What I did last year by Betty Brinn Children’s Museum 2008 Annual Report Scrapbook I Did Lots of Stuff Assembling a scrapbook is a wonderful project for a child, encouraging them to think and talk about things that are meaningful to them, building their confidence and creativity, and helping them develop important planning and social skills. To demonstrate the value – and fun – of scrapbook activities for children and families, we made our own, featuring all of the important things we did in 2008. The profound influence of early learning gained national attention in 2008. Education and school readiness are important issues for our community, and we are proud to be among the best children’s museums in the country and one of southeastern Wisconsin’s most respected and popular resources for families with young children. We worked hard in 2008 to ensure that our facility, exhibits and programs reflect the latest education trends, to meet the needs of the diverse community that we serve, and to educate caregivers about the importance of early learning to school readiness and academic success. We also maintained our significant commitment to ensuring that all children have access to our educational facility and resources by providing free admission and memberships to thousands of disadvantaged children, families and groups. These programs continue to be inspired by Betty Brinn, who was dedicated to supporting organizations that help families in need. Our 2008 scrapbook includes lots of projects, lots of friends… and lots of important numbers, too! My Favorite Things We began 2008 with Curious George™: Let’s Get Curious!, a traveling exhibit created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum that included interactive math, science and engineering-themed activities featuring the little monkey that always manages to get into a tricky situation. The display was sponsored by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, a long-time supporter of our efforts to provide special exhibits for the children and families we serve. Building on the enduring popularity of A Trading Place – our kid-sized community – and the installation of our hugely popular miniature Sendik’s Food Market (where the registers are always ringing!), we unveiled our fantastic new WaterStone Bank exhibit. The bank offers realistic activities for visitors and is complemented by Money Minders, our new facilitated financial literacy program. My Biggest Adventure The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD, the most ambitious exhibit development project we have ever undertaken, was a highlight of 2008. Debuting in July, the exhibit follows our much-loved companion on amazing adventures in a pretend jungle, in outer space, on an archaeological dig, and under the sea. The exhibit encourages children to welcome new experiences with confidence, curiosity and humor, to think about all they can be and do, and to always respect themselves and others. Educational activities throughout the exhibit highlight literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, visual and performing arts, making healthy choices, and career paths. The exhibit’s opening contributed to a 24% increase in attendance, and visitors said it was the best special exhibit we have ever displayed! We are extremely proud of this project and our partnership with Hasbro, Inc., and we are deeply grateful to our national tour sponsor, Northwestern Mutual, a tremendous advocate for early education and an important Museum supporter. Northwestern Mutual’s sponsorship provided critical funding for the development of this exhibit and important support for the exhibit’s four-year tour, which includes planned stops at cities in Washington, New York, Florida, North Carolina, Kansas, Alabama, California and Indiana. Additional support for the project was provided by Manpower, Inc. and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Franz and Virginia Bidinger Fund and Community Grant Fund. The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD reflects our goal of developing exhibits that can be leased or sold to other family-friendly venues, helping us earn unrestricted operating income and reduce our reliance on contributions. Our growing exhibit product line has generated inquiries from museums across the nation and around the world. We remain deeply grateful to Honorary Board members Brian Stark and Debra Altshul-Stark for their early support of this entrepreneurial effort and their continued confidence in our work. With MR. POTATO HEAD wowing families in communities away from home, we began creating a new exhibit in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service. Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home is a “green” exhibit that presents activities about sustainability, recycling and taking care of the planet – our home sweet home. Following a 2009 debut sponsored by National City, Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home will become our fourth exhibit product and our third national touring exhibition. Fun with My Family Museum exhibits and programs benefitted more than 207,000 children and adults in 2008 – up 21% from 2007, and 18% higher than our previous record set in 2001! Member visits rose 25% compared to 2007 and accounted for 34% of our on-site attendance. Our corporate membership program also grew; in addition to renewed members Children’s Hospital and Health System, GE Healthcare, Koss Corporation, Northwestern Mutual, Quad/Graphics, and Stark Investments, we welcomed new members Manpower Inc. and Mortenson Construction. The Corporate Membership program provides a thoughtful way for employers to benefit employees and their families while demonstrating their support for the Museum’s educational mission. Thanks in part to generous contributions from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Carl and Lora Otjen Family Fund and Mary L. Nohl Fund, Nicholas Family Foundation, City of Milwaukee Arts Board and Wisconsin Arts Board, and Rockwell Automation, our educational activities served 63,788 children and adults, and included workshops, off-site programs, demonstrations and performances. We also expanded activities and programming offered as part of WaterStone Bank & FOX 6 Neighborhood Night, an evening each month when the Museum provides free admission. Neighborhood Night ensures Museum access by working families and those with limited resources, and served a record 6,172 visitors in 2008 (up 31% from 2007). Things I Shared The Museum was named in memory of Elizabeth Brinn, who overcame a difficult childhood to become a successful Milwaukee businesswoman, wife and mother. As an adult, Betty established the Elizabeth A. Brinn Foundation to provide support for organizations that help children and families living in poverty or crisis. Betty’s life and legacy, and the unwavering generosity of the Brinn Foundation, continue to inspire our commitment to meeting the needs of disadvantaged families in our community through outreach efforts that remain central to our educational mission. Museum outreach served 39,345 participants (up 17% from 2007) in 2008, and was supported by generous grants from the Dorothy Watkins Inbusch Foundation, Johnson Controls, Joy Global Foundation, and Quad/Graphics. Family Focus – a nationally recognized program that provides free parenting education, memberships and transportation assistance to families whose circumstances often limit their access to educational resources – served a record 862 families in 2008. In addition to community support, our 2008 program was made possible by grants from the A.O. Smith Foundation, Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Bright Futures Milwaukee Fund, Harley-Davidson Foundation, Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation, Stackner Family Foundation and US Bank. Our strong relationships with social service and community agencies have helped enrich the lives of Family Focus participants and we were deeply gratified to receive this feedback during the past year: • “I work with families who are involved in the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare and have had their children removed. BBCM has given them a positive place to have visits with their children allowing them to grow and learn and become role models for positive educational parenting.” • “The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum is a wonderful resource for all families, especially those with children with disabilities. You provide such high-interest, developmentally appropriate activities for all children, and you are a true treasure in the Milwaukee community.” - Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing • “We are honored to have a community partner like the Museum. Thank you for making this a great opportunity for families who do not experience a lot of positive time together.” - Task Force on Family Violence • “My heart breaks all the time by having to watch my daughter deal with the stress and fear of having to stay safe against violence. I think all the time that people don’t understand how these children don’t have the opportunity to be carefree and play with joy, like other children, because they’re burdened with worry. It’s so unfair to them. But obviously, the people at Betty Brinn get it, and their generosity touches us deeply.” - Family Focus member In addition to Family Focus, we maintained our significant commitment to ensuring Museum access by disadvantaged school groups, daycare centers and community organizations. Almost 26,000 children and adults visited the Museum as part of a field trip coordinated through their school, daycare center, or community organization. These groups enjoyed a variety of exhibits and activities, including our popular Renewable Energy Works program sponsored by We Energies. More than half of the participants in our 2008 field trip program (up 16% from 2007) were low-income and special needs participants who received free or subsidized admission through our Special Admission Program established in memory of Mary Leach Smith. Funding for Family Focus and our Special Admission Program was a priority of the 2008 Annual Campaign, and remains the focus of special efforts to secure increased support as the need for these programs continues to grow. Special Days Valentine’s Day and Halloween continue to be some of the best days of the year to visit (and work at!) the Museum, and our celebrations got bigger and better in 2008. Support from Sendik’s Food Market, Breadsmith, Golden Guernsey Dairy, and Sargento for our Valentine Ice Cream Social and Not-So-Scary Halloween events ensured that visitors had their fill of sweets, special activities and take home treats. The Museum’s Teacher of the Year Award was created as a tribute to Alice Bertschy Kadish, a Milwaukee teacher and Museum supporter who was dedicated to excellence in early education. The May 2008 event presented awards to Lori Niemoeller, a 4-year-old kindergarten teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School in Wauwatosa, and Danielle Pajot, a third- and fourth-grade teacher at Woodlands School in Milwaukee. Our annual Back-to-School Resource Fair – created to help disadvantaged families prepare young children to return to school or for their first year – benefited 1,179 children and adults, another new record. Activities included tours of a real school bus, health and safety information for parents, and schoolthemed art projects. Free books and school supplies were distributed thanks to a generous donation from the Diedrich Family. More than 400 guests enjoyed the Museum’s 2008 Gala – Hooked: Neverland After Dark. The Gala is our most important and visible fundraiser, and our outstanding cochairs, Kim and Carl Tomich, and Museum Board member Deborah Nustad and her husband, Tim, led a terrific volunteer committee to create a Peter Pan-themed evening that acquainted new friends with our mission and programs, and secured more than $164,000 to support the Museum. The Gala’s Patron Sponsor, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, set a wonderful example for support, and the Argosy Foundation and local organizations joined in providing sponsorship for this important annual event. My Piggy Bank With disciplined management and success in our efforts to increase earned income, the Museum’s 2008 financial results were strong. While the Museum met its fundraising goals, several significant contributions were received for specific projects, making it challenging to fully fund general operations, important outreach commitments, and Museum resources that don’t always get the spotlight. We are deeply grateful to all of the families who value our mission and helped support us in 2008, including very generous gifts from Rob and Karen Dishner, Denise and Gary Elfe, and Mike and Jennifer Keough. We received an exciting commitment from Children’s Hospital and Health System to develop a new health-related exhibit for the Museum. Children’s Hospital and Health System has been an important partner and supporter, and is the sponsor of our current health-themed exhibit, My Body Works. My Body Works has been a popular Museum exhibit since our opening in 1995, and we look forward to unveiling new activities in this area that will communicate the importance of healthy habits to our young audience. Statement of Activities January 1 - December 31, 2008 (Unaudited) Income Earned Revenue $415,841 Admission 257,841 Membership 101,153 Program 166,970 Special Event 13,000 Interest 109,563 Exhibit Rental 103,888 Exhibit Sales 54,021 Other Income $1,222,277 Total Earned Revenue Contributions 593,367 Gifts and Grants 515,917 In-Kind Goods and Services $1,109,284 Total Contributions $2,331,561 Total Income Expenses Occupancy Exhibits Exhibit Depreciation Exhibit Rental & Sales Programs and Visitor Services Membership and Marketing Development General and Administrative Total Expenses Change in Net Assets $161,140 312,590 101,727 109,932 395,780 768,566 178,626 249,655 $2,278,016 $53,545 Balance Sheet at December 31, 2008 Assets Current $1,296,407 Investments 16,211 Exhibits 2,358,005 Leasehold Improvements 1,209,814 Equipment 132,485 Less: Accumulated Depreciation (2,105,624) Other Assets 357,400 Total Assets $3,264,698 Liabilities and Net Assets Current Liabilities Net Assets Unrestricted Fixed Assets Temporarily Restricted Total Net Assets 321,247 1,594,680 831,469 $2,747,396 Total Liabilities and Net Assets $3,264,698 $517,302 I My Friends! We gratefully acknowledge our Annual Campaign donors of $100 or more and the Museum’s 2008 Gala sponsors and guarantors. $50,000 and above Children’s Hospital & Health System, Inc. Elizabeth A. Brinn Foundation $25,000 - $49,999 Greater Milwaukee Foundation Bright Futures Milwaukee Fund Carl and Lora Otjen Family Fund Joy Global Foundation Manpower, Inc. National City The Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation We Energies $10,000 - $24,999 Argosy Foundation Karen and Robert Dishner Harley-Davidson Foundation Nicholas Family Foundation $5,000 - $9,999 A.O. Smith Foundation, Inc. Betsie and Bill Berrien Briggs & Stratton Corporation Foundation City of Milwaukee Arts Board and the Wisconsin Arts Board Denise and Gary Elfe Dorothy Watkins Inbusch Foundation Garden Room GE Healthcare Greater Milwaukee Foundation Mary L. Nohl Fund Karen and Steve Guy Johnson Controls Foundation Jennifer and Michael Keough Tia and Colin Lancaster Tamara and Tom Loper Marcus Corporation Foundation Michels Family Foundation Northwestern Mutual Quad/Graphics Rockwell Automation Stackner Family Foundation Stark Investments Town Bank US Bancorp Foundation US Bank WaterStone Bank $1,000 - $4,999 Apple Family Foundation Artisan Partners LP Associated Bank Badger Meter Foundation Robert W. Baird & Company Joanne and Robert Bischmann Brady Corporation Deborah and James Brenn Briggs & Stratton Corporation Carma Laboratories, Inc. Deloitte & Touche LLP The Diedrich Family DigiCOPY Albert J. and Flora H. Ellinger Foundation Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation Molly and Patrick Gallagher Godfrey & Kahn S.C. Grace Matthews, Inc. Granite Microsystems Greater Milwaukee Foundation Forbes/Berend Family Fund Patricia and William Hagenah Harley-Davidson Motor Company Hilton Milwaukee City Center and Paradise Landing Waterpark Colleen and Colin Hutt John T. and Suzanne S. Jacobus Family Foundation Johnson Controls Andrea and Kevin Kenealey M&I Bank MillerCoors Mortenson Construction Melissa and Eric Nelsen Deborah and Timothy Nustad Payne & Dolan Sheri and Tom Price ProcessArc Quarles & Brady LLP Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Sheila Reynolds and Robert Chang Jennifer and Josh Schafer Julie and Michael Schneider Sendik’s Food Markets - Balistreri Owned & Operated Leila Shupeck Onnie Leach Smith Target Tria and Carson Thomas Time Warner Cable United Way of Greater Milwaukee Wal-Mart Foundation Westridge Builders Barbara and Richard Wiederhold $100 - $999 Robert W. Baird & Company Foundation, Inc. Baroque Silversmith, Inc. Mary Beth and James Berkes Gisella and Ralph Bronner Cyndi and Brian Cahill The Cherry Corporation Lisa Dew and John VanderBloemen The Dickman Company DigiCopy Alicia Smith Dupies and Patrick Dupies Patricia and James Ericson Maricela and Michael Feker Celeste and Michael Flynn Greater Milwaukee Foundation Tendick Family Foundation Fund JayKay Foundation Fund Sarah and Peter Hammond IBM International Foundation Anne and Jack Kahl Kahler Slater Patrick Kain, FIIM, Inc. Mary and A. Kipp Koester Patrick Kwiatowski Linda Gorens-Levy and Michael Levy Beth and Sean Major Patricia and David Massart Elizabeth and Ted Matkom Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation Susan and Thomas Neill Omni Resources, Inc. Janet and Jim Parker Joan and Dean Phillips Candy and Bruce Pindyck Steve and Stacey Radke Scott and Peggy Sampson Charitable Fund Thomas and Heidi Schmid Lynn and Michael Short Rebecca and Brad Simenz Wendy and Anthony Smith Mrs. Nita G. Soref Stark Family Foundation Stivers Staffing Services Margaret and Max Stroika Margaret Seidl Tackes and Daniel Tackes Kimberly Thaken Sally and Eric Thomas Kim and Carl Tomich Doris and Jerry Vite Faye and Richard Wetzel Amy and Michael Wichert Wisconsin Energy Corporation Foundation Marita and Phil Gruber The Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Jelly Belly Candy Company Journal Sentinel, Inc. Kelly and Joe Jones Kieding Inc. Kohl’s Department Stores Lakeside Bus Company Metroparent MillerCoors Milwaukee Association for the Education of Young Children Milwaukee Ballet MilwaukeeMoms.com Milwaukee Public Television Milwaukee Wave Professional Soccer Nabisco NASCO OfficeMax OnMilwaukee.com Pandl’s Catering Complete Salesforce.com Foundation Sargento Foods Inc. Kelly and Nick Schmidt Sendik’s Food Markets - Balistreri Owned & Operated Shady Acres Perennial Nursery Simma’s Bakery Target US Bank Usinger’s Famous Sausage UW Extension Master Gardeners Program Kathy Vajda VIP Visual Image Photography, Inc Walgreen Co. Wal-Mart Paula Wheeler and James Andorfer In-Kind Contributions 94.5 WKTI 96.5 WKLH Appleton Coated Lisa Balster Breadsmith Charlotte and Ray Brinn Julie and Scott Bussen CGS Premier Canopies Events with Distinction Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin Clear Channel Outdoor Coca-Cola Concours Motors Saab DigiCOPY Discount School Supply Downer Avenue Wine and Spirits EDC Publishing Usborne Books FOX 6 GG Golden Guernsey Dairy We are pleased to acknowledge Museum donors who have made payments on gifts pledged in previous years. Betsie and Bill Berrien Elizabeth A. Brinn Foundation Breadsmith City of Milwaukee Arts Board GG Golden Guernsey Dairy Greater Milwaukee Foundation Halbert and Alice Kadish Fund Journal Sentinel, Inc. Koss Sterephones Betty Jo and James Nelsen Northwestern Mutual Foundation Palermo Villa, Inc. Sendik’s Food Markets - Balistreri Owned & Operated Usinger’s Famous Sausage WaterStone Bank Corporate Members Community Leader Quad/Graphics CEO Circle Stark Investments VIP Circle CG Schmidt, Inc. Children’s Hospital & Health System, Inc. GE Healthcare Manpower Mortenson Construction National City Northwestern Mutual Sendik’s Food Markets - Balistreri Owned & Operated Partner Circle Koss Stereophones Donor Members Level D Members Moira Fitzgerald and Peter Kammer Susie and Robert Gruenberg Lindsay and Peter Hammerer Ursula and Hope Maurer Melissa and Steve Moyer Carol and Robert Schwartz Victoria Teerlink and Jeffrey Drope Level F Members Karen and Robert Dishner Colleen and Colin Hutt Peck Foundation, Milwaukee LTD BBCM Foundation Board Thomas Schmid, President/Treasurer Colin Lancaster, Vice President/ Secretary Anne Curley Matt D’Attilio Robert Dishner Peter Hammond Nathan Johnson Jeffrey Lueken Melissa Nelsen Mike Schneider BBCM Board of Directors Melissa Nelsen, President Board Officers Molly Gallagher, Vice President, Education and Exhibits Karen Guy, Vice President, Development/Strategic Planning Colin Lancaster, Vice President, Administration Deborah Nustad, Vice President, Friends Joan Phillips, Vice President, Finance Anthony Smith, Vice President, Marketing Steve Radke, Vice President, Nominating Board Members Bill Berrien James Brenn Robert Dishner Alicia Dupies Celeste Flynn John Hiller Colin Hutt Kevin Kenealey Onnie Leach Smith* Hon. Kevin Martens David Massart Elizabeth Matkom Sheila Reynolds Chuck Robinson Margaret Tackes Joseph Ullrich Jerry Vite Thomas Watson Honorary Board Members Debra Altshul-Stark Therese Binder, Founder and President Emeritus Susie Gruenberg, Founder Greg Marcus Julie Sattler Rosene, Founder Onnie Leach Smith Mary Ellen Stanek Brian Stark W. Ward White Barbara Wiederhold Richard Wiederhold Volunteers Marina Affi, Programs Debra Altshul-Stark, Exhibits and Education Sharon Barndt, Teacher of the Year Kelly Barthel, Finance Bob Bell, Finance Scott Beyer, Teacher of the Year Joanne Bischmann, Gala, Marketing Gina Borsari, Programs Jeff Bradford, Finance Ray Brinn, Finance, Teacher of the Year Ashley Chesser, Programs Therese Ciofani, Teacher of the Year Maureen Dardis, Teacher of the Year Matt D’Attilio, Finance Anneliese Dickman, Gala Karen Dishner, Gala Ann Egan-Waukau, Teacher of the Year Elise Emmers, Programs Mary Ford, Programs Libby Fredman, Gala Lydia Gatzow, Programs Emily Georgson, Programs Kathryn Gifford, Teacher of the Year Sean Gogerty, Programs Devin Harris, Gala Lisa Harris, Gala Elizabeth Jazwiecki, Programs Kathy Johnson, Gala Kim Krotts, Gala Alexandra Kusick, Programs Brad Kussow, Finance Mary Ann Lasky, Marketing Robin Lockett, Programs Yaliscia Manual, Programs Marquette University Students, Special Events Kaitlyn Martin, Programs Sara Meaney, Gala Barbara Michalak, Education Tom Miller, Finance Timothy Nustad, Gala Janelle Peterson, Gala Jeff Pilch, Marketing Bridget Quick, Programs Lisa Randerson, Teacher of the Year Brigid Rau, Programs Joan Rice, Teacher of the Year Luann Roberts, Teacher of the Year Taylor Roy-Johnson, Programs Roosevelt Sanders, Programs Jennifer Schafer, Gala Rebecca Scharff, Gala Tracey Scharnek, Gala Debbie Schrader, Teacher of the Year Kathy Schultz, Education Judy Schwerm, Marketing Patrick Sheehy, Marketing Debra Shore, Teacher of the Year Michael Hunter Short, Marketing Brenda Silas, Programs Jocelyn Slocum, Programs Margaret Solberg, Teacher of the Year Heidi Stacy, Education Rhea Stark, Programs Marianne Szymanski, Marketing Patty Tamillo, Programs Mike Thiel, Administration Tria Thomas, Gala Carl Tomich, Gala Kim Tomich, Gala Kelly Twigger, Gala Amy Van Heck, Education Lydia Van Hecke, Programs Carey Vollmers, Gala Jen Werth, Programs Amy Wichert, Gala Barbara Wiederhold, Exhibits and Education, Gala Aimee Work, Gala Patty Zimmerman, Education Museum Staff Fern Shupeck, Executive Director Kristen Adams, Director of Communications Lisa Balster, Associate Director of Community Education Linda Brown, Visitor Services Assistant Manager Kathy Cannistra, Exhibit Floor/ Facility Manager Joel Cencius, Visitor Services Manager Michael Cook, Exhibit Developer Oma Cook, Finance Manager Anna Depies, Program and Performance Specialist Elizabeth Dolatowski, Visitor Services Assistant Manager Kelly Doyne, Development Associate Michele Duranso, Communications Manager Jane Frank, Director of Finance and Administration Jenna Green, Membership and Communications Coordinator Kevin Hickman, Accountant Sandy Hughes, Event Coordinator Catherine Jones, Visitor Services Assistant Manager Joe Pariso, Exhibit Floor Technician Carolyn Rydlewicz, Associate Director of Educational Programs Nicole Safranski, Group Programs Coordinator Jennifer Sarnowski, Director of Exhibit Rental & Sales Jim Toth, Director of Exhibits Gwen Weninger, Exhibits Project Manager Kathy Williams, Visitor Services Assistant Manager Visitor Assistants Christina Akers Erilda Borici Erin Broderick Tara Cohen Jessica Doome Andrew Elfe Jeff Gerspach Bridget Hirthe Risa Johnson Laura Shupeck Andrew Vanden Busch Our apologies to any individual or organization who was inadvertently omitted from this list, or incorrectly listed.
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