Providence Children’s Museum Nets $77,000 at Annual “Unplugged” Gala

PROVIDENCE, RI – On Saturday, April 30, Providence Children’s Museum welcomed nearly 200 guests to The Pawtucket Armory for Unplugged 2016, its annual gala fundraiser. The playful event netted $77,000 to benefit the Museum and help fund critical play and learning opportunities for children and families in need. Guests generously contributed $12,500 to support the Museum’s general operations, including the purchase of charitable memberships for low-income families. They also bid over $13,000 on 60 live and silent auction items.

Unplugged 2016 highlighted the Museum’s critical outreach to provide rich play and learning opportunities for children in need at Head Start preschools and urban after-school and summer programs. The event also celebrated the importance of play for kids’ healthy development and honored two organizations that empower families and inspire imagination and play:

• A toy company created by three generations of the Nathanson family, Bananagrams Inc. launched at the London Toy Fair in January 2006 and has since become a modern classic and an international phenomenon, with five tabletop games available in 31 countries. Its games help improve spelling and literacy, and encourage children to love words and letters.

• A non-profit organization founded in 1834 with a mission to improve the well-being and healthy development of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable young children, Children’s Friend is a leading provider of child welfare, family support, mental health and child development services that benefit over 34,000 individuals each year, and give children a foundation to help them live healthy and productive lives.

Providence Children’s Museum gratefully acknowledges Unplugged 2016 lead sponsor Collette and gold sponsors Amica Insurance and Nortek, Inc.; visit www.ChildrenMuseum.org/Unplugged.asp for additional sponsors and event committee.
Photos, credit Michael J. Nolfe (left to right):
Providence Children’s Museum Board President Mervin H. Browning III, Children’s Friend President and CEO David Caprio, and Museum Executive Director Caroline Payson.

Providence Children’s Museum – play is powerful!
The Museum is located at 100 South Street in Providence’s Jewelry District. September through March, open Tuesday through Sunday and Monday school holidays, 9 AM to 6 PM, and selected Fridays until 8 PM. April through August, open 7 days. Museum admission is $9.00 per person; always free for Museum members. Call (401) 273-KIDS or visit www.ChildrenMuseum.org.

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