The future location of Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham, at 233 E. Washington St., is still under development. The building used to be the location of McKenzie Furniture Co.
Monetary support for Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham continues to roll in.
Discovery Place KIDS has received two $6,500 grants from the BP Fueling Communities grant program from Albemarle Oil and Swink Oil.
The Fueling Communities program is a multi-year program designed by BP to allow the local distributors to identify charitable needs within their communities, and fund those needs on an ongoing basis.
“Albemarle Oil is proud to use their first full year allocation of the grant towards Discovery Place Kids in Rockingham,” said Ron Lattimer, director of operations for Albemarle Oil Company. “Discovery Place Kids will be a significant addition to the downtown of Rockingham, and we are excited to help contribute,” said Lattimer.
Discovery Place, Inc. chose Rockingham as the future location of its second interactive learning children’s museum after opening its first in Huntersville earlier this year. Located at 233 E. Washington St. in Rockingham, Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham will offer the greater Sandhills region a learning opportunity for children beyond their toddler years. Exhibits are still being designed while funding campaigns are ongoing.
“We are grateful that these two organizations utilized a valuable opportunity they had access to that will benefit the children and families of this region,” said John Mackay, president and CEO of Discovery Place, Inc. “Their generous gifts will help build a wonderful educational resource that will serve the Richmond County community.”
“To-date campaign commitments exceed $9.1 million,” said Discovery Place, Inc. Manager of Marketing & Public Relations Logan Stewart. “Our immediate goal is to meet the Leon Levine Foundation’s challenge of $9.6 million in commitments by Dec. 31, 2011, in order to stay on schedule for a projected opening in early 2013. The overall campaign goal remains at $14,585,925 which includes funds for renovation, exhibition development and an ongoing endowment to support outreach and operational needs.”
Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham could be open by 2013.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.
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