FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
CONTACT:
Ann Marie Walker, Marketing Manager
(815) 963-6769, ext. 2832

AREA CHILDREN COLLECT QUARTERS

FOR RELEASE – November 20, 2007
Contact:
Ann Marie Walker, Marketing Manager
Ph. 815-972-2832
annmariew@discoverycentermuseum.org

AREA CHILDREN COLLECT QUARTERS
TO HELP MUSEUM EXPANSION CAMPAIGN

Rockford, IL – The campaign to raise $10 million to expand and enhance the Burpee and Discovery Center museums is reaching out to one of their biggest groups of users—area school children.

Some 70 public and private schools in three counties have been collecting quarters and other loose change in giant water jugs since October 1 in a spirited contest to see who can raise the most money for the museums’ campaign. The schools will bring their change to Discovery Center November 20 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. where the change will be counted compliments of National City Bank.

“This has been a great way to get area school kids involved in this campaign,” says Alan Brown, Burpee Museum executive director who has also been directing the expansion campaign. “They do have a stake in this project as the predominant customer of the museums. And their enthusiasm has been remarkable.”

During the November 20 event, students and teachers from each school will also have group photos taken to be used in a large photo mosaic which will hang in the new traveling exhibition hall shared by Burpee and Discovery Center.

The expansion campaign, called Connecting Our Future, has so far raised $8.1 million toward its $10 million goal. Construction on the project could start as early as summer, 2008.

For more information on how to give to the campaign, including naming rights, personalized bricks, and the photo mosaic, phone 815-987-0755 or go to www.connectingourfuture.com.

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Participating school districts include:
Belvidere School District #300 Keith School
Prairie Hill School District #133 Luther Academy at Alpine
Eswood School District #269 Montessori Learning Path
Shirland School District #134 Montessori Private Academy
North Boone School District #200 Rainbow Academy
Rockford School District #205 Rockford Lutheran Academy
Winnebago School District #323 Spectrum School
Durand School District #323 Rockton School District #140

Discovery Center Museum is a non-profit hands-on science museum with over 250 interactive exhibits and an award-winning outdoor science park. It is ranked the fourth best children’s museum in the nation by Child magazine. The Museum’s mission is to create opportunities for joyful learning and discovery through hands-on experiences in science and art.

Established in 1941, the Burpee Museum of Natural History is one of the pre-eminent mid-sized natural history museums in the nation. Its mission is to inspire all people to engage in a lifetime of learning about our natural world.

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For additional information, the public is encouraged to call Discovery Center at (815) 963-6769 or visit the Museum’s web site at www.discoverycentermuseum.org. Discovery Center Museum, one of the Nation’s 10 Best Children’s Museums as cited by Child magazine, is located inside Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street, Rockford, Ill. General admission to the Museum is $5 adults, $4 children (ages 2 to 17) and free to children under 2 years and Museum members. Hours of operation are: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday; Thursday until 7p.m. (summer only); and Noon to 5 p.m., Sunday.