Letter from our Executive Director
Fundraising Committee
Depot Board of Directors
Robby Dunn
Mary Burgland
Jason Paulsgrove, President
Doug Sanders
Fundraising Chair
Committee Member
Midwest Uniform Supply
F&M Bank
Steve Gerstenberger
Eileen Inness
Chad Long, Vice President
Project Chair
Committee Member
Rhonda Houzenga
Christina Landon Graphic Designer
Carol Kirkenmeier
Doug Sanders
Tom McIntire
Committee Member
Statham & Long, LLC
F&M Bank
Sue Dutell, Treasurer
Christina Landon
M G Maska Brick House Management Inc.
Hy-Vee Designs 309
Pam Davis, Secretary
Board of Directors
Committee Member
Chad Long Vice President
John Pritchard Committee Member
Denise Bradburn, Director Discovery Depot
Robby Dunn
Anne Golden
Deedra Kasper
Board of Directors
Committee Member
Michelle Kim, Past President
Dave’s Autobody Master’s Educational Services
Capital Committee Steve Gerstenberger
Chad Long
Project Chair
Vice President
Robby Dunn
Chris Puckett
Fundraising Chair
Committee Member
Jason Paulsgrove
Tom Egan
President
Committee Member
Doug Gibb
Cottage Hospital
Hospice Compassus
Knox County Housing Authority
Discovery Depot Children’s Museum is a ‘tried and true’ success story of philanthropy for our greater Galesburg community. From its humble beginnings in a kiosk at the Sandburg Mall, to a rented store front on historic Seminary St., the museum has continued to grow, thrive and reach beyond all the founders’ dreams. The community contributed thousands of volunteer hours and donations. Discovery Depot seeks to “ Inspire Wonder and Excitement for Learning” and with the gracious support and commitment of so many individuals, businesses and groups over the past 19 years, we have been able to consistently trek forward with our mission.
This capital campaign will enable us to... Broaden our exhibit offerings with an additional 750sq. ft water exhibit gallery
Discovery Depot serves children, families, grandparents, school groups, special needs groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, civic organizations and people of all ages and backgrounds. We impact over 400 children each month alone through our engaging program offerings. Discovery Depot, in its most recent year, welcomed 41,423 visitors through our doors. We are proud of our 500+ family membership group that is ever growing. We strive to be a stronghold for family learning, community partnerships, and a tourism leader in our community.
Expand learning classroom space with an addition of a science learning lab Alleviate crowding on main museum floor Engage more visitors in the museum Attract greater number of tourists from further distances
As we continue to strive to serve our region, Discovery Depot is embarking on another exciting step forward.
Give accessibility to the Gerstenberger Build-It Room
Thank you for continuing to support the Discovery Depot’s Mission and helping us to grow with our community!
Make our 2nd floor accessible for future expansion
Anne Golden
Steve Gerstenberger
Retired
Office Specialists, Inc.
Discovery Depot Sponsors Kleine Companies, Inc.
www.discoverydepot.org
Provide life safety features to the museum
Denise Bradburn, Executive Director Discovery Depot Children’s Museum
Discovery Depot’s Mission
To inspire wonder and excitement for learning. a 501c3 organization
D I S C O V E R Y D E P O T WAV E S O F T H E F U T U R E
3
“
When my son was born, I remember reading somewhere that play is a necessity, not a luxury. Our children learn and grow through playing, and the Discovery Depot is dedicated to both. But the Depot does more than give our children a safe and fun place to learn. The Depot brings travelers to Galesburg’s doorsteps, puts passengers on our trains, and fills our restaurants – the Depot is an investment in our community. I volunteer at the Depot because it is an investment in my community and its children.”
grow
Chad Long
revenue
Thriving museum Discovery Depot Children’s Museum had a miraculous beginning as a dream of the Leadership of Greater Galesburg 1996. Following that dream, this group of leaders listened to the community and began the journey to build a place that parents and children could gather and be inspired to learn through play. In 1999, the Discovery Depot opened its doors in our current location. Over the years, our museum has grown and become a permanent, thriving fixture in Galesbug. Without tax dollars to aid in operations, Discovery Depot has learned to sustain and thrive with our throughthe-door revenues, grants and generous donors. Each expansion and initiative has given us greater sustainability to go forward to our future.
timeline
38%
44%
1996
11%
1998 2000
Grand opening held April 14, 2000
Admissions
38%
Memberships
11%
Other 4%
Corporation formed by volunteers led by Leadership of Greater Galesburg of 1996
Meadow Gold Creamery building purchased
2014 Revenue Fundraising, Grants Contributions 44%
Programs 3%
$270,500
3% 4%
expenses
2001
Safety City addition opens
2008
Kid’s Crossing Playground addition opens
26%
2010
48%
Endowment established at Galesburg Community Foundation
2013 Meadow Gold Creamery circa 1940.
New renovation opens complete with 26 new exhibit areas
www.discoverydepot.org
26%
2014 Expenses Building equipment, depreciation, maintenance 48% Salaries, Wages
26%
Other 26%
$216,600
“
Growing up in Galva, Illinois, I fondly remember my trips to the old Children's Museum in Bettendorf. However, it was quite the drive, and looking back, I am sure my parents wished there was a place closer to home where their kids could receive the same type of educational stimulation we received over in Iowa. The Discovery Depot is just that place. The facility we have right here in Galesburg is unparalleled for a community our size and rivals some of the 'big city' museums in its quality of exhibits and programming. It is truly an asset to Galesburg that with our support can be loved and cherished by the children of generations to come."
Tom McIntire
D I S C O V E R Y D E P O T WAV E S O F T H E F U T U R E
5
“
“
Galesburg is very fortunate to have such an educational venue that children look at as a playground."
As a member of the first Capital Campaign Committee, I can say that Discovery Depot Museum is exceeding all of the expectations we had for it in the beginning. Galesburg knows a good idea when it sees it! Thanks to Anne Golden for her vision and to Denise Bradburn for her guidance."
Carol Kirkenmeier
Mary Mangieri Burgland
“
Discovery Depot is impressive in how it has evolved over the years. It has become an example to our community of the success that can be achieved by committed, organized and driven volunteers. From conception to reality, Discovery Depot was and is a dream for our visitors and our residents."
John Pritchard, Mayor
Designed by: Peter Quinlan, KidZibits Inc.
“
I am honored to help secure funding for the next expansion phase of Discovery Depot, further enriching the hands-on approach to learning in Western Illinois. This tactile and evidenced based method teaches, promotes and motivates today and tomorrow as so eloquently described by Benjamin Franklin, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
learn
Eileen Inness
41K
ry scove i D 0 41,00 t visitors Depo each year ged enga
s sitor i v t de epo of D m outsi ro are f alesburg of G
Discovery Depot Children’s Museum is one of the largest tourists attractions in Knox County. Each month over 54% of our visitors come from outside of our local area. The museum serves as a hub for school field trips, family reunions, birthday parties and day trip excursions for Amtrak passengers.
400
In 2014, the Discovery Depot Board of Directors was recognized by the Illinois Office of Tourism for the increased tourists the museum has brought to the area.
program attenda each mon nce th
54
%
OVER
150 voluntee rs annually
invest
Steve Gerstenberger
Touting tourism
OVER
%
“
In my capacity as past and current project chair, I credit the foresight the founding Board of Discovery Depot demonstrated, as they ensured its continued growth by investing in the infrastructure of the building. That allowed the renovation of 2013 to focus on visual impact and exhibit upgrades. The museum is now poised to expand into a new area of water play education and to pave the way for accessibility and life safety to our second floor.”
9.7
The Board of Directors continues its commitment to draw visitors to our community. With the completion of this project, our tourism impact to the local economy will be over $5 million.
2015
m are fro s r o t i of vis Illinois f o e outsid
Design and planning
2016
Final concept of architectural and Kidzibits Water Room
2017
Renovation begins
OVER
2018
500
Completion of new exhibit area and grand opening
mily current fa s hip members
2019 Steve Gerstenberger, Depot Project Chairman accepts the Lincoln Award from the Director of Illinois Office of Tourism.
www.discoverydepot.org
the plan
Life safety, 2nd floor restrooms and accessibility completion
D I S C O V E R Y D E P O T WAV E S O F T H E F U T U R E
9
“experience
projected expenses
Our new expansion will provide Discovery Depot with long term sustainability and stability. We have the opportunity to create a true world class experience for children right here in Galesburg. That, to me, is what is most exciting about this project!”
projected expenses Exhibits & Installation
33%
Life Safety & Accessibility
24%
33% 19%
Building Renovations 23% Design, architect and construction management fees
19%
Fundraising 1%
Robby Dunn
24%
23%
$1,521,030 1%
projected revenue
Why water? NUMBER 1 AT TRAC TIO N
Water offers a
W BIG ildWreO n. It is
to Children ’s Museums is water exhibits
for ch highly engaging for children of all ages.
TOP
generator of repeated visitation
Water exhibits tend to provide
POWERFUL STEM learning opportunities.
Water engages children in
S E N S O RY
LEARNING
bits r exhi
E G A G EN solving Wate
em probl estigating inv while ientific sc pts. conce
STEM CONCEPTS:
projected revenue Contributions/Grants 51% Tif Funds 33%
How does the water stay clean?
33%
$1,521,030
51%
1. Physical Filters 2. Clearwater IonizationCopper and Silver Ions 3. UV Sanitization 4 . Water Replacement
How SAFE is our water?
It’s NASA safe!
Fluid dynamics, motion, energy, hydraulics, flow, force, pressure, waves, vortices, cause and effect, observation, analysis, viscosity, turbulence, Bernoulli effect, buoyancy, pumps, engineering, siphons and geology www.discoverydepot.org
In-Kind Donations 16%
Tax increment funds received from the City of Galesburg are given as a match of 33% with the Discovery Depot raising the other 67% of funds.
“
16%
expansion
Discovery Depot Children's Museum is an inspiring success story for what Galesburg can do when we all come together for a great cause. That same formula over the years has insured its ability to grow. So many have played a part in each step forward in making the museum what it is today. I continue to look forward to its ever expanding future.
Doug Sanders
D I S C O V E R Y D E P O T WAV E S O F T H E F U T U R E
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