ORLANDO, Fla. — The James M. Cox Foundation announced a large grant to the Orlando Science Center to help build a new exhibit to serve children from infancy to seven years old.
The foundation is giving $300,000 to the center to build New KidsTown.
The exhibit will be three-times larger than the current space and will feature play-based learning and high-touch explorations to promote critical thinking skills. There will also be a dedicated infant and toddler area.
"We are extremely grateful to the James M. Cox Foundation for their generous investment in our vision for a new KidsTown," Orlando Science Center's President and CEO JoAnn Newman said. "Thanks to this incredible gift, we are one step closer to providing Central Florida families with an expanded and content rich space to encourage early learning, skill building and quality family time."
The foundation provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in the communities where it operates, including central Florida.
"The Orlando Science Center has inspired curiosity and exploration for sixty years," WFTV's Vice President and General Manager Shawn Bartelt said. "We know that learning at an early age helps put children on the path to success, and the Science Center encourages learning in a fun way for the entire family."
The center attracts 475,000 visitors annually and features a working replica of WFTV's Severe Weather Center 9, where visitors learn how to put a weather forecast together and practice delivering it in front of a green screen.
In the Orlando area, Cox businesses include Channel 9 WFTV, TV 27, 98.9 WMMO, K92.3, News 96.5 WDBO, POWER 95.3, Star 94.5 FM, WDBO-AM, X107-3 FM, Manheim Central Florida and Manheim Orlando.
Cox Media grant supports creation of new children's exhibit at Orlando Science Center
