Partnerships Are Key

The people working on the CMR project have known all along that partnerships within the community, region, and state will be key to the success of the future museum. We have engaged in conversations with multiple groups over the past year to explore possible partnerships. Whether it be exhibit collaborations, educational connections, or site opportunities, we are reaching out and talking to many different groups.

You should be hearing some announcements in the near future regarding one of these partnerships and expect others in 2010 as the project gains even more momentum!

2009 Highlights

As the end of 2009 draws near, we want to thank everyone for the tremendous support over the past 12 months. This project has great momentum in the community and we are optimistic about launching our campaign early in 2010.

Here are just some of the highlights of the past year:

• We visited with hundreds of visitors at various events during the year - CCRR Family Fun Night, Aldrich Carnival, BB's Pizza fundraiser, Rochesterfest, Rock Your Choice Art Auction, HCOC Movies on the Barn, Artigras, Education Summit, Service Learning Fair at the Minnesota School of Business .
  
• Dozens of new volunteers were added to our ranks and many of them and others helped us at various events as well as serving on committees.
• We followed up on many building leads from people within the community. We formally toured around 10 locations and researched many more. We continue to have additional sites suggested.
• Our media mentions in newspaper, magazine, radio, and television helped us to promote awareness of the project during much of the year.
  
• Began partnership discussions with some key organizations that will further help us with exhibit, fundraising, and a permanent site. (Look for an announcement soon regarding one of these collaborations).
• With no formal campaign so far, we've received generous financial and in-kind support from many people in the area. We deeply appreciate your help!

There is a definite buzz about CMR as we have many simultaneous pieces of the puzzle we are working on right now. We are positive 2010 will be a pivotal year for the establishment of the museum.

Thank you all again. Happy holidays from all of us at the Children's Museum of Rochester!

Education Summit

There's a good article here on the upcoming Education Summit taking place at University Center Rochester next Saturday, September 26th. CMR will have an informational booth at the summit to update educators and parents on the progress we have made the past year.

We hope to see you there!

ArtiGras / ArtiKids

Thanks to all those who stopped by the CMR Under Construction playhouse at the Artigras / ArtikIds event in Mayo Park this past weekend. We sold quite a number of T-shirts and received some donations as well - Thank you!

We continue our site search and are following up with leads as we receive them. We appreciate all the support and encouragement!

Kids saving pennies for the Children's Museum!

We have had a great few days! We ended up raising close to $4,000 from our Incredible Family Fun Night. One wonderful 9-year-old boy even put $70 from his own piggy bank--which he saved up from birthday gifts and doing chores for his grandma--into our donation bags.

Also, the elementary school kids who attend the summer session of School Age Child Care at Gage Elementary raised around $670 for the Children's Museum of Rochester through a two-week Penny Drive. That's a lot of pennies, and the CMR is overwhelmed by the generosity and motivation of these kids.

Thanks to all our supporters, especially the kids who are helping to get this dream off the ground!

Family Fun Night was a success - thanks!!

Thank you to the hundreds of families who showed up for our "Incredible Family Fun Night" fundraising event at the History Center on August 14! We were overwhelmed by the number of supporters who showed up to enjoy music, magic, crazy hair-dos, and a movie with us. (We'll post event photos and the grand total we collected in donations at a later date.) Thank you for your generous donations and valuable support. Together, we'll get this dream off the ground!

Incredible Family Fun Night on August 14 - reminder

We are excited about Incredible Family Fun Night, a fundraiser for the CMR, which we're holding on Friday night, August 14. The weather forecast is good (whew!), and we expect a big turnout for the event. Fun starts at 6 p.m. at the History Center of Olmsted County. We will have food, music, magic, crazy hair-dos, inflatables, and a movie starting at dusk ("The Incredibles.").

Check out our poster at www.childrensmuseumrochester.org/IncredibleFamilyFunNightposter.html for more details.

We've also talked about this in TV and radio interviews, and there was a nice article in the Post-Bulletin about it today - http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=31&a=411569