Kidspace Children’s Museum Meets $2 Million Matching Challenge

In just over one year, Kidspace Children’s Museum has met a $2 million matching challenge put forward by Chicago-based Galvin Family Foundations. The funds from the challenge move the Museum past the $8.9 million mark in their $13 million capital campaign. The Campaign for the Future of Kidspace, announced last May, was launched to build new exhibits, upgrade existing learning environments, improve guest amenities, and develop new curriculum and programs. The Galvin Family pledged $2.5 million if the Museum could raise $2 million in new funds. That pledge helped to complete The Robert & Mary Galvin Physics Forest which opened to the public on July 12, 2012.

The announcement of the match was made on Wednesday, at a Thank You Party to honor Cathie and David Partridge for their years of dedication and support of Kidspace and unveil the newly named Partridge Pavilion. “Their many contributions have helped Kidspace become the fun, interactive, and educational Museum it is today, and will continue to help Kidspace Grow,” said Kidspace Board Chairman, J. Kristoffer Popovich. Cathie was one of the driving forces behind the founding of the Museum by the Junior League of Pasadena in 1979. Since that time the Partridges have continued to serve and support Kidspace, among their many other philanthropic endeavors, and were among the first major donors to contribute towards the matching effort.

Since the announcement of the matching challenge last April, the Museum has received 29 gifts from individuals and organizations, including the return of many past donors, to help aid in the matching effort. “We are very grateful to the Galvin Family and to Gail Galvin Ellis for setting forth this challenge and for all of those who have contributed. The response to the challenge we have seen in recent months has been inspiring and we are excited to continue to offer new opportunities and experiences for the community,” said Michael Shanklin, CEO.

Since opening last July, The Galvin Physics Forest has helped the Museum see record attendance, with 2012 having the second best attendance to date. In addition, The Galvin Physics Forest has enabled Kidspace to increase its programming offerings for newer and older audiences. The next phase of capital campaign is already in the works and Kidspace is planning to reveal the newest exhibit to be funded by the campaign this fall.

About Kidspace:

Located on nearly three and a half acres in Pasadena, California, Kidspace Children’s Museum has more than 40 hands-on exhibits, in addition to its outdoor spaces, programs, and activities that are designed to encourage a child’s growth and development through exploration of the environment, investigation in science, and artistic expression. Kidspace is located at 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., in Brookside Park, Pasadena, California, adjacent to the Rose Bowl Stadium. Free parking is available in Rose Bowl Parking Lot I. Kidspace is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Kidspace is open seven days a week between Memorial and Labor Days). Admission for all adults and children one year and older is $10.00. Children under one year and members are free.

Kidspace Children’s Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that exists to enrich the lives of children. For more information about exhibits, events and other activities, please visit: www.kidspacemuseum.org or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/kidspacechildrensmuseum.