Medford Native Michael Bloomberg Donates $50M to Boston Museum of Science

MEDFORD, MA – In a nod to his parents and the institution's impact on his own life, three-time New York mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg unveiled a historic contribution to the Boston Science Museum Tuesday.

“I went every Saturday, and it changed my life,” Bloomberg, who grew up in Medford, told The Boston Globe. “It just showed me the possibilities and showed me what was out there in ways that traditional school didn’t do.”

Now 74, Bloomberg is giving back in a big way.

Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Tuesday its plan to donate $50 million to the museum, which the philanthropy says is the largest gift in the institution's 186-year history.

The gift establishes the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Science Education Center, named after his parents. It supports the museum's existing educational initiatives, and supports the creation of new computational thinking and food science initiatives.

“I know how important this Museum is and what an impact it can have on young people – because I was one of those young people,” Bloomberg said in a press release. “My visits to the Museum inspired my interest in science and technology and forever shaped the way I think. People often remember the first teacher to have a profound impact on their lives. For me, that teacher was the Museum of Science.”

Bloomberg is a native son of the greater Boston area; born in Brighton, he lived in Brookline for a two-year stint before the family settled in Medford.

Alison Bauter (Patch Staff) contributed to this report.

Photo: US Coast Guard Academy via Creative Commons/Flickr