2025 Fundraising Mission
Support Access to Dance & Music
Now more than ever, we need your support. We know this phrase gets thrown around a lot, but in The Vanaver Caravan’s 50-year history, it has never been truer than it is today. Small arts organizations like ours are feeling the squeeze—funding for community arts programs is shrinking, financial barriers for families are growing, and the need for accessible, inclusive arts education is at its greatest.
Every donation directly supports our scholarship fund, ensuring that financial limitations never prevent a child from experiencing the joy of dance and music. At a time when resources for the arts are diminishing, your gift is more than a donation—it’s a lifeline for creativity, cultural connection, and community.
Why Your Support Matters
For over five decades, The Vanaver Caravan has used the transformative power of dance and music to foster cultural understanding, build community, and uplift young people. We are facing some of the toughest challenges in our history. Your gift makes a direct impact.
How We’re Making a Difference
Despite growing financial and institutional challenges, we remain committed to ensuring that dance and music are not luxuries, but essential parts of every child’s education. With your support, we provide:
Scholarships & Financial Aid – Through the Betsy Bergman Scholarship Fund and other initiatives, we remove financial barriers for students to join our classes and workshops.
Arts Education for All – We partner with schools to bring dance and music residencies into classrooms, offering students a vibrant, hands-on cultural experience.
Community Dance Programs – We create inclusive spaces where people of all backgrounds can come together through the universal language of movement.
Performances that Inspire – From school assemblies to large-scale productions, we bring dance and music to diverse audiences, sparking joy and connection.
Join Us in Breaking Barriers
The arts are facing an uphill battle, but with your help, we will keep moving forward.
💛 Give the gift of dance and music. Make a difference today.
About Us
The Vanaver Caravan inspires, through dance and music, the harmonious co-existence of world cultures and traditions, promoting peace and celebrating our humanity. We’re committed to building community through the arts. Your gift supports our work in schools, community arts projects, and our effort to promote peace through the transformational magic of dance and music.
Your Support in Action
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Recognizing that the arts often communicate what words fail to express, the mission of The Vanaver Caravan is to inspire, through dance and music, the harmonious co-existence of world cultures and traditions, to promote peace and celebrate our humanity.
— The Vanaver Caravan Mission
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“When children learn a song in another language, or learn dances from another national tradition, they get a glimpse into the soul of that culture that can't be taught through words alone. The Vanaver Caravan, committed to bringing children closer to other peoples through dance and music, is helping to shape our future!”
— Pete Seeger
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“The Vanavers have impacted countless children in our community through their teaching. In both school workshops and with their Youth Company and Caravan Kids, they have introduced the songs and dances of world cultures and kindled the fires of our own heritage. I know from personal experience; I was a student . . . I am a devotee of the Caravan and an ardent follower.”
— Natalie Merchant
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This wasn't a school class, it was a community. I learned to trust my body, I made new friends, and I like myself a whole lot better now."
— Alain P., High School Senior
Upcoming Events
Scholarship Fund
See the impact of the scholarships we have been able to award through generous donations like yours.
Donate Today
We are proud to use Zeffy, a completely free payment platform for nonprofits. 100% of all payments we receive through Zeffy go directly to us (even credit card fees)! Zeffy relies entirely on optional tips from our donors. When making a payment on a Zeffy form, you can choose whether or not to contribute to Zeffy.
Become a Sponsor
All boats rise in the tide. Join the community of businesses, artists, providers and practitioners who support our future.
Stories from Our Alumni
The Vanaver Caravan has impacted the lives of thousands of students. Here are just a few of their stories.
