Extra Miles for Excite

By Kim Williamson

PledgeMe.Project

Community,



NZ $33,188 pledged


94 people pledged


Closed


NZ $32,000 minimum target


100 100% Complete

This campaign was successful and closed on 24/12/2020 at 10:00 PM.

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About

Extra Miles For Excite

Project 2020-10-19 13:05:50 +1300

Ever since she was a teen, Celia Williamson has had a dream to open an Arts school. In 2016 she started Excite Music and Arts Academy as a place to inspire passion for the arts and spread family values through the community. Due to COVID-19 and the hardship it has brought upon the creative arts industry, this amazing asset to Hamilton young people is facing closure if it cannot source community support by 24th December.

Excite Academy is a Visual and Performing Arts Academy based in Hamilton, NZ. Every day we see the Arts changing young peoples lives, increasing their confidence and building positive skills that last a lifetime. This flows into other areas of their life, building a brighter future of difference-makers in Hamilton, New Zealand, and beyond.

Our fundraising target to remain open is $32,000 by the 24th of December, and we need your help to give Excite some Extra Miles!

 

 Celia and Kim 2016

 

My name is Kim Williamson and I am Celia's daughter. We started Excite Academy together in 2016, however I was very young and unprepared to run a business, so Celia has faced all of the responsibility and hardships alone. Now it is my turn to help her. Our team consists of the Excite Academy staff (approx. 20 members) and a few family and friends who also believe in Celia. Over the years she has treated every single one of us as family, going above and beyond her role as an employer, and has created such a strong team that we are united in this goal together.

Get to know Celia:

Celia has lived in Hamilton all her life, raising six children and currently has 12 grandchildren! She is very passionate about family, and has always been able to make anyone she meets feel a part of hers. She has spent the past 20 years teaching in the classroom and as a music specialist in schools, helping train Music Teachers in the Waikato, and helping to plan and implement professional development and support for teachers in the greater Waikato Area. She was also on the New Zealand Music Education Board (MENZA).

"Music has been a huge part of my life.  I learned piano at a young age, taking up piano accordion in my teens as well, learning both to a teaching standard. Since then I have learnt and taught many instruments and I love them all!  As long as I am hearing, playing or teaching music I am excited!” - Celia Williamson

 

 Superheroes Holiday Programme

Children in costumes they made during a Superhero themed holiday programme

 

About Excite Academy:

It has long been a dream to open a school of this kind. As a teenager Celia would watch episodes of ‘Fame’ every Saturday night, thinking how amazing the idea of a dedicated Arts school was. While teaching in Primary schools she saved up to buy instruments here and there, creating a collection over the years. She also noted the small amount of Arts offered within schools and the lack of freedom the curriculum lent teachers. In 2015 she finally decided to just go for it, and open her dream academy.

We first opened our doors on 15th February 2016 and have since had an amazing 5 years meeting budding musicians, performers and artists that we can nurture, teach and impart our knowledge to, and we have a range of highly qualified, capable teachers assisting us to do this.

Our philosophy:

At Excite we believe that every child is already inherently creative. Our focus is to impart both passion and knowledge through methods that keep students entertained and having fun. While we do offer traditional teaching methods and examinations, these are for the students who personally wish to do so. We also believe in real world application of knowledge, so we give opportunities for students to perform and be involved in Performing Art recitals and concerts, and a Visual Art exhibition every year.

While we are very focused on providing high quality lessons at affordable prices, we are also a community based organization. Excite Academy upholds family based values and provides opportunities for families to attend classes together. We work with Hamilton schools, playcentres, and disability services, and offer enrichment holiday programmes. The dream for Excite Academy is to continue to grow as a community based Arts Centre, evolving to fit the needs as we discover them.

 

 

Art Exhibition 2020

Parents viewing student work during the 2020 Art Exhibition

 

Our problem:

Running a community based Arts Academy is not a high profit endeavour. Celia started this school armed with passion and a love for the community and for the past 5 years she has worked tirelessly to create a business from scratch, striving for her dream while often sacrificing time, sleep, and family life, for no personal profit. Unfortunately due to the hardships that came with COVID-19 during this year Excite will have to close at the end of 2020 unless we can raise the funds to stay open.

What are we doing to help?

The Excite Academy staff have rallied behind Celia and are working together on solutions. They have voluntarily taken wage cuts, and will be hosting two large fundraising events during the remaining two months. We will be running a Gala on the 21st November, and a Christmas Concert on the 12th December. All proceeds from these events will go towards this Pledge Me campaign.

What can you do?

Please donate to and share our Pledge Me campaign! We greatly appreciate any support in giving Excite some Extra Miles!

 

For more information about Excite Academy, head to our website here, or our Facebook page here

 

 

Parent Child Art Date Night

Some of the finished work from a Parent + Child Art Workshop

 

Musical Theatre Performance 2019

Drama and Musical Theatre students performing in our end of year concert

 

Holiday Dance Workshop

Students attending a Dance Workshop during the school holidays

 

Violin Performance 2019

Violin students performing in our end of year concert

 

Art Classes

Art students in class

 

 

Comments

Updates

Hey! Thanks for checking out this project.

We haven't made any updates yet, follow us if you want to be notified when we do.

Pledgers 94

Anonymous pledger
03/12/2020 at 11:53pm
Anonymous pledger
03/12/2020 at 11:49pm

"White Elephant Gala Sales"

Anonymous pledger
03/12/2020 at 11:05pm
Anonymous pledger
02/12/2020 at 5:56pm

"Donations from Mel Damhuis Clients"

Anonymous pledger
01/12/2020 at 9:23pm

"From David Ruan and family - Thank you for your support, we appreciate you."

Anonymous pledger
01/12/2020 at 9:11pm

"From the Tates for the Gala - Thank you Craig and Erica xx"

Michelle O'Riordan
01/12/2020 at 8:43pm
Anonymous pledger
30/11/2020 at 9:10pm

"From Pilates Fundraiser Class put on by Rachael Pugh. Thank you Rachael."

Dannie Han
30/11/2020 at 3:38pm
Yuqing Chen
30/11/2020 at 2:28pm

"Sponsored by PACT Group. Please contact Roman Kashpir on 0064 7 959 4626 if you have any questions. Thanks. "

Anonymous pledger
30/11/2020 at 1:10pm

"With love from Lisa Allen, San Francisco - Thank you Lisa xxx"

Anonymous pledger
28/11/2020 at 3:43pm
Suzanne Hantler
27/11/2020 at 7:35am

"Such a wonderful, passionate family, fingers and toes crossed you can keep the music alive xxx"

Anonymous pledger
26/11/2020 at 7:22pm

"Koha from Soraya Barker & Family"

Emilee Middleton-Wood
26/11/2020 at 7:22pm

"supporting local musicians hard out !!!!"

Anonymous pledger
26/11/2020 at 11:04am

"Raised by Ella Hugill from selling chocolates - Thank you Ella and Haley."

Kim Williamson
25/11/2020 at 7:56pm

"White Elephant Stall sales since the Gala"

Kim Williamson
23/11/2020 at 5:23pm

"Raised from the Gala - thank you EVERYONE who helped with this awesome amount."

Anonymous pledger
23/11/2020 at 3:04pm

"Dad purchased 10 x Lunch tickets donated by Vilagrads"

Anonymous pledger
23/11/2020 at 3:03pm

"From Anna Liu - Thank you Anna :)"

Marea Verry
22/11/2020 at 9:53pm

"Profits from GoodBangers Sales at Excite Gala"

Anonymous pledger
22/11/2020 at 9:21pm
Parag Bhindora
20/11/2020 at 1:45pm

"All the very best Celia and Kim. You girls are doing great job. "

Chris Lam Sam
19/11/2020 at 1:45pm
Tina Chou
18/11/2020 at 10:39pm

"All the best for the campaign, hope it's successful! Thank you for all the fabulous work Excite has been doing! "

Jessy Potroz
17/11/2020 at 9:25am

"Lots of love, keep going strong!"

Anonymous pledger
16/11/2020 at 6:35pm

"With love from the Sutherland Family"

Anonymous pledger
15/11/2020 at 7:04pm

"You guys do a great job providing kids with opportunities to develop their talents"

Phyllis Jackson
14/11/2020 at 10:32am
Lauren Scott
13/11/2020 at 8:47pm

"bless you good people, our family only had a short association with you in 2016 due to the logistics of out to town travel, we enjoyed your positive energy and great intention to provide unique, creative learning experiences for all..."

Followers

Followers of Extra Miles for Excite

Extra Miles For Excite

Project 2020-10-19 13:05:50 +1300

Ever since she was a teen, Celia Williamson has had a dream to open an Arts school. In 2016 she started Excite Music and Arts Academy as a place to inspire passion for the arts and spread family values through the community. Due to COVID-19 and the hardship it has brought upon the creative arts industry, this amazing asset to Hamilton young people is facing closure if it cannot source community support by 24th December.

Excite Academy is a Visual and Performing Arts Academy based in Hamilton, NZ. Every day we see the Arts changing young peoples lives, increasing their confidence and building positive skills that last a lifetime. This flows into other areas of their life, building a brighter future of difference-makers in Hamilton, New Zealand, and beyond.

Our fundraising target to remain open is $32,000 by the 24th of December, and we need your help to give Excite some Extra Miles!

 

 Celia and Kim 2016

 

My name is Kim Williamson and I am Celia's daughter. We started Excite Academy together in 2016, however I was very young and unprepared to run a business, so Celia has faced all of the responsibility and hardships alone. Now it is my turn to help her. Our team consists of the Excite Academy staff (approx. 20 members) and a few family and friends who also believe in Celia. Over the years she has treated every single one of us as family, going above and beyond her role as an employer, and has created such a strong team that we are united in this goal together.

Get to know Celia:

Celia has lived in Hamilton all her life, raising six children and currently has 12 grandchildren! She is very passionate about family, and has always been able to make anyone she meets feel a part of hers. She has spent the past 20 years teaching in the classroom and as a music specialist in schools, helping train Music Teachers in the Waikato, and helping to plan and implement professional development and support for teachers in the greater Waikato Area. She was also on the New Zealand Music Education Board (MENZA).

"Music has been a huge part of my life.  I learned piano at a young age, taking up piano accordion in my teens as well, learning both to a teaching standard. Since then I have learnt and taught many instruments and I love them all!  As long as I am hearing, playing or teaching music I am excited!” - Celia Williamson

 

 Superheroes Holiday Programme

Children in costumes they made during a Superhero themed holiday programme

 

About Excite Academy:

It has long been a dream to open a school of this kind. As a teenager Celia would watch episodes of ‘Fame’ every Saturday night, thinking how amazing the idea of a dedicated Arts school was. While teaching in Primary schools she saved up to buy instruments here and there, creating a collection over the years. She also noted the small amount of Arts offered within schools and the lack of freedom the curriculum lent teachers. In 2015 she finally decided to just go for it, and open her dream academy.

We first opened our doors on 15th February 2016 and have since had an amazing 5 years meeting budding musicians, performers and artists that we can nurture, teach and impart our knowledge to, and we have a range of highly qualified, capable teachers assisting us to do this.

Our philosophy:

At Excite we believe that every child is already inherently creative. Our focus is to impart both passion and knowledge through methods that keep students entertained and having fun. While we do offer traditional teaching methods and examinations, these are for the students who personally wish to do so. We also believe in real world application of knowledge, so we give opportunities for students to perform and be involved in Performing Art recitals and concerts, and a Visual Art exhibition every year.

While we are very focused on providing high quality lessons at affordable prices, we are also a community based organization. Excite Academy upholds family based values and provides opportunities for families to attend classes together. We work with Hamilton schools, playcentres, and disability services, and offer enrichment holiday programmes. The dream for Excite Academy is to continue to grow as a community based Arts Centre, evolving to fit the needs as we discover them.

 

 

Art Exhibition 2020

Parents viewing student work during the 2020 Art Exhibition

 

Our problem:

Running a community based Arts Academy is not a high profit endeavour. Celia started this school armed with passion and a love for the community and for the past 5 years she has worked tirelessly to create a business from scratch, striving for her dream while often sacrificing time, sleep, and family life, for no personal profit. Unfortunately due to the hardships that came with COVID-19 during this year Excite will have to close at the end of 2020 unless we can raise the funds to stay open.

What are we doing to help?

The Excite Academy staff have rallied behind Celia and are working together on solutions. They have voluntarily taken wage cuts, and will be hosting two large fundraising events during the remaining two months. We will be running a Gala on the 21st November, and a Christmas Concert on the 12th December. All proceeds from these events will go towards this Pledge Me campaign.

What can you do?

Please donate to and share our Pledge Me campaign! We greatly appreciate any support in giving Excite some Extra Miles!

 

For more information about Excite Academy, head to our website here, or our Facebook page here

 

 

Parent Child Art Date Night

Some of the finished work from a Parent + Child Art Workshop

 

Musical Theatre Performance 2019

Drama and Musical Theatre students performing in our end of year concert

 

Holiday Dance Workshop

Students attending a Dance Workshop during the school holidays

 

Violin Performance 2019

Violin students performing in our end of year concert

 

Art Classes

Art students in class

 

 

Comments

Hey! Thanks for checking out this project.

We haven't made any updates yet, follow us if you want to be notified when we do.

Anonymous pledger
03/12/2020 at 11:53pm
Anonymous pledger
03/12/2020 at 11:49pm

"White Elephant Gala Sales"

Anonymous pledger
03/12/2020 at 11:05pm
Anonymous pledger
02/12/2020 at 5:56pm

"Donations from Mel Damhuis Clients"

Anonymous pledger
01/12/2020 at 9:23pm

"From David Ruan and family - Thank you for your support, we appreciate you."

Anonymous pledger
01/12/2020 at 9:11pm

"From the Tates for the Gala - Thank you Craig and Erica xx"

Michelle O'Riordan
01/12/2020 at 8:43pm
Anonymous pledger
30/11/2020 at 9:10pm

"From Pilates Fundraiser Class put on by Rachael Pugh. Thank you Rachael."

Dannie Han
30/11/2020 at 3:38pm
Yuqing Chen
30/11/2020 at 2:28pm

"Sponsored by PACT Group. Please contact Roman Kashpir on 0064 7 959 4626 if you have any questions. Thanks. "

Anonymous pledger
30/11/2020 at 1:10pm

"With love from Lisa Allen, San Francisco - Thank you Lisa xxx"

Anonymous pledger
28/11/2020 at 3:43pm
Suzanne Hantler
27/11/2020 at 7:35am

"Such a wonderful, passionate family, fingers and toes crossed you can keep the music alive xxx"

Anonymous pledger
26/11/2020 at 7:22pm

"Koha from Soraya Barker & Family"

Emilee Middleton-Wood
26/11/2020 at 7:22pm

"supporting local musicians hard out !!!!"

Anonymous pledger
26/11/2020 at 11:04am

"Raised by Ella Hugill from selling chocolates - Thank you Ella and Haley."

Kim Williamson
25/11/2020 at 7:56pm

"White Elephant Stall sales since the Gala"

Kim Williamson
23/11/2020 at 5:23pm

"Raised from the Gala - thank you EVERYONE who helped with this awesome amount."

Anonymous pledger
23/11/2020 at 3:04pm

"Dad purchased 10 x Lunch tickets donated by Vilagrads"

Anonymous pledger
23/11/2020 at 3:03pm

"From Anna Liu - Thank you Anna :)"

Marea Verry
22/11/2020 at 9:53pm

"Profits from GoodBangers Sales at Excite Gala"

Anonymous pledger
22/11/2020 at 9:21pm
Parag Bhindora
20/11/2020 at 1:45pm

"All the very best Celia and Kim. You girls are doing great job. "

Chris Lam Sam
19/11/2020 at 1:45pm
Tina Chou
18/11/2020 at 10:39pm

"All the best for the campaign, hope it's successful! Thank you for all the fabulous work Excite has been doing! "

Jessy Potroz
17/11/2020 at 9:25am

"Lots of love, keep going strong!"

Anonymous pledger
16/11/2020 at 6:35pm

"With love from the Sutherland Family"

Anonymous pledger
15/11/2020 at 7:04pm

"You guys do a great job providing kids with opportunities to develop their talents"

Phyllis Jackson
14/11/2020 at 10:32am
Lauren Scott
13/11/2020 at 8:47pm

"bless you good people, our family only had a short association with you in 2016 due to the logistics of out to town travel, we enjoyed your positive energy and great intention to provide unique, creative learning experiences for all..."

Followers of Extra Miles for Excite

This campaign was successful and got its funding on 24/12/2020 at 10:00 PM.
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