Friends, Family & Fan Club, 

I’m so stoked to have the great honor to be a 2024 Wild Gift Fellow. 

I hope you'll join me today in celebrating this honor through helping me reach my goal of raising $5,000 before August 25th to support the non-profit Wild Gift that runs this Fellowship. 

My business Circle and Spoke empowers women through bike rides and retreats that uplift movement, rest, community and reflection. “Spokers” tap into their inner power and truth to shift gears in and out of the saddle and carry that energy from retreat to life. 

This spark of Circle and Spoke is borne out of a deep belief that our world is lonelier, more divisive and disconnected than ever and people are deeply craving spaces to shift into connection, community and rest. I’m proud of the momentum I’m riding on! I’ve already put on 2 rides this April & May in DC, as well as day long retreat in Harpers Ferry in July! 

Birthing a new venture has required me to stretch myself in so many ways and this Fellowship from Wild Gift has been wind in my sails to believe in myself and my ability to bring Circle and Spoke into a sustainable venture that will impact hundreds (and one day thousands) of women. 

I believe in the power of:

• Building Community

• Connecting to Nature

• Activating a sense of adventure that inspires taking risks

• Catalyzing Philanthropy and Generosity 

What sticks out to me about the Wild Gift Fellowship is it’s so aligned with what I believe: 

• Community:It builds a cohort of young social and environmental entrepreneurs to drive our ventures to the next phase of growth. 

• Nature: I’m going on a 20 day, unforgettable wilderness trek in Idaho! 

• Adventure & Risks: The expedition will challenge me physically and emotionally and connect me to the natural world on a very personal level. I’m going to be able to unplug, incubate ideas, and envision the true scope of my work and life while building lifelong bonds with this incredible cohort of entrepreneurs. 

Catalyzing Philanthropy and Generosity: This is where you come in! 

As a community builder, I see the impact of this Fellowship rippling so much goodness into our world. 

I see it in myself and in my cohort of 4 others, who are:

• Launching a greywater treatment system to support marginalized communities impacted by water scarcity and contamination.

• Building the next generation of researchers to spur wildlife conservation

• Upcycling the fruit of coffee to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 

• Taking byproducts of kombucha to create a renewable hardwood and stop Amazon deforestation 

I’m setting a goal to raise $5,000 before August 25th, when I head out on this trek to support the non-profit Wild Gift that runs this Fellowship. 

The Wild Gift Fellowship instills the resiliency, clarity of vision and mission, and connection with the Earth that leaders need to build and scale a thriving and impactful venture. Participants connect with a community of other inspired entrepreneurs and mentors, while experiencing the GIFT of an immersive wilderness expedition in the WILDS of Idaho. 

Your donation makes it possible for Wild Gift to host this no cost wilderness-based fellowship that empowers me and other environmental and social impact leaders to make a difference in the world. 

Thank you so much for your consideration and support! I can’t wait to share about this incredible trek that starts at the end of August and the growth that comes from this Wild Gift Fellowship. 

Wheels up, 

Ellen