Big dreams for little movers

Where it all started

Dear friends, family, dreamers, and believers,

When I was a kid, I loved to get dizzy.

I would play out in the front yard, spinning in circles with my arms stretched out like helicopter blades, my head tilted back, staring up at the sky until I fell down. Then one day, in 1984, I remember watching the gymnastics competition during the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. I watched the athletes tumbling across the floor exercise and thought to myself, “That would be a great way for me to get dizzy!”

Little did I know, that moment would become the beginning of my lifelong love for the sport of gymnastics.

How gymnastics became my thread

From that day on, I started teaching myself gymnastics. I spent countless hours working on cartwheels, rolls, bridges, and anything else I could figure out on my own. Finally, at age 11, my mom enrolled me in tumbling classes at a dance studio called Centre Stage. For the next three years, Cathy Stinson turned me into a little flipping machine. I was doing aerials and back handsprings in no time, and I loved competing in acro categories with my tumbling routines at different dance competitions.

Throughout high school, I continued working on my gymnastics skills. One of my first high school jobs was with the City of Chino, where I worked as an assistant coach alongside the wonderful Mary Frank. Not only did I get to assist her, but I also began learning skills on bars, beam, and other gymnastics apparatuses. She took me under her wing and taught me so much of what she knew. I also learned from Miss Roseann at Dynasty Gymnastics, which was the first time I ever stepped foot onto a spring floor.

After high school, I took my tumbling abilities and started auditioning for Disneyland. In 1998, I landed my first role at the park as a soldier acrobat in the Mulan Parade. From 1998 to 2001, I performed in various parades and shows, using the tumbling skills that had started in my front yard years before.

In 2002, I moved to Las Vegas, where I spent four years flipping across the stage in the world-famous Les Folies Bergère at the Tropicana Resort. From 2006 to 2007, I was back at Disneyland bouncing and flipping in Block Party Bash, and from 2008 to 2012, I performed in various parades and shows at Walt Disney World.

No matter where I was, I continued to train, perform, and—most importantly—teach whenever I could. From my first coaching job with the City of Chino, to Dynasty Gymnastics, The Dance Shop, and the Jewish Community Center in Orlando, Florida, gymnastics has always been the thread running through my life.

Why Lil Tykes exists

In 2014, I hung up my performing shoes and moved to the Pacific Northwest. For six years, I taught at The Children’s Gym. When the pandemic hit and everything shut down, I took the knowledge I had gained from working with children through gymnastics and, to make ends meet, became a nanny for two years for a set of twins. (What a fun and wild ride those two years were!) During that time, an idea began to form.

I knew then that I wanted to open my own gymnastics facility, one dedicated specifically to preschoolers and young children. I wanted to create a place where little ones could move, explore, build confidence, and develop important physical and social skills through the sport I have loved for most of my life.

I just needed a little more time.

The years since have only strengthened what I already knew in my heart: this is what I am meant to do.

And now, the time has come. It is time for me to spread my wings and fly.

Introducing Lil Tykes Gymnastics

I am proud to introduce Lil Tykes Gymnastics, a preschool and early-age gymnastics facility designed for children from crawling age through 6 years old. This facility will be located in Longview, Washington, and my hope is to create a place where families from the greater Longview area feel welcomed, supported, and connected.

My goal is to create a warm, joyful, and developmentally appropriate space where children can build fine and gross motor skills, gain confidence, develop discipline, and experience the joy of movement through gymnastics.

More than anything, I want Lil Tykes Gymnastics to be a place where children feel proud of themselves, where families feel connected, and where community is built from the ground up, one tiny cartwheel at a time.

The first step in a bigger dream

Lil Tykes Gymnastics is also the beginning phase of a much bigger dream.

Because gymnastics equipment and facility start-up costs are so expensive, I want to begin in a smart and intentional way by focusing on preschool and early-age gymnastics first. Starting small allows me to build a strong foundation, serve a specific age group well, and grow the business responsibly.

Once Lil Tykes Gymnastics is up and running successfully, my hope is to eventually expand and create an additional space for children ages 7 and older. I would love to build a program where kids can continue growing in the sport beyond their early years, developing strength, confidence, discipline, and a lifelong love for movement.

For now, Lil Tykes Gymnastics is the first step. It is the seed of a larger vision, and with the right support, I believe it can grow into something truly special for children and families throughout the greater Longview area.

What we’ve accomplished

In starting this endeavor, I have worked with a mentor through a nonprofit organization called SCORE. Within this organization, current or retired entrepreneurs guide new entrepreneurs through the process of starting their business.

Everything from the LLC (Whoa-y Joey LLC, DBA Lil Tykes Gymnastics) to the business plan, projections, and start-up costs has been finalized. A friend has meticulously and lovingly crafted a website for Lil Tykes, and a Facebook social media account has been created. We are now ready to flip into action!

What’s holding us back

Funding. With no collateral and not enough capital, we are considered “high risk” by banks. Raising funds will help us secure the loan we need.

Timing and space. Though the location for Lil Tykes Gymnastics will be in Longview, WA, finding the right space to suit the needs of a boutique facility may be tricky. Timing will also be very important, as it can take anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks for gymnastics equipment to be delivered from the time it is purchased.

Two ways to support the launch

Friends and family who have watched this dream take shape encouraged me to fundraise. It’s hard to be vulnerable and ask for help, especially when it comes to financial assistance. But here I am, asking my family, friends, and members of the community to help make this dream come true, so I can one day return the favor by being of service to the loving people who helped turn Lil Tykes Gymnastics into a reality.

We’re raising launch support through both Kickstarter and direct payments. Kickstarter gives the campaign a visible, all-or-nothing milestone, while direct support is received right away. Both paths help bring the same gym closer to opening.

How support helps

But to bring this dream to life, I need your help.

I am currently raising starting funds to help cover the many expenses that come with opening a new business. These funds will go toward important start-up needs such as equipment, supplies, licensing, insurance, facility-related costs, marketing, and the other essentials needed to open the doors and build a strong foundation.

For those who are able to contribute, I would love to recognize the people who help make Lil Tykes Gymnastics possible.

Follow the journey

I am reaching out to the people who know me, believe in me, and understand how much this dream means. Any contribution, big or small, would make a meaningful difference and help move Lil Tykes Gymnastics closer to becoming a reality.

I completely understand that giving financially is a personal decision, and there is no pressure at all. Support can come in many forms. Whether you are able to contribute, share this with someone who may be interested, offer advice, send encouragement, or simply cheer me on from the sidelines, I would be incredibly grateful.

I will also be sharing updates through the Lil Tykes Gymnastics Facebook page as this journey moves forward. If you would like to follow along, you can like and follow the page for progress updates, behind-the-scenes moments, fundraising updates, and news about getting the business up and running.

A note about contributions

Please note that Lil Tykes Gymnastics is a business and is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Lil Tykes Gymnastics is a DBA/trade name of Whoa-y Joey LLC. Contributions are not intended to represent charitable tax-deductible donations. However, if you would like a contribution receipt for your personal records, I would be happy to provide one.