Greater Milwaukee Foundation brings back "Gifts to the Community" on Oct. 15th

MILWAUKEE -- The Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s "Gifts to the Community" program returns in 2016 with a special day of free admission to four signature destinations on our region’s shoreline.

On Saturday, October 15th, visit Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Discovery World, Milwaukee Art Museum and the Port Washington Historical Society’s Port Exploreum and 1860 Light Station for free. The Foundation’s Gifts to the Community are being presented this year in partnership with Fund for Lake Michigan.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016

Hours: Vary by venue (see below)

Details about the 2016 Gifts to the Community free access day, including destination information and program notes, are available at greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/gifts.

Betty Brinn Children’s Museum

Where: 929 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: (414) 390-5437
Web: bbcmkids.org

The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum is dedicated to providing hands-on educational experiences that help children build fundamental cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills during their formative years, and to educating adults about the profound influence of early learning on a child’s academic and lifelong success. Museum exhibits and programs reflect developmental milestones recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, as well as state and national academic standards, and promote school readiness by focusing on early literacy; beginning math and science concepts; the development of planning and problem-solving skills; cooperation; self-esteem and self-discipline; and physical coordination. The Museum enables adults to share educational experiences with children, and provides information about child development, learning styles and effective parenting. The Museum is committed to ensuring access by all children and families in the community.

Specifics to know:


    Discovery World

    Where: 500 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
    Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Phone: (414) 765-9966
    Web: discoveryworld.org/events/greater-milwaukee-foundation-free-day/

    Discovery World offers fun and learning for the whole family! Experience interactive exhibits, the Reiman Aquarium,  DIY projects in the Kohl’s Design It! Lab, and more! In the summer months, come aboard for a Family Sail on Discovery World's Tall Ship, the Sailing Vessel (S/V) Denis Sullivan, a 137-foot replica of a 19th century Great Lakes schooner.

    Specifics to know:


      Milwaukee Art Museum

      Where: 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee
      Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
      Phone: (414) 224-3200
      Web: mam.org

      The Milwaukee Art Museum’s mission is to serve the community and present art as a vital source of inspiration and education. Through exhibitions and related programs, the Museum is committed to bringing people together to inform, educate and engage in conversation around art. Home to a rich collection of over 30,000 works of art, the Museum is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its campus includes the Santiago Calatrava–designed Quadracci Pavilion, annually showcasing three feature exhibitions, and the Eero Saarinen–designed Milwaukee County War Memorial Center and David Kahler-designed addition. The Museum recently reopened its Collection Galleries, debuting dramatically transformed galleries and a new lakefront addition, with nearly 2,500 world-class works of art on view.

      Specifics to know:


        Port Exploreum and 1860 Light Station

        Where:


          Hours:


            Phone: (262) 268-9150

            Web:


              As part of the Port Washington Historical Society, the 1860 Light Station and Port Exploreum vividly tell the stories of Port Washington from its earliest days to the present. The Light Station, located just east of the historic St. Mary’s Church, has been restored to reflect the life of a Light Keeper in the late 1800s.  The Port Exploreum, located in downtown Port, is a history and maritime museum that uses the latest technologies to interactively tell the stories of Port Washington and Lake Michigan.

              About Gifts to the Community

              Launched in celebration of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s centennial in 2015, Gifts to the Community aimed to provide special opportunities connecting greater Milwaukeeans while showcasing some of the region’s most positive characteristics. Last year, 275,000 people directly participated in 12 surprise gifts that engaged 25 different partner organizations.

              About the Greater Milwaukee Foundation

              For more than a century, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has helped individuals, families and organizations realize their philanthropic goals and make a difference in the community, during their lifetimes and for future generations. The Foundation consists of more than 1,200 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the charitable causes of their choice. The Foundation also deploys both human and financial resources to address the most critical needs of the community and ensure the vitality of the region. Established in 1915, the Foundation was one of the first community foundations in the world and is now among the largest.

              About Fund for Lake Michigan

              The Fund for Lake Michigan, a donor advised fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, was established in 2011 as part of an agreement between We Energies, Madison Gas and Electric, WPPI Energy, Clean Wisconsin and Sierra Club to safeguard the lake and improve water quality in the region. The Fund has awarded more than $15 million in grants over the past five years to restore habitat, improve beaches, clean up rivers and streams, and revitalize waterfronts in the Milwaukee Area.