THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE EAST END LAUNCHES $2 MILLION CAMPAIGN FOR THE FUTURE AND ANNOUNCES EXPANSION PLANS

The Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) officially launched a new Capital Campaign on Saturday during “Rocket Day,” a free community event held at the Museum where families could make and launch their own rockets. The Campaign for the Children’s Museum of the East End has already raised half of its goal with help from the Board of Trustees and leading donors, and aims to surpass $2 million in 2014. The plans include: adding new interactive exhibits, expanding their current programming to serve even more children and families, establishing an endowment, and ensuring a sustainable future for the Museum.

Since the Children’s Museum opened in 2005 it has become one of the most visited cultural institutions in Eastern Long Island with over 55,000 annual visitors from 41 different states and over 2,000 members, 72% of whom are year-round residents. Now, eight years after opening their doors, the Children’s Museum will take a vital step in their growth that will enhance their ability to fulfill their mission, “to enrich the lives of children and families and strengthen the East End community by promoting learning through play.”

“Even though the Children’s Museum of the East End is a young institution, we’ve arrived at a critical point in our short history. Given the growing needs of the community, we have been presented with an exciting opportunity to expand our service to the children and families who need us,” said the Museum’s Director, Stephen Long.  “The Campaign for CMEE will make the Museum one of the most innovative children’s cultural organizations of its size in the United States, and will help us expand our role as a leading resource for local families in the community.”

As part of the announcement, CMEE outlined their plans for expanding on the existing museum exhibits. The enhancements include:

• A new outdoor miniature golf course, designed to teach children the physics and math concepts in a fun and engaging environment,

• A new energy exhibit where kids can touch and handle wind, water, and solar power as they learn about sustainable resources,

• A redesigned ship exhibit that teaches children about the six simple machines while they clamber up rope cables and tubes that reach 25 feet into the air,

• A new “maker space” intended especially for older siblings where they can create their own projects ranging from stop motion animation films to fiber arts, and

• An expanded exhibition space for infants and other crawlers, an interactive tractor that will promote learning through play, and a renovated visitor services area and lobby.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for the CMEE Family and the East End Community,” said Amy Tarr, President of the Board of Trustees.  “Not only are we enhancing the incredible exhibitions that our families have come to love, but we are also working to ensure that CMEE will be enjoyed by generations to come.”

The Campaign will also enable CMEE to grow its partnerships with local social service organizations to address vital issues affecting underserved families in the community, such as assisting parents and children affected by domestic violence, educating young families about childhood obesity and the importance of nutrition, and promoting literacy and language acquisition for immigrants.

**For more information on the Children’s Museum of the East End, or to make a contribution to the Campaign for the Children’s Museum, please visit: www.cmee.org

More about the Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE):

The Children’s Museum of the East End is one of the most visited museums in Eastern Long Island, and welcomes over 55,000 visitors annually.  The Museum opened in 2005 and boasts over 7,000 square feet of interactive, hands-on exhibits, classrooms, and performance space.  CMEE’s mission is to enrich the lives of children and families and strengthen the East End community by promoting learning through play. For more information, please visit www.cmee.org

Children’s Museum of the East End
376 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike
Bridgehampton, NY 11932