Discovery Playhouse guests donate $63,000 at 'funraiser'

While Discovery Playhouse won't be open to its target audience until the end of March, the interactive children's museum welcomed the young at heart Saturday evening to a "funraiser" that gave the public its first look at the attraction.

After many months of work to renovate the old Walther's Furniture building at 502 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, volunteers at the museum saw its first paying "customers."

"It feels really good," said Discovery Playhouse board of directors president Kevin Priester. "I think we're all excited to get it to this point."

Treasurer Debbie Simmons said Saturday's event drew 90 guests and raised $63,000. Simmons said $130,000 in Neighborhood Assistance Program business tax credits are still available, but businesses wanting to take advantage of the program that reduces their state tax liability by 50 percent must make their donation by March 31.

Based on the proceeds, many donors contributed much more than the suggested $50-per-person donation.

"I think now that people can see what's going on here they're going to do what they can and do their part," Priester said. "A lot of people have really stepped up."

Interim executive director Janet Livingston said many individual donations were received in addition to the business donations, and those would be used to add more interactive and educational activities for the children visiting Discovery Playhouse.

"The money will be going toward expanding exhibits," Livingston said. "Obviously, the more money we bring in, the more we can do."

Guests said they were impressed with what educational activities are already available at the Discovery Playhouse.

Ann Hall of Jackson has worked with children throughout her career as an educator, a day care licenser and now as a teacher of child care providers. She has visited many children's museums, such as St. Louis' Magic House, and said the Discovery Playhouse has the potential to rival that attraction.

"I think they're off to the right start," said Hall, who said her nieces and nephews will love Discovery Playhouse when they come to visit her.

Autumn Demopoulos, who owns a restaurant on Broadway and has three children between ages 5 and 8, said the museum will be a great benefit to the community.

"I thinks it's a wonderful place for families," Demopoulos said. "I'm very glad that it's downtown. Anything to benefit the downtown area is wonderful."

The museum's aim is to educate children while they play.

"Children learn through play," Livingston said. "When they're able to maneuver and manipulate all these things they learn about gravity and different scientific things."

Jason Lindsey of Hooked on Science reports from inside the Discovery Playhouse

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