KeyBank Backs Stepping Stones' Open Arms Accessibility Initiative

KeyBank Foundation, KeyBank’s nonprofit charitable foundation, has donated $5,000 to Stepping Stones Museum for Children. The Foundation’s gift directly supports the award-winning museum’s Open Arms Accessibility Initiative, which provides thousands of children, caregivers and teachers each year the opportunity to enjoy the museum regardless of financial, language, cultural or special needs barriers.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children’s mission seeks to broaden and enrich the educational opportunities for children ten and under and enhance their understanding of the world by creating an environment that inspires lifelong learning. At the heart of that mission is an unwavering commitment to inclusion that is embodied by Open Arms. Through this inclusive program, all children, families and schools are welcome to enjoy the museum’s safe and enriching environment, which nurtures creativity, play and lifelong learning. In 2018, Stepping Stones looks to serve 75,000 individuals through Open Arms at an operational cost of $750,000.

“Stepping Stones is very grateful to KeyBank Foundation for their generosity and proactive support of the museum’s mission-critical Open Arms Accessibility Initiative,” said William E. Jeffries III, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Stepping Stones. “Put simply, many children and their families would not have access to our award-winning museum without Open Arms. As an inviting, welcoming and diverse learning community that values and celebrates all children and families for their similarities and uniqueness, broad-ranging abilities, experiences, interests, needs and perspectives, it is vitally important we continue to receive financial support for Open Arms. We’re deeply appreciative of KeyBank Foundation’s gift to help us continue to make sure that the museum’s high-quality educational opportunities are available to all children.”

“One of Key’s philanthropic focus areas is education – including quality community-based educational enrichment programs,” said Deb Clancy, KeyBank’s Senior Vice President and Business Banking Relationship Manager serving the Fairfield County market. “Stepping Stones enriches our community with excellent interactive learning programs and we are proud to help all children and families have access to them.”

For more information about the Open Arms accessibility initiative, visit www.steppingstonesmuseum.org/openarms.

About Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Stepping Stones Museum for Children (www.steppingstonesmuseum.org) in Norwalk is an award-winning, private, non-profit 501(c)(3) children’s museum committed to broadening and enriching the lives of children and families. Located on five acres in Mathews Park, the LEED Gold certified museum encompasses five hands-on galleries, multimedia theater, Family and Teacher Resource Center, café and retail store. Stepping Stones also offers onsite educational events and workshops, school and group programs and traveling resources for schools, libraries and youth-serving organizations.

Stepping Stones is located at 303 West Avenue, exit 14N or 15S off I-95 in Norwalk. Museum hours are Labor Day through Memorial Day, Tuesday—Sunday and holiday Mondays from 10 am-5pm; and Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday-Sunday from 10 am-5 pm. Admission is $15 for adults and children and $10 for seniors. Children under 1 are free.

About KeyBank Foundation:
KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank’s purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures. The Foundation’s mission is advanced through three funding priorities – neighbors, education, and workforce – and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.

PHOTO: KeyBank representatives Deb Clancy (far left), and Matthew Fair (second from left), present KeyBank Foundation’s $5,000 donation to Rhonda Kiest, President and Chief Executive Officer at Stepping Stones (second from right); and William E. Jeffries, III, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Stepping Stones (far right).