Lander Children’s Museum (LCM) hosted its Annual Fundraiser on Saturday, March 7, 2020. The theme was the Gatsby Gala for the Roarin’ 20s and LCM’s 20th-year celebration! There was a live auction, silent auction, comedian and dessert auction. Martha Howard-Sempert the founder of LCM, spoke about the vision for LCM 20 years ago, which opened in March 2000, and the future 20 years of LCM. The Gala hosted about 275 individuals in the community, with numerous businesses sponsoring the event. The event raised around $25,000 for Lander Children’s Museum’s annual campaign. This is the largest fundraiser to date for Lander Children’s Museum, so they consider it a huge success and are so grateful for everyone who made it possible!
In 2019, LCM announced it had plans to expand in 2020 since they had been working on a capital campaign plan. They were invited to share space with Palace Pharmacy shortly after announcing the campaign. Jolene Bilbee-Osback has plans to open the beautifully renovated building in the Summer of 2020. The community has responded with tremendous support for LCM to expand and grow. LCM’s current space is a little too small to continue to provide our mission to so many children in the area. LCM is serving approximately 5,000 children each year, including days with around 300 visitors for events. LCM has chosen not to move into the Palace Pharmacy building this Summer of 2020 due to the timeline, they look forward to expanding and growing into another larger space in the future.
At this time the plan is to keep looking forward and continue the capital campaign! LCM still has the need to expand and grow. They are looking for 20 Founding Sponsors to sponsor the future of LCM for $2020 a year for three consecutive years. The sponsorship money raised through the Founding Sponsor campaign will be for the capital campaign only, and will ensure LCM a future new space! Other ways you can support LCM is by bringing your child or grandchildren into play, purchase a membership, or register for Little Curious Minds preschool. They also accept in-kind donations, volunteer hours, future board members, and donations. The LCM board is taking a week off after such a great Gatsby Gala event and returning to plan their next fundraiser!
The next events are Earth Day on April 18th, 2020 from 10 am-2 pm, and Waterworks on Saturday, June 27th, 2020 from 10 am-2 pm. Join LCM for either of these events to experience LCM!
