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$1M endowment by anonymous donors wows officials at science center for kids
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By Denise Dick
Youngstown
Two anonymous donors have pledged a $1 million endowment to OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology.
“It’s to be used for capital improvements, expansion and new exhibits,” said Ronald Faniro, president of the center’s board.
The fund, which has 501c(3) status, will be designated as The Children’s Center for Science & Technology Endowment Fund.
Faniro said it will ensure financial stability and sustainability for the organization, Faniro said.
“It just speaks to the quality of the people in our community,” he said.
The center opened in early May — and Faniro said it’s doing well — but nonprofits need endowments to fall back on for major capital improvements and for trying times.
“We didn’t have that when we were the Children’s Museum of the Valley,” he said.
The center is at 11 W. Fed- eral St. in the former McCrory’s Building on Central Square downtown. It offers hands-on exhibits and educational programming in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
“A significant part of our 2009 strategic plan was to establish the Center as a regional destination for families and schools seeking a unique, high-quality ‘edutainment’ experience,” Suzanne Barbarti, OH WOW! executive director, said in a news release. “This endowment provides us the opportunity to plan for the development, building and installation of new exhibit areas that will keep people coming back and expanding our reach well beyond Youngstown.”
The endowment will allow the center “to be at the forefront of emerging technologies in K-12 teaching and learning, presenting new exhibits and other STEM-based educational opportunities that represent the most current innovations,” she said.
Faniro said the center has seen few slow days since its opening five months ago. The community is supporting it, he said. Each day, school groups from around the region visit including some from Pennsylvania schools.
“Regional appeal seems to be happening,” Faniro said.