DuPage Children's Museum Block Party Celebrated Community Impact

DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) presented Governor JB Pritzker with its 2024 Great Friend to Kids Award for establishing the Illinois Department of Early Childhood and celebrated DCM’s impact at its annual Block Party fundraiser on October 24, 2024. Powered by partnerships and philanthropy, DCM impacts children and their families across Illinois.

When caring adults work together to support one another and the young children in our communities, lives are changed for the better. Andrea Ingram, DCM President & CEO shared, “Together, with intentionality, we are more than capable of reaching DCM’s vision: that ALL children thrive through access to extraordinary learning experiences.” Annually, DCM serves more than 350,000 people at the Museum through engaging programs and award-winning exhibitions.

The Museum’s vision is not limited in space, time, place, or ages. DCM continues to reach new audiences and change lives by expanding access to immersive exhibit experiences and community-based playful learning programs. Museum PopUps bring DCM’s learning-through-play strategies to community organizations like libraries and activity centers engaging underserved populations. “Having the museum that has such a regional impact has been a great new addition to our organization, especially as we think about how to work with families with the youngest children,” explained Molly Beck Dean, WeGo Together for Kids Director. “Making the museum accessible to all kids is life changing.” These inclusive experiences encourage exploration, creative expression, and relationship building for children ages birth to 5 years and their families.

DCM also facilitates STEM Learning Labs for area elementary schools with 11,591 students served during the 23/24 Academic Year. Museum educators work in collaboration with school districts to co-create experiences that enhance and support school curriculum aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Social Emotional Learning outcomes. Karri Fudacz, West Aurora District 129 STEM teacher, spoke to her experience, “DuPage Children’s Museum was amazing at creating this new (Physics) curriculum. They have the ability to do everything hands-on and bring it to the kids’ level.”

To support partners and build their internal capacity to engage students during out-of-school time, the DCM Wonder Clubs model delivers professional development workshops, curriculum, and materials to organizations so they can lead fun hands-on STEAM activities. In his video taped acceptance speech, the Governor expressed his appreciation for the Great Friend to Kids Award and acknowledged DCM’s growing impact.

Governor Pritzker stated, ”We must prepare our children to be innovators with the agency to adapt in a changing world and the empathy to steward our future and planet. By building a growing network of over 320 DCM Wonder Clubs with partners including YMCA’s, children’s hospitals, homeless shelters, Boys & Girls Clubs, children’s museums, school districts and others across the state, DCM has shown that with intentionality and partnership, we can connect exceptional learning experiences to children wherever they are. Working and growing together, we are modeling the solution building mindset and skills our children and families need to thrive.” This year, DCM Wonder Clubs will exceed 400 clubs engaging over 10,000 students in joyful learning representing 100,000 hours of STEAM instruction.

Community support is crucial in advancing DCM's role as a change agent –– inspiring, engaging, and empowering youth with the skills and confidence to become the next generation of solution builders. Contributions can be made at dupagechildrens.org/give/.

DCM would like to thank our 2024 Block Party supporters: Molex; Pediatric Health Associates Ltd; Wintrust; and PNC.

About DuPage Children’s Museum

DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) nurtures joyful discovery and learning by inspiring curiosity, creativity, and problem solving through STEAM play. DCM continues to reach new audiences and change lives by expanding access to immersive exhibit experiences and community-based playful learning programs. Authentic partnerships embedded in communities statewide extend the Museum’s impact across cultural, financial, and educational boundaries. With more than 35 years of experience, DCM strives to ensure that all children thrive through access to extraordinary learning experiences. The Museum is located at 301 N. Washington Street in Naperville, dupagechildrens.org or call (630) 637-8000.