WS Chronicle

Under the theme “A Decade of Play,” Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem will mark its 10th anniversary with special programming for 10 months, March through December.

This month, BB&T is sponsoring educational events and activities at the Museum, including BB&T Day (Saturday, March 22).

“BB&T has been a longtime supporter of the Children’s Museum, and we are so pleased to help the Museum, and the community, celebrate this important milestone,” noted Brent Waddell, BB&T senior vice president and market president.

Since opening in 2004, the Museum has welcomed more than 700,000 visitors, fulfilling its mission to create a compelling destination for the community to play and learn by experiencing literature, storytelling and the arts.

“The Museum provides a unique community space where children engage in layered, early-learning experiences that help support a future filled with achievement and success,” said Lisa Emmerich, an  educator and parent. “My children and I were immediately enchanted by the Museum. As a teacher, I understand the importance of interaction with literacy and I was thrilled to find a place where my kids could take their love of stories to the next level.”

Museum Executive Director Elizabeth Dampier said the agency plays an important role in a community where nearly half of the children entering third-grade are deemed “at-risk.”

“Our corporate supporters also help the Museum underwrite field trips for more than 10,000 students annually, many of which are highly reduced-cost field trips for students from Title I schools,” she said.

Museum Board Chair Bill Hollan III said,  “The Museum’s 10th year is the perfect time to celebrate all that the Museum has given to the community during its first decade, and it’s also the time to look forward to the Museum’s incredible potential and promise for the next generation of our children.” 

To learn more about the Museum’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, visit www.ChildrensMuseumofWS.Org.