Reawakening Together: Why This Giving Season Matters More Than Ever

Shiren Rattigan
Nov 24
3 min read

Over the past few months, so many of us have felt the weight of the world in new and complicated ways. The pace of change has been disorienting. Headlines land harder. Communities feel stretched thin. And parents, educators, and young people alike are carrying more than they ever should.

If you’re feeling tired or unsure, you’re not alone.But here’s the truth I keep returning to: We can’t afford to stay asleep.

Not when young people are watching.Not when safe, joyful learning environments are shrinking. Not when community — real community — is the very thing that brings us back to ourselves.

At Colossal Academy, we are choosing to respond to this moment with something different: awakening, intention, and community. We are doubling down on what we know changes lives: connection, real-world learning, creativity, belonging, and a deep belief in every young person’s potential.

And right now, we’re inviting you to be part of that work.

🌱 What the Future Looks Like at Colossal Academy

We always talk about the future but what does it actually look like today?

It looks like students who are excited to come to school. It looks like interdisciplinary projects that spark curiosity. It looks like learners exploring technology, entrepreneurship, nature, and science with purpose. It looks like young people being encouraged to create, lead, and make a mark in the world.

This is Colossal Academy.This is why we exist and why we’re needed.

And this is why we’re asking our community to invest.

🌱 A Story That Shows What’s Possible: Meet Julian

If you really want to understand Colossal’s impact, look no further than our students. One of them is Julian, a 16-year-old who recently published a beautiful piece on LinkedIn about what dual enrollment means to him — and how Colossal helped him get there.

He wrote:

“This year, with Colossal’s guidance, I applied for dual enrollment at Broward College and ASU. With help from the staff, not only was I accepted into college at 16, but I still get to learn in Colossal’s supportive, creative environment. It’s truly the best of both worlds.”

Dual enrollment isn’t an extra perk at Colossal. It’s part of our commitment to building students’ professional identities now, not “someday.”

We are nurturing:

Professional communication skills
College-level confidence
Career-aligned pathways
The courage to share their voice in public
The ability to tell their own story

Julian didn’t just take a college course — he stepped into his future. And your support makes stories like his possible.

🌱 Why We’re Fundraising Right Now

This giving season, we are raising money to fund three partial scholarships for students ready to thrive in our hands-on, future-ready learning environment but who need financial support to access it.

Every tax-deductible gift directly supports a student’s future.

It’s that simple. And that powerful.

🌱 Reawakening Community: More Than One Way to Give

If giving financially isn’t possible right now, there are other meaningful ways to support Colossal and your community:

✨ Host a dinner or potluck

✨ Invite friends for an arts & crafts afternoon

✨ Organize a journaling circle or conversation night

✨ Offer your space for a kid craft day or creative morning

✨ Create a place for people to breathe and reconnect

When the world moves fast, we move intentionally.When people feel fractured, we gather.When young people feel uncertain, we create spaces where they feel seen, safe, and powerful.