Society commitment.

“We could not have selected more deserving honorees than Tess and Don, who have given so generously of their time, talent and treasure to the Circus Arts Conservatory and our community,” said Jennifer Mitchell, managing director of the Circus Arts Conservatory. “Since moving to Sarasota, this duo has supported numerous organizations and causes, making an undeniable impact on our own programs and outreach efforts. We hope their generosity – and their commitment to leave a legacy for the circus arts in our community – will serve as inspiration to others to do the same.”

Those who commit to including the CAC in their estate plans are motivated to do so to preserve Sarasota’s extraordinary heritage of circus arts through the presentation of world-class professional performances, by serving thousands of area school children through its Education Program as well as the elderly and those in care communities through the Humor Therapy Program, and nurturing the next generation of circus performers and fans with youth training through the Sailor Circus Academy. Funds contributed through the Legacy Society ensure those programs will continue for generations to come.

To learn more about the CAC or inquire about becoming a member of the Legacy Society, call 941-355-9805 or visit circusarts.org/get-involved/leave-a-legacy.