On August 17, we celebrate National Nonprofit Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the incredible work done by nonprofits and charities nationwide. It's a time to appreciate the impact these organizations have on our communities and the lives they touch.
As we commemorate this day, we invite you to join us in supporting the center’s mission. Your contributions, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading awareness, play a crucial role in helping the center make a difference. Together, we can create a brighter future for those in need and continue our efforts to bring about positive change.
What's the museum's mission?
It's the Science Center’s mission to inspire and grow a scientifically engaged community, and as
such, it has promoted science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education and public outreach in Okaloosa County and beyond for over 35 years. Our overarching intent is to continually expand our audience and reach more early learning, primary, and middle school students and boost participation in STEAM disciplines through experiential learning by providing improvements to what we can offer our museum patrons, field trip students, in-house program attendees, and outreach participants.
By enabling our patrons to experience STEAM education both inside and outside of a traditional school environment, we can allow them to see STEAM’s real-life applications. By delivering state-of-the-art programs and activities, the center can help students and children gain self-confidence and foster the curiosity to explore STEAM. This enrichment allows the museum to help grow interest across Northwest Florida and show children the educational and career pathways these disciplines have to offer them while simultaneously setting students and children up for improved academic achievements.
How can I support this mission?
To support our mission, individuals can engage in various ways:
- Becoming an Essential Element: By committing to regular donations, you provide consistent support for our cause. Our monthly donors are the heroes that help ensure the day-to-day activities at the museum are possible.
- Volunteering: Offering your time and skills can make a significant impact on our operations, exhibit quality, and overall improvement of the center's building, which we are in the process of purchasing from the City of Fort Walton Beach. Unlike most nonprofits whose buildings were donated to them or are charged a nominal rent, this means that the center has a monthly mortgage to pay. And unlike a lot of museums with large operating budgets and expansive buildings, the museum is a true labor of love that is cared for and improved within the means of our modest operating budget and small staff, so volunteering time or materials to improve the building makes so much of a difference and improves our patrons' experiences.
- Making a One-Time Donation: A single donation can contribute towards our initiatives and projects. Any amount, big or small, truly makes a difference. Know that every cent counts in ensuring we can provide the best educational programming possible.
- Sponsoring an Animal: Supporting a specific animal helps cover its care and well-being expenses. As the museum is home to over 35 Animal Ambassadors, animal sponsorships make a huge difference in lessening day-to-day costs of caring for this many animals. As most of our animals are rescued, we are their forever homes, and they mean the world everyone whose lives they touch.
- Sponsoring an Event or Workshop: Your sponsorship can help the museum organize and host educational events and workshops. Sponsorships allow the center to provide enhanced equipment and supplies, and depending on sponsorship level, even allows us to provide classes free of charge for participants.
- Becoming a Member: Joining as a member allows you to be part of our community and receive exclusive benefits as well as bolstering the center's support with your annual membership dues.
Why is this so important?
The Science Center, along with over 600 other museums and institutions across the state of Florida, was unfortunately denied much needed grant funding from Florida's Division of Arts and Culture after the governor vetoed these requests for the new fiscal year. This funding typically supports the center's ability to attend community-wide events for free to introduce all ages to STEAM, enhances the museum's field trip and in-house education program capabilities, and delivers operational support that is vital to meet our mission to provide science-based education to our region. This comes as an absolute blow to the center.
We deeply appreciate your love for the center, and that you recognize the impact of our work. Now, we’re at a time where the center needs your support more than ever. Your generosity will ensure that center is still able to attend community events to spread the importance of STEAM education and allows the Science Center to continue providing learners and guests from across the panhandle with memorable encounters across these disciplines. Without this funding and community support, we fear we will have to cut programs and services that are essential to our community.
Your contributions are more crucial than ever in overcoming the loss of this essential funding to keep our mission strong. We appreciate your donations, memberships, and volunteer hours more than you know, and thank you for your support in ensuring the center can continue to inspire and grow a scientifically engaged community together.