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Thursday, March 28, 2024

DuPage Children’s Museum awarded $175,000 via McCormick Foundation

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McCormick Foundation’s Early Care and Education Grant Program will further support DuPage Children’s Museum’s ability to provide early learning programming

DCM
DuPage Children’s Museum is located at 301 N. Washington St., a short walk from the Naperville Metra Train Station.

DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) announces it has received $175,000 as part of the Early Care and Education grant program from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. These funds will support DCM’s effort to develop innovative learning experiences that ignite interest in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), support the learning continuum, and build cultural awareness. Through outreach programs, the Museum is able to impact more than 30,000 children and help area school districts meet Illinois’ curriculum standards. The award marks the 8th year that DCM has received funding from the McCormick Foundation for early learning programming.

“Through our Learning Labs, field trips, and Professional Development, DuPage Children’s Museum is influencing how students learn and affecting how teachers teach,” said Margaret Hanly, Director of Education and Outreach, DuPage Children’s Museum. “With DCM-led open-ended classroom explorations, children who may have not succeeded with more traditional instruction often excel in our Learning Labs and school programs.”

The grant funding will also leverage DCM as a community hub to support early learning experiences and reach underserved populations. Through community partnerships with area Child Care Resource and Referral agencies; SPARK (Strong, Prepared, and Ready for Kindergarten) of Aurora; and statewide agencies such as One Hope United and Metropolitan Family Services (Head Start), DuPage Children’s Museum is able to share hands-on, inquiry-based educational programming with families who may otherwise have not been able to visit the Museum. Additionally, the Museum’s Community Access Network (CAN) provides an effective opportunity to manage more than 60 partnerships, explore special projects, and provide Museum passes and memberships to at-risk families.

“We are committed to funding initiatives that help Illinois communities and families address healthy development, parental support, and access to quality early childhood programs,” said David Hiller, President & CEO of the McCormick Foundation. “This is an exciting time for the early care and education field because it is now getting well-deserved attention on both the federal and state levels. What we need now is more action.”

Acknowledging that early care and education initiatives are the best investments to ensure successful outcomes of all children, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation has invested more than $5 million to 17 nonprofit organizations in Illinois. The grant portfolio, which spans two years, will support programs including principal preparation and early math instruction, access to common core learning standards, public policy, and advocacy. In an effort to increase support around Illinois’ youngest children, nearly $1 million of the grants will go towards helping infants, toddlers, and their families gain access to resources that promote healthy development.

About DuPage Children’s Museum
DuPage Children’s Museum is more than a Museum…we’re a force for early learning! Via interactive exhibits and programs that make learning fun for children and adults playing together, DuPage Children’s Museum helps develop curiosity, creativity, thinking, and problem solving in young children. The Museum is located at 301 N. Washington Street in Naperville, Illinois, a quick walk from the Naperville Metra train station. Parking is free and the building is wheelchair accessible. For information about hours, Museum admission, and membership packages, visit www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org or call (630) 637-8000.

About the Robert R. McCormick Foundation
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is committed to fostering communities of educated, informed, and engaged citizens. Through philanthropic programs, Cantigny Park, and museums, the Foundation helps develop citizen leaders and works to make life better in our communities. The Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is one of the nation’s largest foundations, with more than $1.5 billion in assets. For more information, please visit www.McCormickFoundation.org 

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PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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