with Please Touch Museum® Members | Summer 2013
On Sunday, September 15th, Please Touch Museum will host its 4th Annual Stroller in the Park! This fun and playful twist on a traditional 5k walk in beautiful Fairmount Park was created exclusively for families with young children. After the stroll, participants will enjoy access to an informative and resourceful health pavilion (presented by Whole Foods Market), healthy snack tent, play activities, plus receive exclusive early access into Please Touch Museum. Participants will also receive an event t-shirt and other great giveaways. This family-friendly walk is an anchor event for PTM’s Get Up and Grow™ initiative, which promotes healthy family activities for children and their caregivers.
8 For more information on this year’s Stroller in the Park, visit our website at www. pleasetouchmuseum.org. *Stroller in the Park proceeds benefit Please Touch Museum’s Get Up and Grow™ healthy lifestyles initiative.
What’s your legacy? Mrs. Dorrance H. Hamilton and her family personally invite you and your family to participate in Please Touch Museum’s Legacy of Play™, an exciting new $30 million fundraising campaign to ensure that the Museum will always be a place where families can play, learn and create lifelong memories. To ignite the campaign, Mrs. Hamilton, a longtime supporter of PTM, has issued a challenge for the Museum to match her generous donation of $1 million. The motivation behind her investment in the Museum’s long-term sustainability are the memories she and generations of her family share of PTM. As the Museum has grown, her family has grown with it, and soon it will be her grandchildren’s turn to teach their children about good nutrition in the supermarket, paint in the Program Room, and see shows in PTM’s Playhouse Theater. Mrs. Hamilton knows that for all that the Museum has grown, our core has never changed. Children that visit now experience the same playful learning as her grandchildren, and she has seen firsthand the difference it can make in a child’s life. Please Touch Museum’s hope, along with Mrs. Hamilton’s, is for Museum supporters and all families in the Philadelphia region to create a legacy that will serve thousands of families for years to come, building brighter futures for our children and enhancing the quality of life in our city. Philadelphia’s children’s museum, our museum, needs everyone’s help to secure its ability to continue delivering high-quality education and community outreach programs, and creating engaging, imaginative exhibits for future generations.
8 To learn more about Legacy of Play and the options to contribute, please go to http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/support-us/legacy-of-play/
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS! With the summer travel season approaching, we want to take this opportunity to remind you that a Please Touch Museum Membership now guarantees discounted admission for up to six (6) individuals at more than 200 participating children’s museums nationwide through the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) Reciprocal Network. In order to receive discounted admission under the ACM Reciprocal Network, PTM should note the following: • 50% OFF general admission for up to six (6) individuals (including cardholder) is guaranteed when visiting a participating ACM reciprocal museum with a valid PTM Membership card. However, it is at the discretion of the ACM reciprocal museum to determine the number of additional individuals, admitted under this program, if any. • At least one of the adults listed on a card should be present at time of admission. ACM reciprocal museums may request photo ID from an ACM reciprocal membership cardholder.
8 For additional information on the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) and network guidelines, visit their website at www.childrensmuseums.org * Summer Travel Tip: Please call or check out the websites of the children’s museums you plan to visit over the summer through the ACM Reciprocal Network Program to understand their policies and procedures. Safe travels!
DISCOUNTED PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES TICKETS! Please Touch Museum is partnering with the Philadelphia Phillies and offering current members the opportunity to support PTM by purchasing discounted Phillies tickets to two select games this summer. Tickets are available for the following games: • Saturday, July 13 vs. Chicago White Sox, 4:05 p.m. | Section 310 • Monday, August 19 vs. Colorado Rockies, 7:05 p.m. | Section 306 Hafield Phillies Franks Dollar Dog Night – Ballpark hot dogs are just $1 all evening!
THE CENTENNIAL GUILD, VIP MEMBERSHIP & GIVING PROGRAM Want even more out of your Please Touch Museum Membership? Upgrade or renew and become a Centennial Guild, VIP member today! PTM’s VIP Membership & Giving Program allows you to enjoy all the benefits of a Premier Membership PLUS additional benefits designed to enhance your Museum experiences and provide you with VIP treatment! • Complimentary tickets and VIP parking to annual events including “Monster Mash” and Countdown 2 Noon® • 35% Discount on a PTM Birthday Party • Personal concierge service for a fast entry into the Museum and VIP entrance into the Theater • Exclusive early access to PTM on select Sundays throughout the year A portion of every Centennial Guild Membership is a meaningful charitable donation in support of PTM’s Museum Access Programs, which provide free admission for families unable to afford to visit the Museum. Centennial Guild Members not only get to enjoy the Museum in a unique way they also Make-A-Difference!
8 To join, renew, or learn more about the Centennial Guild, please visit www.pleasetouchmuseum.org, or contact Meg Clifton Mitchell at mmitchell@pleasetouchmuseum.org or 215.581.3166.
Please Touch Museum’s Puppet Pal Program was created as a fun way for children and their families to connect with the Museum and support our ongoing efforts to delivery outstanding educational and community-based programs and exhibitions. It just takes four easy steps to make a donation to the Museum and become a Puppet Pal. Step 1: Log onto www.pleasetouchmuseum.org Step 2: Click on the Puppet Pal link. Step 3: Choose a gift amount. Step 4: Select the puppet pal of your choice and you will receive some very special messages and gifts from your favorite puppet.
8 Ticket pricing varies, and a portion of each ticket sale directly benefits PTM and its programming. To purchase tickets via phone, please contact Joseph McKinnon at 215.581.3173. Tickets must be purchased at least one month in advance. Cheer on the Philadelphia Phillies and support PTM by purchasing your discounted tickets today!
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GET TO PTM IN A PHLASH! The Phlash trolley has returned for a 2013 season! This summer, the Phlash route is the quickest and most convenient way to get to Please Touch Museum from Philadelphia’s Historic District, Parkway Museums District and many other points throughout the city. Phlash trolleys run between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., every 15 minutes, 7 days a week through Labor Day. Making 19 stops between Penn’s Landing, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and PTM, at only $2 per individual ride, the Phlash is the most earth friendly and economical way to get to the City’s favorite attractions this summer!
8 For a map and full listing of Phlash stops, visit www.phillyphlash.com
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Meet the Nash Family! Q. Do your children have a favorite exhibit? If so, what is it? And why? A. I t’s funny you ask that. Every time we leave the Museum, we ask our five-year-old son which part he liked the most. He always responds “every part.” But just from observing I would say the water play area is his favorite. And for our 3-year-old daughter I would say the toddler zone near the water play area with the lily pads. Q. What has been your most memorable PTM experience? A. T he first time we went to see the puppet show with Alice. It was the show “Happy Birthday Moon.” It was a time when my son and I went by ourselves. Just to watch him watch the show and light up and giggle was unforgettable.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
Meet the Cohen Family!
2013 ACES GRADUATES! On June 4th, four high school seniors graduated from Please Touch Museum’s ACES (Achievement Through Community Service, Education and Skill Building) Youth Program. Congratulations to these extraordinary young people, from everyone at PTM! 1. Imani Palmer will be attending Albright College 2. Dayshia McPhaul will be attending Bloomsburg University 3. Joseph Shepherd will be attending Philadelphia University 4. D wayne Jefferson-Philmore will be attending Community College of Philadelphia Q. How often do you and your family visit Please Touch Museum?
8 The ACES program is made possible through the generous support of corporations, individuals and foundations. PTM would like to welcome NEW ACES supporters: Harmelin Media, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Capital One Services, LLC and the Philadelphia Contributionship Insurance Company. ACES is an Educational Improvement program under Pennsylvania’s EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) program. For more info. on EITC, please contact Nora Banks, Corporate Giving Manager, at 215.578.5139 or NBanks@pleasetouchmuseum.org.
KEEP INTOUCH WITH PTM “Like” PTM’s Facebook page and follow the Museum on Twitter (@pleasetouch) for access to the latest news, contests, promotions, and photos of all that goes on at the Children’s Museum of Philadelphia™!
A. Our family visits usually at least once a month, and on any school breaks we always use PTM as our imagination playground of choice. In addition, we attend the special members’ only events, our favorite being the Storybook Ball. Our children: three-yearold twin boys, a five-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy always request on any free days that we go to the “Touch” museum. Q. What is your favorite Please Touch Museum event? A. N othing has made PTM shine in our eyes as much as the special events we’ve attended over the years. The Storybook Balls are always a favorite. Some highlights included having well-known childrens’ authors read their latest book while explaining how they became interested in writing and drawing when they were children. Also we were impressed with the staff at the Museum who greet the children always in character. I remember the first Storybook Ball we attended and my daughter Sarah, dressed in her princess costume, was greeted by footmen outside the door to the museum and she truly felt like royalty. Throughout the night she met many of her favorite princesses and storybook characters which made it all the more special.
8 E ach month we will spotlight two member families! To have your family featured, please write to membership@pleasetouchmuseum.org
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PTM? July 3 Target First Wednesday 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. with Farm Stand Fun, featuring Stepping and Stomping with Step by Step July 11 Grow Games Exhibit Opening Ceremony at 10:00 a.m.
JULY
July 13 and 14 Berenstain Bears Meet & Greets on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. July 21 Star Wars Day at PTM July 27 Crazy Aaron’s Putty World Event from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
PLEASE TOUCH PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS “President Ulysses S. Grant & the Great Centennial Banana Mystery” presented by Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Arts Education Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation
August 3 Craddle Lacrosse Day from 11:00 a.m. –1:30 p.m. August 7 Target First Wednesday 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. with Farm Stand Fun, featuring Hula Hooping with Philly Hoop Starz Hula Hoop Dance Team August 10, 11, and 12 Tom McDonnell Magic Show in PTM Playhouse Theater with performances on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., & 3:00 p.m., Sunday at 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m., Monday at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
AUGUST
August 10 and 11 Brick Building Weekend at PTM August 13 “Eat Like a Pirate” opens in PTM Playhouse Theater with performances at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., & 3:00 p.m. August 17 Sprout Day: Sportacus August 25 Olivia the Pig Story times + Meet & Greets at 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. + 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
SEPTEMBER
September 4 Target First Wednesday 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. with Farm Stand Fun, featuring Soul Line Dancing with Gloria Kingcade September 15 PTM’s Stroller in the Park at 8:00 a.m. September 16 Curious George Story times + Meet & Greets at 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
8 Dates and times are subject to change. For up-to-date listings visit www.pleasetouchmuseum.org
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Unless otherwise noted, performances are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and Sundays at 1p.m. and 3 p.m. All shows are highly interactive, run approximately 25 minutes and are FREE with museum admission.
8 Be on the lookout for special members benefits!