San Jose Children's Museum Appeal Letter

“I just want to share with everyone that I was a genius today!”

— A 15-year old student participating in the BioSITE environmental science program, an award-winning collaboration between the Children’s Discovery Museum and schools in low-income Silicon Valley communities.

[Date] Name Address City, state, zip

Dear ______________

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”

— Margaret Mead, anthropologist

At the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, we are well acquainted with the power of a small group of individuals united for the common good. In fact, we owe our very existence to a committed consortium of visionaries from the public, corporate, and private sectors. Their generosity enabled us to open our doors in 1990 to meet the needs of children, families, and educators as a vibrant new center for learning and discovery.

Since that time, the Museum has enriched the lives of more than four million children with highly interactive and engaging exhibits that focus on the arts, sciences, and humanities. Today, children from infancy through adolescence can exercise their imaginations as they explore our Wonder Cabinet (an early learning exhibit designed to stimulate cognitive development in children under the age of five), “drive” a fire engine, “work” on a valley farm, sort mail at post office, weigh ingredients in a pizza kitchen, open a bank vault, operate a “kid-powered” generator—or simply touch, test, crank, listen, prod, and tinker to their heart’s content.

Best of all, our Open Door Policy —which earned the Museum a prestigious Institute of Museum and Library Services award for exceptional service to the community—ensures that no child will be deprived of these unique learning experiences for economic reasons. Each year, we offer free or reduced admission to approximately 70,000 of our 300,000 visitors—nearly 25 percent of the people we serve.

Our commitment to children has extended far beyond the whimsical, lilac-colored walls of our 52,000-square-foot Museum. Through outreach initiatives such as Youth Alive (which offers afterschool programs and job training to help at-risk teens stay off the streets, out of gangs and on a positive path in life), BioSITE (our award-winning environmental science program for low-income students) and our Discovery Guide program (which provides meaningful entry-level employment and on-the-job training for women re-entering the workforce, adults who are not native English speakers, and low-income teens) we’ve worked hard to meet the needs of the communities that we serve.

The Museum’s Summer of Service Program—which fosters a spirit of volunteerism and democracy building in an age group (grades 7-9) that is often underserved and overlooked—received

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose ▲ 180 Woz Way ▲ San Jose, CA 95110 ▲ (408) 298-5437 ▲ www.cdm.org

the Metropolitan Life Foundation and Association of Youth Museum’s Promising Practice Award for its role in strengthening community and in building a civil society.

Our outreach programs have been hailed as national models for other children’s museums striving to make a difference in their communities.

But there is so much more to be done —and that’s why I’m writing to you today.

Too often, children from low-income families have fewer opportunities—in school, at home, and in their recreational pursuits—to satisfy their natural intellectual and creative curiosity as they grow.

We’re working to change that—but we need your help.

Each year, we rely on generous contributions from community leaders and concerned citizens like you to offer programming that addresses the developmental needs of young people who have not traditionally had access to enhanced educational opportunities.

As public schools become increasingly hamstrung by deep cuts in government funding, the need for programs that encourage intellectual exploration, scientific inquiry, and creative expression in underserved communities is more vital than ever before.

That’s why I’m asking you to consider supporting the Children’s Discovery Museum with a generous gift of $150, $250, $500 or $1,000.

Your contribution will not only support new exhibit development and make essential educational programming possible, but will also enable us to offer subsidized admissions and enrichment opportunities for schools and community groups serving young people from low-income families.

Because of our Open Door Policy, only 55 percent of our expenses are covered by admission fees. Without contributions from people like you, many doors to discovery would close for these kids.

As every civic-minded individual knows, untapped human potential is everybody’s problem.

Your generous support will help ensure that every child in Silicon Valley has a chance to grow into a confident, hopeful, accomplished and resilient citizen. Won’t you please send your gift today?

Sincerely,

Connie Martinez Executive Director P.S.

I urge you to call me at (408) 298-5437 to discuss our community initiatives — and I look forward to welcoming you to our “small group of thoughtful, committed citizens” who are working to make the world a better place.