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 2025, MCM CELEBRATED A TRIUMPHANT YEAR
Impact
$2,991,594
Donations & Grants
$1,719,285
Operating Revenue
$441,138
Memberships
$819,015
Educational Sponsors
$580,118
Other Income
Total Revenue & Support
$6,551,150
$31,189,218
NET ASSET TOTAL
Financial figures are for Jackson and Meridian combined based on the fiscal year June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025.
MCM Jackson and Meridian
$941,585 – 13%
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL
$303,260 – 4%
FUNDRAISING
$6,102,931 – 83%
Program Services
Total EXPENSES
$7,347,776
Financial figures are for Jackson and Meridian combined based on the fiscal year June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025.
Visitors
Jackson
Storytelling Festival
709
Dr. Seuss’ Silly Birthday Celebration
1,125
Space Day
1,356
Week of Wonder
5,239
Bunnies & Butterflies
1,371
SUPER-lympics
778
Harry Potter’s Birthday
1,664
Mississippi Science Fest
2,521
BOO!seum
1,272
Park After Dark
1,330
Jammies at Journey
246
Noon Year’s Eve
1,345
General Admission
63,463
Member Admission
42,652
Memberships
2,252
Education Program
Participants
11,909
Birthday Parties
223
Birthday Party Guests
7,545
Facility Rentals
32
Field Trip Participants
21,193
Day Camp Participants
1,286
After School Attendees
16,091
Total Visitors
164,139
Meridian
Storytelling Festival
305
Dr. Seuss’ Silly Birthday Celebration
624
Space Day
495
Week of Wonder
1,537
Bunnies & Butterflies
646
SUPER-lympics
384
Harry Potter’s Birthday
401
Mississippi Science Fest
424
BOO!seum
643
Peppermint & PJs
153
Noon Year’s Eve
522
General Admission
23,052
Member Admission
16,246
Memberships
625
Education Program
Participants
16,094
Birthday Parties
210
Birthday Party Guests
5,726
Facility Rentals
16
Field Trip Participants
5,439
Day Camp Participants
749
After School Attendees
5,210
Total Visitors
73,142
Volunteers
Jackson
Volunteers
931
Volunteer Hours
9,393.45
Monetary Value Saves
$238,781.50
Meridian
Volunteers
353
Volunteer Hours
668
Monetary Value Saves
$16,980.56
MCM Partners revenue is reflected from events held between January 1-December 31, 2025.
Jackson
$173,350
Ignite the Night
$102,395
Neon Night
$87,230
A VERY MERRY NIGHT
$39,760
Jackson dues and donations
Meridian
$70,534
Merry at the Museum
$14,900
Meridian dues and donations
$26,327
Mingle at the Museum
$32,360
Love Bug Boogie
Total Revenue
$546,856
Events
MCM-Meridian’s beloved Valentine’s Day tradition, Love Bug Boogie presented by Great Southern Bank, brought families together for a night of movement, creativity, and fun. Guests danced their way through the museum while enjoying crafts, sweet treats, and groovy music. This signature MCM-M Partners’ event helped support the museum’s educational programs and exhibits throughout the year.
Picnic in the Park was a festive outdoor event celebrating the opening of our summer exhibit Measurement Rules. This exhibit transformed everyday ideas like “how long,” “how heavy,” and “how much” into playful learning adventures. By letting children and families experiment with concrete, imaginative measuring tools, the exhibit made all things measurement meaningful, showing that units don’t have to be abstract, but part of how we understand the world around us.
On February 8, 2025, MCM Partners hosted their signature event, Ignite the Night: Bollywood Nights, presented by BankPlus. Upon entering, guests were immediately transported to the elaborate and vibrant decor of a Bollywood movie set, complete with Mendhi artists providing guests with custom Henna tattoos. Traditional music, special dance performances, and culinary delicacies were enjoyed and the talk of the evening. A Dhol drummer enthralled guests with rhythmic and intricate drumming while dancing the night away!
Families rang in the New Year at MCM-Meridian’s Noon Year’s Eve celebration, presented by Community Bank. Children designed colorful masks and crowns, went on playful scavenger hunts throughout the museum, and moved to the beat with a live DJ. The celebration ended with a burst of confetti, creating a joyful start to the year.
The 2025 Mississippi Science Festival (MSF), presented by the C Spire Foundation, extended its reach across the state, with locations not only in Jackson and Meridian, but also throughout the Delta and along the Coast. By bringing engaging, hands-on STEAM experiences to new communities, the festival broadened its impact and highlighted the importance of science education statewide. The LeFleur Museum District (LMD) is proud to have expanded MSF’s footprint, offering more Mississippi families opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math while inspiring the next generation to imagine and pursue future careers in STEAM.
2025 featured the debut of MCM’s Stamp Book, a program that symbolizes the museum’s progress and achievements. Just as guests collect stamps by exploring exhibits, attending events, and participating in programs, MCM adds “stamps” to its story, marking pivotal milestones in the museum’s growth.
JACKSON EVENTS & PROGRAMS
MERIDIAN EVENTS & PROGRAMS
A New Chapter in our Book!
MCM with support from Atmos Energy, unveiled Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine™, a unique way to inspire a love of reading in children.
Unlike traditional vending machines, this machine dispenses books that guests and afterschool students can earn through positive behavior and participation in weekly literacy-based programs like ABC Come Play with Me, Rocky’s Book Club, and Read with Me. Through these programs, children collect Inchy’s Coins to choose their own books, turning literacy into a fun, rewarding experience.
MCM’s Impact in the Mississippi Delta
This year, the museum brought interactive, educational exhibits to children and families across the Mississippi Delta, providing new communities with the MCM experience.
MCM Travels delivered popular exhibits including Rocky’s House, made possible by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Wonder of Wellness to four Delta locations, giving children the chance to enjoy the museum’s hands-on learning within their own hometown.
These traveling exhibits provided children with immersive, hands-on experiences to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning. From exploring wellness and healthy habits to engaging in imaginative play, each exhibit worked to spark discovery and reinforce key educational concepts in a fun, interactive way.
Children in the Mississippi Delta face unique educational challenges, and MCM’s traveling exhibits help to bridge that gap by providing dynamic learning experiences. By bringing these resources directly to rural communities, MCM Travels advances the museum’s mission of making high-quality educational opportunities accessible to all children in Mississippi.
These efforts work to break down geographic and economic barriers, ensuring that children across the state can learn in ways that are impactful and lasting.
a hub for mcm’s education, outreach, and community building
The LIFT is a tangible manifestation of MCM’s commitment to innovative solutions and creative environments. MCM currently delivers innovative educational services to children, families, and educators across Mississippi. A $22 million capital campaign for an additional 20,000 square feet on MCM’s main campus is a necessary next step to sustain and grow the work taking place both within our building and throughout the state. The mission of this capital project is to LIFT students and educators in Mississippi to new heights by providing innovative learning resources and workforce training for the 21st century.
The centerpiece of this museum expansion is LIFT City: a 3,000 square-foot state-of-the-art gallery targeting third through sixth grade students. LIFT City will expand the museum’s audience, reaching students between early childhood and the teenage years who are at a critical age for career readiness and exploration. The gallery will provide an innovative, facilitated learning experience that will serve as a national model in gallery experiences for children’s museums.
CS Wonder Takes Learning on the Road
As a part of the LIFT, the Mississippi Children’s Museum brought its coding program, Computer Science (CS) Wonder, on the road in 2025, visiting multiple elementary schools to teach students foundational coding skills, terminology, and collaborative teamwork coding exercises. The program also modeled for teachers how to integrate Coding and Robotics into their classrooms, helping students develop not only technology skills but also key executive functioning skills, including communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. In total, MCM reached approximately 1,000 students from preschool through 4th grade and over 50 teachers. In 2026, the program will expand to schools across the state, including every 4th-grade student at all 4 elementary schools in Canton, MS, thanks to the support of Amazon.
Statewide Commitment to Educators
This year, the museum delivered multiple professional development (PD) opportunities for educators through programs supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, serving educators from the Central, Coastal, Delta, and East regions. MCM worked with preschools to strengthen teacher capacity in teaching STEAM through all curriculums, particularly through literacy. Educators that brought students to the C Spire C3 Jr. Coding Competition were also engaged in a PD, and there was an opportunity for educators to attend STEAMposium and earn continuing education credits.
HIGHLIGHTING MCM’S AMAZING VOLUNTEERS
Behind every moment of discovery at the Mississippi Children’s Museum is a network of committed supporters. From dedicated volunteers like our Rising Star Volunteer, Victoria Akins, and engaged MCM Partners to the visionary members of our President’s Leadership Circle, these champions help create meaningful, joyful learning experiences for families across Mississippi.
PARTNERS FOR LIFE
At Jackson’s annual MCM Partners celebration in April, MCM was thrilled to present the Preston Hays Award of Light to Alicen Blanchard, MCM Board Chair. This award, created to honor the memory of dedicated MCM friend and supporter Preston Hays, recognizes one Partners member each year for outstanding service to the museum. Alicen embodies the same compassion and dedication that Preston brought to MCM, and we are tremendously grateful for her leadership.
Dr. Patty Ann Bogue has been involved at MCM-Meridian since the very beginning planning phases: as Junior Auxiliary President, mother of a young daughter, MCM-M Partners member and President, and now the Meridian Advisory Committee Chairperson, a member who sits on the statewide board, her wisdom, insights, and leadership have had a big impact on getting the museum to where we are today. Patty Ann shares, “This museum is such a treasure! I am honored to work alongside our statewide leadership, staff, and Partners to promote our educational programs and opportunities for involvement. I am particularly proud to support this special institution and, in turn, impact the future for children in Mississippi!”
CELEBRATING OUR LEADERS IN ACTION
The Mississippi Children’s Museum partners with volunteer groups like the President’s Leadership Circle (PLC) to advance its mission and vision. This youth program builds leadership, service, and college readiness. PLC Senior Mentor and Community Engagement Lead, Shelby Grant, founded Education Matters Tutoring, providing free educational support to local elementary students. Through this organization, Grant and his team raised $3,400 for MCM’s Talk from the Start initiative to strengthen childhood literacy.
LAUNCH INTO LEADERSHIP
Launch into Learning afterschool counselor, Landyn Smith, joined MCM’s team seeking a place that matched his passion, and quickly found it. Throughout his time, he has gained valuable experience working with children and discovered how grace and patience can shape every interaction, big or small. Calling MCM “the happiest place on earth,” Landyn hopes to teach in a classroom in the future.
A NEW ADVENTURE UNDER OUR FEET
The newly renovated Underground exhibit takes visitors beneath Mississippi to explore both the Jackson Volcano and the hidden world of burrowing animals. Children can jump across “magma” in the interactive Lava Leap! activity while learning how volcanoes form, why Jackson sits atop an extinct volcano, and what the region looked like 74 million years ago. Fossil graphics and layered-earth diagrams enrich the geological story. Nearby, a new gopher tortoise zone allows children to climb into a tortoise shell, explore burrows as long as a school bus, and discover why this endangered species is a vital keystone animal supporting hundreds of underground creatures.
LEARNING IS ON THE MOVE!
The Mississippi Children’s Museum has strengthened its Launch into Learning afterschool program by purchasing a dedicated bus to transport students! This new vehicle provides safe, consistent, and convenient transportation from local schools to the museum each afternoon. It features a beautifully designed custom wrap which highlights the museum wherever it goes, paired alongside the colorful MCM Travels Van, which is utilized to deliver traveling exhibits across the state.
A TINY LIBRARY WITH BIG STORIES
MCM’s Pollinator’s Garden now offers even more ways for families to enjoy the space with the addition of new picnic tables and a charming Little Free Library. Together, these additions make the garden a more welcoming, community centered place for learning, relaxing, and connecting with nature.
World at Work Grand Reopening
This year MCM reopened the World at Work gallery, now featuring seven all-new experiences, including a new dairy cow, May Belle, made possible by The Dairy Alliance, an all-electric vehicle, donated by Nissan, and the Design Studio, made possible by the Mississippi Arts Commission.
Cultivating Literacy for Mississippi’s Future
MCM is strengthening literacy statewide through three key external initiatives that support students from early childhood through the pivotal third grade reading milestone.
Planting the Seeds to Read, sponsored by Overby, Inc. and Junior League of Jackson, serves 2nd graders with hands-on, high-engagement literacy experiences designed to build fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence. This early intervention strengthens foundational reading skills and prepares students for
the academic shift they will face in 3rd grade, helping them enter testing season equipped, supported, and ready.
For students who need additional support, Read to Succeed, sponsored by CenterPoint Energy, Regions Bank, Eveland Family Foundation, and the Junior League of Jackson, provides targeted literacy intervention for 3rd graders who are preparing for their final attempt at the state reading assessment. Through movement-based learning, multi-sensory reading strategies, and confidence-building instruction, children receive the boost they need to move forward with their peers and experience academic success.
MCM also supports families statewide through Reach Out and Read, sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and UMMC, helping place developmentally-appropriate books in the hands of children beginning in infancy. By working with pediatric clinics and healthcare partners, MCM reinforces early literacy at home while strengthening parent-child reading habits and home libraries.
Together, these programs create a powerful literacy pipeline—building strong readers, confident learners, and brighter futures for Mississippi’s children.
ROCKY’S READER:
CONNECTING CLINICS AND
FAMILIES THROUGH LITERACY
Rocky’s Reader, made possible by UMMC and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is MCM’s clinic-distributed newsletter that helps healthcare providers and caregivers build strong early literacy habits through the Reach Out and Read model. Supporting more than 25 clinics statewide, MCM has distributed over 14,000 books and 1,000 newsletters. Each issue features developmental and medical milestones from UMMC to guide providers during well-child visits.
Along with clinical insight, Rocky’s Reader offers read-aloud strategies, book recommendations, and simple at-home activities. It also highlights MCM literacy initiatives that extend learning beyond the clinic. By uniting healthcare and early childhood education, Rocky’s Reader helps Mississippi families raise confident readers one visit, one conversation, and one book at a time.
A SUMMER OF WONDER
Throughout the summer, WonderBox welcomed guests to explore a wide range of interests. On Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, children engage in creative projects of their choice. Tuesdays were dedicated to technology, featuring coding lessons, robotics activities, and even a juggling class for added fun. Whimsical Wednesdays focused on self-care, where participants crafted bath bombs, candles, and lotions. Thursdays offered hands-on learning with woodworking, paper making, wood burning, and soldering projects. Sundays were reserved for Art Smart, introducing guests to diverse artists and art techniques. This summer, more than 1,200 visitors experienced these unique and enriching opportunities.
MCM’S IMPACT ON THE STATE
MCM Travels brings the museum’s signature hands-on experience to communities across the state, reaching children who often lack access to interactive learning. In 2025, these traveling exhibits visited schools, libraries, and community centers, transforming familiar spaces into vibrant hubs of discovery. By meeting families where they are, MCM Travels expands the museum’s impact far beyond its walls, inspiring curiosity and supporting early learning statewide. Each visit strengthens community partnerships, introduces new audiences to MCM’s mission, and helps ensure that all Mississippi children, regardless of location, can explore, imagine, and learn through play.
Launch into Learning
LAUNCHING STRONG LEARNING FOUNDATIONS
Launch into Learning provides afterschool academic enrichment, focusing on literacy and math while offering engaging hands-on learning experiences.
MCM-Meridian’s Launch into Learning provided tuition-free afterschool enrichment for 40 Crestwood Elementary students in grades K–5, with over half returning from the previous year. In partnership with the Meridian Public School District, the program offered daily snacks and transportation to and from the site. In 2025, students explored STEAM and literacy through interactive activities, with a semester-long focus on African Tales that highlighted cultural diversity, symbolism, and oral storytelling traditions.
Through folktales, dramatic play, and museum centers, children built comprehension, vocabulary, and communication skills. A culminating family literacy event showcased their culturally inspired artwork and take-home folktale books.
In Jackson, Launch into Learning served 104 students from Casey Elementary, McWillie Elementary, Obama Magnet, and Bailey APAC, and provided 25 scholarships through the support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for the 2025 fall semester.
In Spring 2025, more than 94% of 3rd graders achieved proficiency in Math and English Language Arts, outperforming their peers by over 46%. Beyond academics, the program supported students’ physical and emotional wellbeing through enriching experiences such as First Tee golf lessons, hands-on STEAM activities, and a community event, Lights on Afterschool, which showcased their achievements. Together, these opportunities created a well-rounded, engaging environment that empowered students to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
DONORS
The LeFleur’s Bluff Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming and maintaining Jackson’s central green space into a vibrant, safe, and accessible destination for all Mississippians.
In partnership with Great City Mississippi Foundation and the Mississippi Children’s Museum and supported by both public and private funding, this project promises a bold vision that blends nature, education, and recreation for visitors.
From new recreational facilities and safe walking trails to a federally funded pedestrian bridge connecting the award-winning LeFleur Museum District, every element supports a stronger, healthier, and more accessible future for all. Your support in the next phase of development helps make this vision a reality.
This project builds on a transformative Masterplan that has already introduced beloved features to LeFleur’s Bluff, including Spotter’s Adventure Trail, LeFleur’s Bluff Playground, The Den, and the Joint Entrance.
Future development plans for
the area include…
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
JACKSON
Alicen Blanchard, Wilson Hood, Olivia Host, Jet Hollingsworth, Beth Hansen, Patty Ann Bogue, Michael Cormack, Margaret Cupples, Lisa Didion, John Fletcher, Jeffrey M. Graves, Laura Hearn, Maggi Lampton, Carla Lewis, Blann Lutken, Ashley Meena, Melanie Morgan, Chip Pickering, Marc Ransier, Adams Yerger, IV, Camille Young
Ex-officio Members:
Susan Garrard, Donna Bruce, James E. Graves, Jr., Martin F. Jue
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meridian
Patty Ann Bogue, Julie Boles, John Anderson, Beth Clay, Laura Carmichael, Amy Carter, Veldore Young Graham, David Hall, Kelvin Jackson, Asif Lala, Dustin Markham, Jim McGinnis, III, Melanie Mitchell, Chris Phillips, Don Rogers, Wade Sims, Ronald Turner II
Ex-officio Members:
Luke Davis, Colonel Cindy Smith, Susan Garrard, Barbara Zeller
#4 Children’s Museum In The Country
Thank 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.
