YEAR IN REVIEW
The mission of MCM is to create unparalleled experiences to inspire excellence and a lifelong joy of learning.
We accomplish this mission through hands-on, engaging exhibits and programs focusing on literacy, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), and health and nutrition-the keys to helping our children mature into healthy and productive adult learners.
In 2023, MCM CELEBRATED A TRIUMPHANT YEAR
Impact
$2,063,567
Donations & Grants
$2,068,891
Operating Revenue
$379,485
Memberships
$602,326
Educational Sponsors
$642,094
Other Income
Total Revenue & Support
$5,756,363
$33,429,811
NET ASSET TOTAL
Financial figures are for Jackson and Meridian combined based on the fiscal year June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2023.
MCM Jackson and Meridian
$620,416 – 9%
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL
$288,449 – 4%
FUNDRAISING
$6,040,225 – 87%
Program Services
Total EXPENSES
$6,949,090
Financial figures are for Jackson and Meridian combined based on the fiscal year June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2023.
Visitors
Jackson
General Admission
154,453
Memberships
2,231
Education Program
Participants
25,557
Birthday Parties
256
Birthday Party Guests
7,671
Facility Rentals
54
Field Trip Participants
19,084
Day Camp Participants
1,018
After School Attendees
14,830
Total Visitors
225,154
Meridian
General Admission
51,247
Memberships
840
Education Program
Participants
12,513
Birthday Parties
184
Birthday Party Guests
5,693
Facility Rentals
23
Field Trip Participants
5,843
Day Camp Participants
257
After School Attendees
1,920
Total Visitors
78,520
Volunteers
Jackson
Volunteers
985
Volunteer Hours
6,344.40
Monetary Value Saves
$133,232.40
Meridian
Volunteers
351
Volunteer Hours
1,362.65
Monetary Value Saves
$28,621.95
MCM Partners revenue is reflected from events held between January 1-December 31, 2022.
Jackson
$151,531
Ignite the Night
$108,810
Neon Night
$100,830
A VERY MERRY NIGHT
$24,467
Jackson dues and donations
Meridian
$111,016
Merry at the Museum
$18,633
Meridian dues and donations
$15,260
Mingle at the Museum
Total Revenue
$536,436.41
The Mississippi Children’s Museum hosts multiple annual events which allow guests to celebrate holidays, as well as the museum’s initiatives: Literacy, STEAM, Health, Mississippi Heritage, and Cultural Arts. Educational programming is themed for each event so that children are learning while having fun!
MCM’s most beloved events include:
MCM Partners support MCM’s mission through sponsorships, fundraisers, and volunteer hours. Each visitor experience costs $30 dollars, but the museum’s admission is only $10. MCM Partners fundraising events allow MCM to bridge the gap in operational costs so that we can have a first-class museum and amazing exhibits for all the children in our state.
At the Mississippi Children’s Museum, we offer engaging and interactive educational programs designed to inspire young minds. From hands-on STEAM workshops to immersive literacy initiatives, our programs foster creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.
Programs – Jackson
Programs – Meridian
MCM Travels extends the magic of the Mississippi Children’s Museum beyond its walls, offering communities the chance to host our captivating traveling exhibits. Whether it’s in a school, church, or community center, MCM Travels brings hands-on learning experiences directly to your doorstep. Ignite curiosity and spark imagination in your community with MCM Travels, where education meets adventure, no matter where you are.
Celebrations: Asian Culture – Celebrations: Asian Culture is designed to bring children and families together to explore New Year celebrations in South Korea, China, and Vietnam through the imagery of fireworks, lanterns, lotuses, and kites.
Imagination Playground – This exhibit allows children to discover and create through unstructured free play. Children are encouraged to continuously manipulate the blocks to develop a variety of environments and play spaces.
Rocky’s House – Rocky’s House introduces caregivers and children to a cast of characters representing the diverse population of Mississippi, Rocky’s Friends. Along with Rocky, they guide guests through three primary methods of language and literacy development: playing, talking, and reading.
Rocky the Reader – Rocky the Reader is a jolly pup who loves to read, play literacy games, and travel! Rocky engages young learners, and promotes reading.
Roll, Match, Read – This exhibit is designed with toddlers in mind, encouraging them to discover new sounds, textures, and shapes. With three interactive learning spaces, your little ones can develop their motor skills, letter recognition, and sound differentiation.
Story to Stage – Story to Stage fosters a creative, literary environment for children to create their narrative. Geared toward 1st – 3rd graders, visitors can engage in a multifaceted space to illustrate ideas through performance-driven activities and explore their theatrical side on an elevated stage.
Train Cars and Train Tables – With a total of six pieces, this is our most flexible traveling exhibit as rental pieces can be selected to fit your space and/or the number of students to be served.
Wonder of Wellness – Through play, children explore how creating healthy habits leads to the healthy development of their brains.
Since its inception in 2010, the Mississippi Children’s Museum has evolved into Mississippi’s premier cultural institution for children, families, and educators. In response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as learning loss and social-emotional challenges, MCM demonstrated remarkable adaptability. Launch into Learning, an afterschool and summer enrichment program, emerged, providing a safe space for underserved students to learn and play. MCM also pioneered online professional development for educators, ensuring continued education during lockdowns.
- The transformative success of these initiatives inspired The LIFT, symbolizing MCM’s commitment to innovative solutions.
- CS Wonder, a teacher training program funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, exemplifies MCM’s commitment to advancing education.
- Launch into Learning provides high-quality afterschool care and enrichment for Jackson and Meridian Public School Districts.
- Statewide outreach initiatives, Talk from the Start and Reach Out and Read, have garnered statewide recognition. These programs showcase the positive impact of MCM’s innovative approach to education.
- Collaborative partnerships like the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Governor’s Emergency Education Response Grant, University of Mississippi Medical Center, and educational institutions such as Mississippi State University and Central Creativity, have made programs of The LIFT a reality. These partnerships reflect MCM’s commitment to creating impactful initiatives.
Looking Toward The Future
A physical manifestation of The LIFT is an essential next step in expanding and enhancing the important, forward-thinking work that is already taking place. Future plans include “LIFT City” and “The Nest” which will serve as an interactive STEAM gallery and an educator resource center, respectively. These features reflect MCM’s dedication to advancing education and workforce development in Mississippi. The LIFT represents a visionary leap forward, ensuring MCM’s inventive resources are accessible to all. This expansion will enable MCM to continue positively impacting Mississippi’s children, caregivers, and educators for generations to come.
DONORS
Forget me not
When MCM opened in 2010, it was known, based on benchmarking from other children’s museums, that the museum’s exhibits would have an approximate lifespan of only seven to ten years. With this knowledge the Junior League of Jackson established the Forget-Me-Not Fund to create a reserve to sustain the museum now and into the future, from improving the physical campus, to maintaining its exhibits, to making enhancements which will keep the museum both current and vibrant, these funds play a crucial role in our success. In 13 years, MCM has welcomed almost 2 million visitors, and our beloved exhibits have experienced significant wear and tear. The Forget-Me-Not Fund is a long-term investment not only in Mississippi’s only state-wide children’s
Playing for Keeps
The Playing for Keeps Fund is a reserve for the Mississippi Children’s Museum – Meridian to sustain its mission now and into the future as an educational and inspirational resource for generations of children to come. This fund allows MCM-Meridian to meet ongoing needs for the improvement of the physical campus and its exhibits. The Playing for Keeps Fund will provide critical aid for exhibit repairs and refurbishments as need arises. The support granted by this fund will fully equip us to nurture healthy, educated, and imaginative children that will become our next generation of creative thinkers and doers.
LEADERSHIP
SUSAN GARRARD
President/CEO
SARAH SKELTON
Chief Financial Officer
Emily
HOFF
Executive Director of Mississippi Children’s Museum – Jackson
BARBARA ZELLER
Executive Director of
Mississippi Children’s Museum – Meridian
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MCM – JACKSON
Beth Hansen, Alicen Blanchard, Olivia Host, Wilson Hood, John Fletcher, Michael Cormack, Terry Dale Cruse, Margaret Cupples, Lisa Didion, Otis Gowdy, Jr., Jeffrey M. Graves, Amanda Green, Jet Hollingsworth, Maggi Lampton, Carla Lewis, Ashley Meena, Melanie Morgan, Amanda Overby, Chip Pickering, Adams Yerger, Camille Young,
Ex-officio Members:
Donna Bruce, James E. Graves, Jr., Martin F. Jue, Susan Garrard
MCM – MERIDIAN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Otis Gowdy, Hallie Pearson Swindoll, John Anderson, Patty Ann Bogue, Amy Carter, Beth Clay, Terry Dale Cruse, Veldore Young Graham, David Hall, Kelvin Jackson, Asif Lala, Dustin Markham, Jim McGinnis, Melanie Mitchell, Chris Phillips, Don Rogers, Wade Sims,
Ex-officio Members:
Luke Davis, Cindy Smith, Barbara Zeller, Susan Garrard
We couldn’t have done it without you!
The mission of MCM is to create unparalleled experiences to inspire excellence and a lifelong joy of learning.
We accomplish this mission through hands-on, engaging exhibits and programs focusing on literacy, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), and health and nutrition–the keys to helping our children mature into healthy and productive adult learners.
