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Portland Children’s Museum Receives $45,000 Grant from Target

Among the 84 recipients of Cultural Development Grants is Portland Children's Museum, where Trust funding will help renovate its theater as a community gathering space for the increasingly diverse children and families in Oregon—especially in Multnomah, Washington, and Clark Counties.

Portland, Ore- Portland Children’s Museum is delighted to announce that a recent gift from Target Corporation will continue the popular Free First Friday, a program that keeps the Museum open for free to visitors from 4 to 8 pm on the first Friday of each month. These evenings are part of the Community Partners program, which focuses on connecting with families facing barriers to accessing the Museum.

“Target Free First Friday makes a huge impact at the Museum,” said Carrie Hoops, Interim Executive Director. “We see record-breaking attendance numbers as a result of this program. The demand for low cost access to the museum is high and growing, and we are able to meet these frequent requests thanks to generous supporters like Target.”

Target First Free Fridays draw an average of 1,000 monthly visitors that otherwise would not have access to the Museum. This year the Museum expects more than 12,000 visitors for Target First Free Fridays alone.

To extend free access and reduced-cost memberships to qualified families, the Community Partners Program collaborates with over 200 organizations including Title I schools, libraries, government agencies, and non-profits to develop strategies that connect underserved communities to the arts. With Target’s help, the Museum’s Community Partners program will reach over 35,000 children and their families this year alone.

“At Target, we are committed to serving local communities where we do business,” said Laysha Ward, President, Community Relations, Target. “That’s why we are proud to partner with the Portland Children’s Museum as we work to strengthen communities and enrich the lives of our guests and team members.”

ABOUT TARGET

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,778 stores across the United States and at Target.com. The company plans to open its first stores in Canada in 2013. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/hereforgood.

ABOUT PORTLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Portland Children’s Museum is the museum that doesn’t act like a museum. You won’t find any velvet ropes inside, and playing with and touching our exhibits is strongly encouraged. Our main exhibit is the imagination of the children who play here. Every activity from permanent to travelling exhibits is designed to encourage children to play and wonder while they learn about themselves and the world around them.

LOCATION

In Washington Park across from Oregon Zoo;

4015 SW Canyon Road, Portland, 97221

CONTACT

Phone 503-223-6500

Online portlandcm.org

Like facebook.com/portlandcm

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.