The Iowa Children's Museum

We are thrilled to spotlight NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium as this month's Partner in Play! As part of a statewide network, the Consortium promotes opportunities aligned with NASA's mission through STEM education, workforce development, and economic growth. The Iowa Children's Museum was thrilled to join the consortium as an outreach affiliate in 2023. Thanks to their support, we were able to provide a space-based program to before- and after-school programs in Alexander, Kirkwood, Grant Wood, and Mark Twain Elementary schools last year. This program encouraged children to look to the stars through interactive activities like transporting specimens back to their moon base camp and designing a space travel poster. We are grateful to be part of this network, which includes many Iowa museums and educational institutions. Thank you to The Iowa Space Grant Consortium for being a Partner in Play!

As we step into July, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the outstanding leaders whose board tenure is now complete! Pam Ehly, who has served on our board for many years and was formerly our Board Chair, has helped our organization reach new heights through her continuous work and support. Jackie Kleppe, a dedicated member of the museum's education and exhibits committee, has also been crucial in growing our partnership with UI Health Care, one of our most significant and impactful partnerships. Laura Kivlighan has been a fantastic advocate for our mission as a member and leader of the marketing committee. Thank you to these three outstanding individuals for all of their knowledge, work, and support! We also want to thank Kristen Shaffer, our Board Chair this past year, who has now proudly passed the torch to Nick Mahon. Congratulations Nick! Our board's dedication, passion, and unwavering support have helped us create countless magical moments for children and families in our community. #nonprofit #childrensmuseum #iowa

On this final day of #IowaMuseumWeek let's talk about why we LOVE The Iowa Children's Museum! 💜 There are countless reasons to love The ICM! Our dedicated team shared what makes our space special as we continue our mission to inspire children in Iowa to imagine, create, discover, and explore through the Power of Play!

The first-ever International Day of Play is here, and it’s a phenomenal opportunity to celebrate and embrace the joy of play in our lives! 💜 The International Day of Play is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and prioritizing play, ensuring that everyone, especially children, can thrive and reach their full potential through the power of play! In honor of this day of play, we encourage everyone of all ages to incorporate some play into your schedule today! #InternationalDayofPlay

Thank you for making the 2024 Iowa Children's Open a success! With sunny skies and 32 teams showing up to support kids in our community, the day truly was a hole-in-one. ⛳ Thanks to the incredible support of our sponsors, volunteers, and golfers, we exceeded our $45,000 fundraising goal! These funds are vital to our mission of fostering learning and creativity in children. Your contributions help us provide enriching programs, interactive exhibits, and educational opportunities that inspire kids to imagine, create, discover, and explore! We can't express enough gratitude for your participation in this par-fect day. Your support means the world to us and the children we serve. 💜 Special thanks to our presenting sponsors, Advantage and United Iowa Financial, for their generous support and helping to make this event a swinging success! Thank you as well to our other event sponsors, ALPLA Group, Big Grove Brewery, Build to Suit Inc, Carousel Nissan - Iowa City, Midtown Family Restaurants, GreenState Insurance, Sobaski Abbey Carpet & Floor, Scheels, Two Rivers Bank & Trust, Allegra Marketing ● Print ● Mail (Iowa City), GreenState Credit Union, Iowa Heartlanders, Woodruff Construction, Hilton Garden Inn - Iowa City, Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center, Iowa City Area Sports Commission, McGrath Toyota of Iowa City, Randstad USA, Relion Insurance Solutions, Slager Appliances, Hills Bank, University of Iowa Health Care, Skogman Realty, Riddle's Jewelry.

Did you catch GreenState Insurance back on the Putting Green at the annual Iowa Children's Open this week?! ⛳️ We love being there to support The Iowa Children's Museum and the great programs they provide to the community 💚 #GreenStateInTheCommunity

Last week a few of our leadership team members (and an ICM board member!), packed up our ICM2Go van and made the trek to Madison, Wisconsin, for the Association of Children's Museums annual conference InterActivity! 💜 At the conference, our team engaged with other museum professionals to explore strategies for ensuring every child's prosperity, which contributes to a more caring, compassionate, inclusive, and sustainable global community. Thank you to the Madison Children's Museum for holding this spectacular event and letting us learn and explore in your wonderful space! 💜#IA24 #ACM #Flourish

Is your business looking for a way to give back to not just your employees, but our community too? Consider becoming a Corporate Partner with The Iowa Children's Museum and make a lasting impact on your employees and our community! Your employees could enjoy perks like complimentary passes, exclusive discounts on memberships, facility rentals, and more! All while investing in our outreach programs and community events that benefit children and families. It's a win-win opportunity to support education and essential family bonding while showcasing your company's commitment to community growth and enrichment. 💜 Ready to partner with us? Follow the link to learn more about our Corporate Partnership program and the different tier options for the program: https://lnkd.in/gYu4zxWK

Thank you to everyone who helped make Great Give Day a success and helped us raise $5,740 in support of our community outreach program, ICM2Go! 💜 Making play accessible to all means getting outside of our walls and out into the community. Your support allows us to reach thousands of children in their own neighborhoods. Thank you to the Community Foundation of Johnson County for powering this amazing day of donating to support our community nonprofit organizations! A very special thanks to our anonymous donor and the MidAmerican Energy Company Foundation for providing an amazing dollar-for-dollar match during Great Give Day and helping kids in our community reach their potential. Want to join us for one of our ICM2Go events this summer? Follow the link to take a peek to see where we'll be! https://lnkd.in/gyG9EBEy

Hands Jewelers is not just known for its beautiful jewelry but also for its deep commitment to serving our community. Charlie Nusser, General Manager and fifth-generation member of this family business has a special connection to our museum. He served on The ICM board of directors in the early 2000s, impacting our organization. More recently, Hands Jewelers has graciously acted as the Jewelry Tree Sponsor for the past two Celebrate Play Galas. Their contributions added sparkle to our events and helped us raise vital funds to further our mission. Through their support, countless children can explore, learn, and grow. As we reflect on the invaluable partnership we share with Hands Jewelers, we extend our deepest gratitude to Charlie, Rachel, and their entire team for their unwavering commitment to our community. Together, we continue to create moments of wonder, joy, and discovery for young minds! 💜