The
Winnipeg Foundation Commits $1.6 Million to the Manitoba Children’s
Museum
Winnipeg, March 14, 2007: Richard Frost, CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation announced today a financial commitment of $1.6 million to the Manitoba Children’s Museum.
The investment is a three-part offering to help the Manitoba Children’s Museum grow its Free Access Program, build an endowment fund and pursue its dreams for a Capital Campaign.
•$100,000 is designated to enhance the Free Access Program
•$500,000 is a $1 to $3 match. This challenge gift is designated to building
an endowment fund.
•$1,000,000 is a $1 to $3 match. This challenge gift is designated to
a Capital Campaign.
Free Access Program
The Winnipeg Foundation has always recognized
that the Manitoba Children’s Museum plays
an important role in the community. The museum’s mandate is the belief
that all children have great potential. It is the museum’s responsibility
to provide a safe, barrier-free environment where hands-on learning takes
place. The Free Access Program provides free admission, school programming,
Arts Club and Spring and Summer day camp enrollment for less advantaged
children. The museum is proud that kids in the Free Access Program represent
10% of overall participation in museum programming. However, the need is
far greater. The Winnipeg Foundation’s
gift reflects the vision it shares with the museum to enhance Free Access
offerings.
Endowment
The Manitoba Children’s Museum receives 24%
of its operating revenue from the three levels of government through the
department of Canadian Heritage, The Province of Manitoba’s department
of Culture, Heritage and Tourism-Arts Branch, the City of Winnipeg and the
Winnipeg Arts Council. The museum receives 13% of its operating revenue through
donations and sponsorships. A significant amount of the museum’s resources
are dedicated to achieving the remaining 63% of its operating costs through
earned revenue. The Winnipeg Foundation’s
gift to build an endowment fund represents a major step forward in ensuring
the museum’s sustainability and infusing discretionary income into
additional programming for less advantaged communities.
Capital Campaign
The Manitoba Children’s Museum first opened
its doors in 1986 in a 4,000 sq. ft space in a warehouse building. In its
first year, the museum welcomed 65,000 visitors. More than 500 families became
members and over 800 school groups, nurseries and daycares engaged in hands-on
learning in the museum’s galleries. Twenty years later, the museum
offers a 28,400 sq.ft facility that welcomes 120,000 visitors and 17,200
children through schools, nurseries and daycares annually. The museum now
has 1600 member families. All of these numbers continue to grow. The
Winnipeg Foundation’s gift toward a Capital Campaign gives the Manitoba
Children’s Museum the confidence to go forward to pursue its
dreams to see a Capital Campaign in its future.
Diane Doth, Executive Director praised The Winnipeg Foundation for its investment in the museum and the community. “After 20 years of unwavering support, The Winnipeg Foundation believes this organization is reaching new heights and is taking the lead by calling on the community to join them in investing in our dreams."
