State Invests in Children of the Upstate
June 19, 2014
GREENVILLE, SC – The Children’s Museum of the Upstate (TCMU) is grateful to the South Carolina House of Representatives, Senate and all of our members and friends for supporting our efforts to successfully override the Governor’s veto of nonrecurring funds in the amount of $150,000.
The requested funds will support marketing efforts promoting the museum as a destination for tourism and proven catalyst for economic impact.
As a private non-profit organization and the only children’s museum to be affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute, less than 1% of the museum’s budget comes from government funds. The majority of funding comes from ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and private donors. However, since opening its doors to the public in July of 2009, TCMU has had a positive financial impact of nearly $35 million on South Carolina’s economy. Every $1 invested in TCMU generates $1.35 that flows directly in to our state economy.
To fulfill its mission to spark a lifelong passion for curiosity and learning through play, the Children’s Museum of the Upstate welcomed approximately 150,000 visitors to the museum in 2013. In an effort to make the museum available to all South Carolina’s children, 1400 students from Title 1 schools received free admission and an additional 1300 individuals received free tickets through TCMU’s Fund-A-Family program for families in need.
Nancy Halverson, President/CEO of the museum states, “Serving all of South Carolina is a priority for the Children’s Museum of the Upstate and this funding will help us accomplish this in so many ways. We are pleased to play a role in supporting Governor Haley’s efforts to improve early education and attract new companies to our state. We understand that when corporate leaders are considering a move to South Carolina, their decisions are predicated not only on outstanding business opportunities, but also on the quality of life available for their families. The Children’s Museum of the Upstate is proud to be just one of the many exceptional educational and cultural resources that make South Carolina an attractive place to call home.”
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate sparks a lifelong passion for curiosity and learning through play. Conveniently located in downtown Greenville on the cultural campus of Heritage Green, visitors experience 19 exhibit galleries with more than 100 hands-on activities in the arts, humanities, science, health, nutrition and the environment. At 80,000 square feet, TCMU is the 7th largest children’s museum in the country and the nation’s only children’s museum affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. There are new and exciting programs developed for every age level to stimulate creativity and stir the imagination. For more information, visit www.tcmupstate.org.
