Speedway Children’s Charities Donates $200,000 to Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville

National philanthropic organization to sponsor I Can Move area of children’s museum

April 29, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) will donate $200,000 to Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville in sponsorship of the I Can Move area of the children’s museum set to open in 2010.

Speedway Children’s Charities provides funding for thousands of non-profit organizations throughout the nation that meet the direct needs of children. SCC works with a broad range of people and organizations to identify and resolve pressing issues dealing with children in their communities.

“We at Speedway Children’s Charities are very excited to be a part of such a wonderful educational opportunity,” said Saundy Hutto, national director of new business development and marketing. “To have a place where kids from all walks of life with varying abilities can play, learn and grow together has been a desire of ours for quite some time and now we have a part in bringing that dream to life. We are thrilled that the community sees the need and is willing to help create this incredible opportunity for children.”

The theme of Discovery Place-KIDS, “I CAN”, aims to trigger interactive experiences and role-playing opportunities for early childhood development in children from birth through second grade. Themed areas include I Can Create, I Can Be Healthy, I Can Work, I Can Move, I Can Explore, I Can Build and I Can Grow. The I Can Move exhibit area is designed to provide children with the opportunity to experiment with movement on the land in the air and on the water. Authentic experiences in several modes of transportation—airplane flight, trains, boats and race cars will provide role-playing experiences and opportunities to explore forces and motion through water and air power.

“Speedway Children’s Charities is a perfect fit for the Discovery Place KIDS project with a vision to ensure every child be given the tools to build a better, brighter and healthier future,” said Debbie Curry, director of Discovery Place KIDS. “We are excited to be partnering with a national organization that benefits children and has a shared emphasis on providing services to all children through accessible exhibits and programs.”

Donations for exhibit sponsorships have been received from The Merancas Foundation, Inc., D.F. Halton Foundation, Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, Presbyterian Hospital—Huntersville, Bragg Financial Advisors and the Bragg Family, Newell Rubbermaid, Speedway Children’s Charities, US Airways Community Foundation, Carolina Panthers Charities, North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., Suzanne B. Sadler, Nelson and Michelle Cosgrove, Debbie and Keith Curry, Forbo Siegling, LLC, Ron and Carol Glasshoff, Griffin Brothers Companies, The Guild of Discovery Place and Charlotte Nature Museum, Huntersville Animal Care Hospital, Lakeside Family Physicians and Sarah R. McAulay Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville aspires to encourage children and parents to learn and grow together.

Resembling a small community, the children’s museum will feature exhibits, programs and rich play-environments that focus on development of cognitive, motor, communication and social skills.For more information on Discovery Place KIDS or to make a donation, call 704-875-0272 or visit discoveryplacekids.org.

About Speedway Children’s Charities
Making a difference in a child’s life is the focus of Speedway Children’s Charities and we strive to do this in collaboration with the non-profit organizations we support nationwide.

Individually, SCC’s local chapters identify the needs of children in their communities and award grants to organizations that address them. Together in 2008 we raised $3.4 million.

About Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville
Discovery Place KIDS is an innovative model in regional children’s museums being developed by Discovery Place, Inc., the parent company of Discovery Place and Charlotte Nature Museum. Discovery Place KIDS will provide a regional network of community-based children’s museums built on the theme of “I CAN,” and will offer unique opportunities for interactive learning-through-play for children birth through second grade and their parents or caregivers.
Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville planning offices are located at P.O. Box 237, Huntersville, N.C.

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