We're pleased to announce that some generous donors have recently stepped in as Door Openers in our Pave the Way Campaign. These include Network Hardware Resale, Lynda Fairly, the Gottesman Family, Jeff and Hollye Jacobs, Morrie and Irma Jurkowitz, the Green Park Foundation, and Lee, Elizabeth and Annalise Gabler. The funds will be used to complete designs for the building, landscaping, and interactive educational exhibits.

 

"Network Hardware Resale is proud to support the Children's Museum of Santa Barbara," said Mike Sheldon, NHR's President/CEO and husband of CMSB Board Secretary Nancy Sheldon. "As a father and business leader in this community, I believe it's extremely important, especially during these difficult economic times, to support vital educational programs that create positive, indelible experiences for all children."

 

Montecito resident and Board Member of The Green Park Foundation, Melissa Murdoch, is an enthusiastic supporter of the Children's Museum. When approached by CMSB Board Member Jill Levinson, she quickly asked: "What can I do to help?" A busy mother with three young children, she understands the need for a children's museum in Santa Barbara.

 

Morrie and Irma Jurkowitz are generous supporters of many of Santa Barbara's cultural organizations and institutions. Their daughter Jill had long dreamed about creating a children's museum in Santa Barbara. When she was recently  elected to serve as President of the Children's Museum Board of Directors, they decided to it was time to lend their support and help make her dream a reality.

 

New to the Children's Museum Board of Directors, Elizabeth Gabler has taken the lead of the Museum's New Media Committee, enlisting many of her colleagues in the motion picture industry to plan cutting edge experiences for Santa Barbara children. Elizabeth, her husband Lee, and their daughter Annalise are thrilled to be involved with such an exciting project and are proud to support the museum as Door Openers.

 

Oded and Anat Gottesman had been searching for something to honor their son Yoni, who died in a tragic accident a few years ago. According to Oded, "Yoni was such a happy child. He loved learning and he especially loved museums. We are very happy to have his name above the Children's Door of the new Children's Museum." 

 

Former president of Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Entertainment Group, CMSB Board Member Jeff Jacobs founded The Civitas Initiative in Chicago as a foundation designed to give grants to students of law, medicine, and social work focusing on abused and neglected children. Because of his involvement with Civitas -- Latin for "community" -- Jeff understands the importance of providing opportunities and resources for communities. "Hollye and I are thrilled to be involved with this project and to support the Design Phase."

 

Former Children's Museum Board President Lynda Fairly has dedicated her entire adult life  to the field of education, beginning as an elementary teacher and then moving on to join the faculty at Santa Barbara City College. More than 30 years later, she retired as Vice President of Continuing Education. "This is such an important project for the children and families of Santa Barbara. The Board is dedicated to making this happen as soon as possible and I am proud to do what I can to help move the project forward."