A model of the future Children’s Museum of Rock County inside the proposed site, located at the former Chase Bank, 100 W. Milwaukee St., in August.
GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
JANESVILLE — The Children’s Museum of Rock County has received a $50,000 donation from BlueScope Buildings North America, bringing its capital campaign total to $9.6 million. That’s just $400,000 short of a $10 million goal.
The funds raised will be used to convert the former First National Bank Building at 100 W. Milwaukee Street in Janesville into a children’s museum
John Westphal, president of the board for the Children’s Museum of Rock County, said he is grateful to see the light at the end of tunnel.
However he knows they are not done. Westphal said there is no guarantee that the construction cost will be under $10 million as the children’s museum has not yet big out the project.
He said that they are looking for other grants from the Wisconsin Department of Administration and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
“I will not put any shovel into the ground until we raise enough money to build the museum,” he said.
He said if anyone wants to “write him a check for $2 million they can have naming rights.”
The BlueScope Foundation has invested more than $20 million in nonprofit organizations in other communities.
According to a press release, BlueScope manufactures steel, enhances it with coatings and creates buildings and building materials from steel. In 2008, it acquired Varco Pruden Buildings, including its Evansville location, which continues to be one of the area’s major employers.
“BlueScope North America is proud to support the Children’s Museum of Rock County,” BlueScope Buildings President Sue Stark said in the release . “As a company, we recognize that our communities are our homes and an opportunity like Children’s Museum enables us to support community enhancement efforts that benefit our people, our families, our neighbors and countless others. The Children’s Museum is an exciting investment, and we’re thrilled to help the capital campaign close in on its fundraising goal.”
“We’re the Children’s Museum of Rock County,” said Westphal at Thursday’s check presentation. “While the museum will be located in Janesville, we intend to serve all the children in our area. This location made the most sense to be central in the County and allow us to best serve as many kids as we can.”
School age children make up nearly a quarter of Rock County’s population. Over 26,000 children between the ages of 0-12 reside in the county. Based on the free and reduced lunch program, approximately 12,000 children come from low- or moderate-income families.
According to the Children’s Museum of Rock County’s website, families that cannot afford the admission fee will be eligible for free or reduced cost memberships.
“I was grateful to see that the BlueScope Foundation was interested in our project,” Olivia McCarthy, Children’s Museum of Rock County Public Relations and Communications Director said in the release. “As an Evansville native and daughter of a Varco Pruden alum, this pledge is representative of the importance of our mission for families throughout our community.”
According to Children’s Museum of Rock County representatives, industry and innovation will be one of the key features of the children’s museum. Alongside these experiences will be an agriculture exhibit, Rock River water table, climber, and café.
The Children’s Museum of Rock County expects to conclude its public capital campaign efforts this fall with a groundbreaking ceremony to shortly follow.
