Annual Report 2015 1
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Dear Friends, These are challenging times in Baltimore City. This goes especially for our children. With schools facing tight budgets, many neighborhoods unsafe for children to play, and many families feeling burdened by economic hardship, your commitment to the children of Port Discovery is a gift. When community-wide issues touch our lives, we are called to model a healthy response for our youngest citizens. Sometimes we must discuss frightening issues and images that they see on TV and the internet. Often our children have a thing or two to teach us about the importance of holding on to joy and hope. At Port Discovery, we celebrate the virtues of coming together for the common purpose of playing and learning with our neighbors across the city and state. Here we are all a family. With you at our side in 2015, we have strengthened our commitment to building a strong future for more children, expanding the number of those able to come through our doors. We have continued to create and share unique and innovative educational experiences in an environment that is dedicated solely to children. We have become connected with new, unique partners that help us expand our scope of service. With everyone who supports or benefits from Port Discovery as part of our community focus, we strive to make our programs and experiences available to a continually greater number of children and families in the Baltimore region, especially those from underserved communities. At Port Discovery, we love to nurture a child’s creativity, confidence, and curiosity for the changing world. We believe that investment in children is an investment in a secure, stable future. We hope to see you and the children in your life here soon!
Sincerely,
Bryn Parchman President & CEO
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Dennis F. Rasmussen Chair of the Board of Directors
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Port Discovery was named among other world class institutions as one of the 15 Best Children’s Museums in the U.S. by Parents Magazine, as one of the Best Museums for Kids by Dujour Magazine, as one of the Nation’s Best Children’s Museums in Destinations Travel Magazine, and as one of the Top 10 Children’s Museums in the U.S. by Fodor’s Travel.
We envision a world where the value of learning through play is recognized and respected. We believe in the power of play to transform the lives of children. For an increasing number of children, we will expand the way they learn through innovative, fresh, interactive, playful, and engaging experiences.
As the premier children’s museum in the mid-Atlantic, Port Discovery educates children and inspires life-long curiosity. We: • Have a positive influence on academic success and success in life • Provide a safe, smart place to engage in child-driven, playful learning • Extend our impact by taking our programs community/state wide • Are an innovative thought leader, bringing best practices to children and families in Maryland and beyond Our play-to-learn philosophy opens the door for children to discover and explore the world around them and to lead smarter, healthier, more engaged lives.
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Port Discovery is to Our Children New STEM Learning Opportunities: A National Science Foundation-funded collaboration with the National Federation of the Blind enabled Port Discovery to make STEM learning experiences more accessible to children with sight challenges. In addition, as part of a new partnership with the childhood math literacy project UMIGO, the Museum now hosts an interactive math learning kiosk and offers newly designed hands-on math activities. New Focus on Grade Level Reading: The Museum made great strides in its work to help promote early literacy and children’s success in reading at grade level. Port Discovery is a member of the Baltimore City Campaign for Grade Level Reading (GLR) Coalition, and plays an active role as one of the nearly 90 public agencies, funders, non-profit organizations, community leaders, families, and other key stakeholders that aim to ensure all Baltimore City public school students are reading well by the end of third grade. National Summer Learning Day: Port Discovery was honored to be selected as the host site for the June 2015 National Summer Learning Association’s kick-off event for National Summer Learning Day – a panel discussion that brought together local and national education leaders to discuss Baltimore’s summer education programs and the importance of helping children avoid learning loss over the summer school break.
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Port Discovery is New Traveling Exhibits Initiative: In preparation to travel our new Here We Grow! agricultural exhibit, created by Port Discovery and supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, we piloted a new outreach initiative: Museum on the Move. Through this new program and a grant from the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net), our NANO mini-exhibition, developed by NISE Net with support from the National Science Foundation, was featured with accompanying enrichment activities at our inaugural host site, the Robinson Nature Center in Howard County. New Healthy Families Feature: In February 2015, Port Discovery added a new feature to Healthy First Saturdays, the monthly signature event of the Museum’s Healthy Families / Healthy Communities initiative. Named FITastic Family Voyage, this circuitstyle fitness course engages children in bowling, tunnel crawling, kid yoga and stretching, and balance stations throughout the Museum. Parents are provided with a Voyage Passport that guides them to the stations and encourages healthy play and eating at home. Visiting Exhibits: The Art of Sesame Street: From Pictures to Pages – celebrating Sesame Street’s 40th anniversary with framed selections from the Publishing Archive of Sesame Workshop – featured hand-drawn, hand-painted art created as illustrations for Sesame Street books published from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Curious George™: Let’s Get Curious! again inspired young children’s natural curiosity as they explored beginning science, math, and engineering concepts through hands-on, interactive play. LEGO® Castle Adventure featured amazing medievalthemed LEGO constructions, inviting visitors to become “master builders” as they helped design a castle for the king and queen, tested a giant LEGO catapult, and more.
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A Port Discovery Port Discovery Children’s Museum was awarded a federal grant through the Museums for America program from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to design, fabricate, and install Here We Grow! The exhibit was one of 244 museum projects selected to receive an IMLS grant out of more than 700 that applied to the highly-competitive program.
Additional supporters for the development of Here We Grow! include: Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board Wright Family Foundation Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Inc. Maryland Egg Council, Inc. Maryland Soybean Board Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association Maryland Dairy Industry Association, Inc. Maryland Agriculture Council, Inc. Dairy Farmers of America Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association
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Port Discovery is Within Our Walls and Beyond Where You Can Find Us In Community Centers In Elementary Schools In Pre-schools At Head Start Centers At Judy Centers
In Hospitals In Libraries In Nature Centers At Community Events
How We Connect We partner with over 75 universities, corporations, school systems, community organizations, local artists, and performers to create the most innovative, effective educational experiences for children. Our partners – such as Head Start, Judy Centers, and the National Federation of the Blind – care deeply about the wellbeing and healthy development of children. Our partnerships result in exceptional learning opportunities in the Museum and throughout our community that otherwise would not exist. We are extremely grateful for the many benefits and opportunities these partners confer.
Key Partners Baltimore City Health Department
National Federation of the Blind
Baltimore City Public Schools
NISE Network (Nanoscale Informal Science Education)
Baltimore County Public Schools Enoch Pratt Free Library
UMIGO
Howard County Public Schools
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Kennedy Krieger Institute
University of Maryland, Baltimore County, School of Public Health
Maryland State Department of Education National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationGoddard Space Flight Center
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Towson University
University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Physics
The map to the right was created by staff in Port Discovery’s Studio Workshop. Each flower on the map represents a specific site where Port Discovery takes its outreach programming throughout the Baltimore region and the state of Maryland.
Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore City
Howard County
Map Key = Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore City = Port Discovery Outreach Site
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= Future Growth
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Port Discovery is Outreach Initiatives Museum on the Road – Offsite programs that take art, music, physical fitness, and STEM enrichment programming into schools and the community Port Discovery After School – Onsite and offsite programs that engage students from Title I schools in art and STEM programming Museum on the Move – A new initiative that travels Port Discovery exhibits throughout the community Port to Port – Play-based activities for children and Museum information presented at community festivals and events
Special Programs Countdown to Kindergarten – Hosted at Port Discovery, this city-wide initiative focuses on school readiness skills SuperKids Camp – Summer enrichment programming provided in partnership with the Parks & People Foundation Discovery Days, Discover ME Days, Be a Part of the Art Days, and Family Exploration Days – Inclusive programs for families and schools with children of differing abilities Talking about Tots – Monthly parent discussions with child development experts from the Kennedy Krieger Institute Salute the Troops – Free and reduced admission for military personnel and their families Family & School Access – Free and reduced admission for families, students, teachers, and chaperones who could not otherwise afford to attend
To support community healing after Baltimore City’s period of unrest, Port Discovery held a free Community Day of Play for residents of the City and surrounding counties on May 1, 2015. The event brought the community together to create positive memories as One Baltimore in the Museum’s safe and nurturing environment.
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How We Make a Difference Our mission to educate children and inspire life-long curiosity has propelled Port Discovery through a rich history of presenting innovative, award-winning programs and exhibits that foster the emotional, intellectual, social, and physical well-being of children.
Our work is validated by the findings of Nobel Prize Laureate Economist James Heckman and many other researchers who have highlighted the critical importance of children’s development of social skills such as selfconfidence, cooperation, creativity, persistence, imagination, curiosity, and problem solving. We open doors for children to discover and explore the world around them and to lead smarter, healthier, more engaged lives.
With the evidence on its side, Port Discovery continues to grow as one of the leading informal educational resources in the Mid-Atlantic region as well as one of the most visited family destinations in the Baltimore area.
Our Audience • Children from birth through age 10 • Parents • Teachers • School Groups • Civic Groups • Scout Groups
71% of the schools we serve are designated under Title I as serving a high percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch due to socioeconomic circumstance.
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Revenue Admissions, Memberships, and Programs Contributions & Grants Other Earned Income Total Support & Revenue Expenses Program Services Administration Marketing Fundraising Total Expenses
2%
$ 2,439,000 1,366,324
35%
82,757 3,888,081
$ 2,327,481 534,985 397,618 502,557 3,762,641
Change in Net Assets from Operations $125,440
63%
• • •
Revenue Admission, Memberships, and Programs Contributions and Grants Other Earned Income
FY2012 13%
11% 62% 14%
• • • •
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Expenses Program Services Administration Fundraising Marketing
Total Attendance – 274,000
3%
Constituencies Served During Special Events Student Field Trips – 56,016 Free Admissions – 12,621 Reduced Admissions – 41,143
8% 12%
77%
Discovery Day/Discover Me Day – 3,078 Free Admissions – 1,470 Reduced Admissions – 900 Countdown to Kindergarten – 2,253 Free Admissions – 1,252
Attendance by Program
Target Family Fun Nights – 9,806 Free Admissions – 885 Reduced Admissions – 8,921
General Admission School Groups Other Groups Off-site
Wonderful Wednesday – 13,362 Free Admissions – 1,819 Reduced Admissions – 3,772
8%
Littles’ Day – 15,796 Free Admissions – 1,038 Reduced Admissions – 129 43%
49%
Attendance by Age Children 2 and over Adults Infants and Toddlers
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Hear Ye! Hear Ye! One and All! Explore Our Castle and Have a Ball! Every year at Play It Forward, Port Discovery awards an individual or corporation our Great Friend to Kids Award, honoring those who have made significant and outstanding contributions to strengthening education and advancing the interests of children. On May 6, 2014, we were proud to knight University of Baltimore President and 46th Mayor of Baltimore City, Kurt L. Schmoke, with Port Discovery’s 2015 Great Friend to Kids award. In 1995, it was then-Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke’s vision that Baltimore City should be the home for a worldclass children’s museum that could provide opportunities for all children in the City and beyond to learn through play in a safe, nurturing, and accessible environment. Mayor Schmoke’s vision became a reality in December 1998 when the Baltimore Children’s Museum re-opened as Port Discovery Children’s Museum in the historic Fish Market and quickly became nationally recognized as one of the top 10 children’s museums in the country.
“Because Port Discovery offers a customized experience for each child, the museum can entertain and educate children of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of development. The museum’s interactive exhibits will help children find the tools and skills they need to live successful and fulfilling lives.” - Kurt L. Schmoke
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Dennis F. Rasmussen, Chair
J. Bruce Chan, Esq., Co-Chair Lydia Travelstead, Co-Chair
Monica Brandes, Vice Chair
Jeremiah Albright
Aris Melissaratos, Vice Chair
Benjamin S. Ballard
John Shmerler, Vice Chair
Brian Berger
Mark Pollak, Esq., Secretary
Angel Connolly
Gordon Stetz, Jr., Treasurer
Elizabeth Greenblatt
Wendy Harrison
Alex Bartlett Douglas L. Becker Eric Becker Winifred C. Borden Angela Celestin Renee Christoff Bonnie Copeland William S. Corey, Jr. Daniel Fulmer Robert E. Gabrys, PhD John Harbaugh Kathleen S. Hardway Charlie Hatter Carim V. Khouzami Matthew Klaiber Clarke Langrall, Jr. M. Gay Garth Legg Jennifer B. Litchman Susan Magsamen Teresa Payne-Nunn John F. Ripley John W. Sasser Barbara Tachovsky Harry Thomasian, Jr. Michele L. Whelley
Marissa Humphrey Daniel Kallaugher Thomas Kelley Maggie Kennedy Daria Lapshinova Melissa Malcolm
Bryn Parchman, President & CEO Leslie Borenstein, Executive Vice President Rick Williams, Vice President, Finance Michelle Winner, Vice President, Marketing David Berman, Director of Exhibits Segrid Pearson, Director of Design & Publications Magan Ruthke, Director of Guest Services Nora Thompson, Director of Education & Community Enrichment
James Pymm Sara Reznicek Mallory Shore Peter Winstead
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Government $100,000+ State of Maryland $50,000 - $99,999 The Citizens of Baltimore County $10,000 - $14,999 Howard County Government and the Howard County Arts Council Corporate, Foundation & Individual Trailblazer
Museum Explorer
$15,000 - $24,999
$5,000 - $9,999
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce L. Cleland
ASC Partners, LLC
DLA Piper, LLC
Baltimore City Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Peter V. Handal
BB&T
Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds PNC Bank
Monica Brandes and George F. Jones III
Mr. John F. Ripley
Mr. Stephen A. Burch and Ms. Nora J. Linstrom
Mr. George A. Roche
Carnival Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Smith, Jr.
Ms. Angela Celestin
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Stetz
Ms. Renee Christoff
The Alvin and Fanny B. Thalheimer Foundation Imagination Builder
College Savings Plans of Maryland Helen Pumphrey Denit Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
$10,000 - $14,999
The Harry L. Gladding Foundation
OneMain Financial
Allegis Group Foundation
Ernst & Young LLP
The Goldsmith Family Foundation, Inc.
J.S. Plank and D.M. DiCarlo Family Foundation, Inc.
The LaVerna Hahn Charitable Trust
Mr. and Mrs. John Harbaugh
MedStar Health
Lewis Contractors, LLC
Sylvan/Laureate Foundation
Nordstrom, Inc.
Mary and Daniel Loughran Foundation
$50,000 - $99,999
Target Creative Thinker $25,000 - $49,999 Bank of America
Mrs. Jayne Plank John and Nancy Sasser Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. T. Rowe Price Foundation, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore Xerox Foundation
BGE - An Exelon Company
The Morris A. and Clarisse Mechanic Foundation, Inc. Ms. Rheda Becker and Mr. Robert E. Meyerhoff Miles & Stockbridge, PC Mark and Joanne Pollak Radcliffe Jewelers
M&T Bank
Royal Farms
McCormick & Co., Inc.
T. Rowe Price
Pandora Jewelry, LLC
Venable LLP Foundation
UnitedHealthcare
E.C. Wareheim Foundation
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.
Wells Fargo Foundation
Discovery Maker
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Discovery Maker
Play Partner
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Plank
Mr. Taymour Tamaddon
$1,000 - $4,999
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Mr. Jeffrey Thompson
Mr. David Andreadis
Mr. Dennis F. Rasmussen
Windstream Communications
Mr. Alex Bartlett
The Ritz-Carlton Residences by RXR Realty
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Becker
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Samios
Corporate Members
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas L. Becker
Mr. Kurt L. Schmoke and Dr. Patricia Schmoke
Algeco Scotsman
Winnie and Neal Borden Ms. Leslie Borenstein
Dick and Jan Shafer
Armada Hoffler BB&T
Build A Bear Workshop
Ms. Janet Marie Smith and Mr. F. Barton Harvey
Ms. Cynthia B. Conklin and Mr. Robert L. Merbler
John and Barbara Tachovsky
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
Harry and Carey Thomasian
OneMain Financial
The Cordish Companies - Power Plant Live!
UMIGO
Constellation - An Exelon Company
Bill and Cathryn Corey
University of Baltimore Foundation
Flavor & Fragrance Specialties, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Cowie, Jr.
W.R. Grace & Co.
Gross, Mendelsohn & Associates
Mr. and Mrs. Felix Dawson
Ms. Michele Whelley
Legg Mason Global Asset Management
Delbert Adams Construction Group, LLC
Mr. Greg Woodford
McCormick & Co., Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Dilks
Mr. Conor Woulfe
Miles & Stockbridge, PC
Fava Design Group
Younts Design, Inc.
MECU PNC Bank
Flavor & Fragrance Specialties, Inc. Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Gabrys
PD Fan
Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Graul, Jr.
$500 - $999
Greenspring Associates
Mr. Paul Barsotti
Ms. Kathleen Hardway
Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Bernard
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Hatter
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Cangialosi
The Hindman Foundation, Inc.
Mr. Thomas Chiodi
Mr. and Mrs. Doug Houff
Dr. Bonnie S. Copeland
Houff Foundation
Correct RX Pharmacy Services, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. David W. Jones
Mr. William Couper
Carim Khouzami
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony W. Deering
Kinder Morgan Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ford
Kiwanis Club of Baltimore City
Daniel Fulmer
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Klaiber
Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick and Mr. Louis J. Grasmick
Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc.
Brown Advisory
PricewaterhouseCoopers Stifel T. Rowe Price Wells Fargo Foundation Matching Gifts Alliant Energy Bank of America Constellation - An Exelon Company Jack Kent Cooke Foundation McCormick & Co., Inc. T. Rowe Price Foundation, Inc. UBS Foundation, U.S.A.
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Henson
Gifts in Kind
JMI Equity
Ballard Spahr, LLP
Ms. Jennifer Litchman
The Matthew Korn and Cynthia Miller Foundation
Taproot Foundation
Lois & Philip Macht Family Philanthropic Fund of THE ASSOCIATED
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Landau
TRIBUTES
Clarke and Mary Langrall Legg Mason Global Asset Management
Ms. Susan Magsamen
Port Discovery’s Guests through Contribution Box Donations
The John P. and Elizabeth Y. McKinnell Family Fund
Ms. Suzanne Ricklin
Mr. Aris Melissaratos Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Schaeffer Mr. Frederick Schultz Mrs. Barbara Shapiro
Bryn and Todd Parchman
Ida & Joseph Shapiro Foundation, Inc.
Ms. Teresa Payne-Nunn
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Shore
In honor of Cindy Conklin Mr. and Mrs. Edward K. Dunn III In honor of Matt Klaiber Mr. and Mrs. Victor Seested Mr. Eric Teichberg In honor of John and Nancy Sasser Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Spinelli
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As an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit institution, Port Discovery Children’s Museum relies on the generosity of its donors to fulfill its mission to connect purposeful play and learning.
Caring donors can make tax-deductible donations to support our play-based educational exhibits and programs.
Port Discovery Children’s Museum 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202 410.864.2656 development@portdiscovery.org portdiscovery.org Because Port Discovery Children’s Museum is a non-profit organization, your gift is tax- exempt to the full extent of the law. A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting Port Discovery, The Baltimore Children’s Museum, Inc., 35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-727-8120. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 for the cost of copying and postage.
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