2021 Annual Report

Annual Report 2021

Year in review

The Mississippi Children’s Museum is fun, but it is also so much more than that. For 11 years, MCM has provided a safe, imaginative space for over 1.5 million children, families, and community members of all backgrounds to play, learn, and grow.

In 2021, MCM Celebrated a monumental year…
  • Received the nation’s highest honor for museums, an Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal
  • Opened its first satellite museum, MCM-Meridian, which received the 2021 Governor’s Award for Travel Attraction of the Year
  • Served the community through Launch into Learning, which helped facilitate virtual schooling during the pandemic and continues today as an after-school program
  • MCM at Home provided online digital resources to help combat learning loss
  • Launched The LIFT, an online professional development platform for educators

We know there are still challenges ahead, but as we look toward the future, MCM is poised to serve our state and community in more impactful ways than ever before.

Impact

MCM Jackson and Meridian

$2,624,811

Donations & Grants

$702,800

Operating Revenue

$702,800

Memberships

$598,127

Educational Sponsors

$693,656 

Other Income


Total Revenue & Support

$4,806,007

Financial figures are for Jackson and Meridian combined based on the fiscal year June 1, 2020-May 31, 2021. Financials and statistics are quantified by MCM-Meridian opening in March 2021.

MCM Jackson and Meridian

$473,544

MANAGEMENT & GENERAL

$215,216

FUNDRAISING

$3,852,080

Program Services


Total EXPENSES

$4,540,840

Financial figures are for Jackson and Meridian combined based on the fiscal year June 1, 2020-May 31, 2021. Financials and statistics are quantified by MCM-Meridian opening in March 2021.

Visitors

Jackson

Museum Guests
107,000

Memberships
1,766

Education Program
Participants
15,696

Meridian

Museum Guests
57,000

Memberships
1,301

Education Program
Participants
1,037

Volunteers

Jackson

Volunteers
1,604

Volunteer Hours
6,395.5

Monetary Value Saves
$125,536

Meridian

Volunteers
285

Volunteer Hours
1,924.2

Monetary Value Saves
$37,272

MCM-Partners used their creativity to revisualize fundraising events during a pandemic by creating a custom cocktail kit for Ignite the Night 2021 and hosting a drive-in movie experience for Discovery Night 2021. Fundraising revenue is reflected from events held between January 1-December 31, 2021. 

Jackson

$101,000

Ignite the Night

$78,000

Neon Night 

$75,000

Discovery Night

$26,000

Jackson dues and donations

Meridian

$176,000

Midnight at the Museum

$28,000

Meridian dues and donations


Total Revenue

$484,000

2021 Financial Audit

Let’s Get

Digital!

MCM ended 2021 with an overall digital reach of 6.6 million impressions, which was an impressive 400% increase from 1.6 million in 2020. Contributing to these stats was the opening of MCM-Meridian, the creation of our new online resource MCM at Home, and the launch of our new website.


MCM-Jackson’s IMLS winner announcement reached over

2 million people!

MCM-Meridian’s influencer partnership landed a whopping

12,000+ Impressions!

55,419 monthly
website visits
. . .

HALF A MILLION

WEBSITE VISITS IN 2021!

MCM has 69,412 followers across all social media platforms and over 28,000 email subscribers!

Help us reach 100,000 followers!

Two
Award-Winning
Museums

Awards Throughout
the years

IMLS National Medal

As a testament to our community service and resilience through the pandemic, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced MCM as a recipient of the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums that make an exceptional contribution to their community. MCM is one of the youngest museums to be awarded the IMLS National Medal!

Travel Attraction of the Year

MCM-Meridian was named as the Mississippi Tourism Association’s 2021 Travel Attraction of the Year! The award is presented to an attraction that is new, unique, and successful in bringing visitors to its city – MCM-Meridian achieved this honor after only two months of operations. The 25,000 square foot facility boasts one-of-a-kind collaborations with Simon & Schuster Publishing “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” and Harper Collins Publishing “Goodnight Moon.”

Community
Catalyst

The last two years have been challenging for everyone, but particularly for children, educators, and caregivers as they had to transition to an unexpected virtual learning format. MCM chose to pivot its approach to provide innovative, hands-on learning opportunities for our community.

MCM piloted the Mississippi Science Festival (MSF) in 2016 and with grand success the event expanded the following year to include the four museums in the LeFleur Museum District.

MSF brings the community together to celebrate careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) and has introduced children of all ages to the wide variety of STEAM industries that are available in Mississippi.

MCM soars to new heights by opening first satellite museum in Meridian!

On March 26, 2021, despite a worldwide pandemic, MCM opened to the public a state-of-the-art, $17 million satellite museum in Meridian, Mississippi.

  • A 150-seat auditorium
  • Multiple classrooms
  • 9,500 square feet of exhibits
  • The country’s only “Goodnight Moon” exhibit
  • An exclusive Academy Award winning “Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” exhibit
  • 25,000 square feet of outdoor exhibits, which includes an edible garden that harvested over 155 pounds of cucumbers in its first season!

In its first 9 months, MCM-Meridian has welcomed over 57,000 visitors from 40 states and 3 foreign countries!

Due to MCM-Meridian’s overwhelming success, the museum has been awarded the Mississippi Tourism Association’s 2021 Travel Attraction of the Year.

New Steam Exhibit
& Playground

Wonderbox

Design. Create. Innovate.

MCM’s newest exhibit, WonderBox, tells amazing stories of Mississippi’s rich history of innovators, tinkerers, and creators, while inspiring children to dream of creating new inventions for our future.

WonderBox is a statewide initiative with unique makerspace exhibits in both Jackson and Meridian. The new WonderBox exhibit in Jackson provides hands-on experiences essential for making and tinkering; visitors have access to a 3-D printer and pens, robotics, circuitry, building activities, crafting materials, and so much more.

In December of 2021, the Mississippi Children’s Museum, in partnership with MDWFP’s Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MMNS), opened a state-of-the-art playground at the LeFleur’s Bluff Education and Tourism Complex. The multi-purpose complex will be used for recreational and educational activities featuring the LeFleur’s Bluff Playground, The Den (an outdoor pavilion), and Spotter’s Adventure Trail (a museum walking trail).

“The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is proud to have funded the new modern playground as a gift to Mississippi’s children. The Foundation appreciates the leadership of the Mississippi Children’s Museum in this effort resulting in a place for children and their families to engage in fun outdoor play that will build healthy habits for years to come.”

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation’s generous $3.86 million grant made this innovative project possible. The leadership and vision of MCM’s President, Susan Garrard, MCM-Jackson’s Executive Director, Emily Hoff, and the LeFleur’s Bluff Complex Director, Angel Rohnke, brought this project to life. The LeFleur’s Bluff Playground is a must-see travel attraction and family destination for Mississippi families and tourists, alike.

A Brighter Future
for Mississippi’s
Children

MCM has launched a new, educational program for teachers, The LIFT (Learn. Inspire. Fulfill. Teach.), in collaboration with Barksdale Reading Institute (BRI).

The LIFT provides:

  • Innovative resources
  • Advanced STEAM and literacy curriculum
  • An intensive read-aloud program, Listen. Think. Learn.
  • Online professional development
  • In-person workshops

First Year Impact:

  • 24 exemplary teachers representing 13 school districts
  • 1,000 activity kits (500 STEAM & 500 Literacy)
  • 10,000 books distributed
  • 15,000+ students reached 

Talk from the Start, a partnership between the Mississippi Children’s Museum and the Barksdale Reading Institute, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is a statewide campaign to raise awareness and boost early language development in our youngest Mississippians. The campaign encourages parents, educators, and friends in the community to do their part in talking with young children to help them become successful readers: We All Play a Part, Talk from the Start.

Donors

Contributors to the Mississippi Children’s Museum
from JUNE 1 – May 31, 2021

$25,000+

Anonymous
Beth and Chip Pickering
Amazon Services LLC
Atmos Energy Corporation
Barksdale Reading Institute
C Spire Foundation
Ergon Foundation, Inc.
Gertrude C. Ford Foundation
Institute of Museum and Library
Services
Mississippi Baptist Health
Foundation
Mississippi Farm Bureau
Federation
Trustmark
W.K. Kellogg Foundation

$10,000 – $24,999

Anonymous
Melanie and Jamey Burrow
Maggi and Lee Lampton
Frieda and Joe Lauderdale
Ashley and Hu Meena
BankPlus
Bayer Fund
Community Trust Fund of the
Community Foundation for
Mississippi
Eaton Corporation
Feild Co-Operative Association, Inc.
Georgia Pacific Foundation, Inc.
Henry and Martha Hederman Charitable Foundation
Kroger Delta Marketing Area
Newk’s Eatery
Nissan North America
Regions Bank
Sanderson Farms, Inc.
St. Dominic Health Services, Inc.
Telos Foundation
The CarMax Foundation
The Fountain Family Foundation
The Mapp Family Foundation
Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Walker Foundation

$5,000 – $9,999

Olivia and Jerry Host
Janie and Mike Jarvis
Kathryn and David Jerome
Melissa and Nash Neyland
Lucy Caldwell and Thomas Stair
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
Clark Beverage Group
Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
Jackson Heart Foundation
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mississippi Development Authority
Sysco Jackson, LLC *
Terry Service, Inc.
Visit Jackson

$2,500 – $4,999

Tish and Haden Hughes
Amanda and Scott Overby
Katherine and Rob Puckett
Lauren and Matthew VanLandingham
Beckham Jewelry *
Blair’s *
Butler Snow, LLP
First Commercial Bank
Fondren Cellars *
International Paper Foundation
Jones Walker LLP
McB’s Bar and Grill
Mississippi Arts Commission
Molina Healthcare, Inc.
Paul Moak Automotive, Inc.
Southern Farm Bureau Life
Insurance Company
Wier Boerner Allin Architecture
Well-Being Magazine of MS, LLC *

$1,000 – $2,499

Hailey and Jack Allin
Elisabeth Black Culbertson
Alicen and EJ Blanchard
Crisler and Doug Boone
Teresa and John Brooks
Donna and Clark Bruce
Holly and Brooks Buchanan
Amy and Bradley Burns
Karen and Charles Bush
Bill Bynum
Amberly and Matt Collins
Barbara and Jason Craft
Meredith and Jimmy Creekmore
Frances and Justin Croft
Margaret O. Cupples
Ginny DeHart
Betsy and Kane Ditto
Lisa and John Fletcher
Leigh and Andrew Grady
Susan and John Garrard
Bettye and James Graves
Billie and Albert Green
Beth and Nick Hansen
Margaret and Jimmy Hays
Missy and Mack Heidelberg
Emily and Kern Hoff
Jeannie and Harrison Hood
Betsy and Stewart Hood
Carter and Wilson Hood
Betty and Martin Jue
Rae Ann and Kellon Lawrence
Abba and Claude Mapp
Lyn and David McMillin
Mike McRee
Liz and Kerk Mehrle
Melanie and Richard Morgan
Katie and Taylor Nicholas
Marcia and Bill Penn
Sara and Bill Ray
Morgan and Sean Schnur
Janet and Charlie Spain
Tiffany and B.T. Steadman
Carol Tatum
Rebecca and Brooks Vance
Lauren Barry and Todd Versteegh
Amy and DeFord Walker
Annandale Golf Club *
Capital Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center
Community Bank
Create Foundation
Enterprise Holdings
International Wines & Craft Beer *
Jackson Newell Paper Foundation
Junior League of Jackson
Madison Junior Civitan Club
Marion Counseling Services,PLLC
Mississippi Forestry Association
Mississippi Humanities Council,
Nix Tann & Associates
Ross & Yerger Insurance, Inc.
Sam E. and Burnice C. Wittel Foundation
VanDevender Family Foundation

*denotes an in-kind donation

Contributors to the Mississippi Children’s Museum – Meridian
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

CONDUCTORS
$1,000,000+

State of Mississippi
The City of Meridian
The Phil Hardin Foundation
The Riley Foundation

AVIATORS
$500,000 – $999,999

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of
Mississippi Foundation

INVENTORS $250,000-$499,999

Hall Timberlands
Sissie and Fred Wile
Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors
Castle
Southern Pipe & Supply
The Paul & Sherry Broadhead Foundation

SCHOLARS
$100,000- $249,999

Linda and Marty Davidson
Melanie and Manny Mitchell
Anderson Regional Health System
Junior Auxiliary of Meridian
Lauderdale County Tourism
Mississippi Power Foundation
The Earnest Workers Circle of King’s
Daughters and Sons
Trustmark
Van Zyverden, Inc.

COMPOSERS
$50,000-$99,999


Otis Gowdy, Jr.
Dottye and Hardy Graham
The David Majure Family
Laura and Clay Holladay
Frances McDonnell
Cindy and Jim McGinnis
Melissa and Adam Mitchell
In Memory of Marissa Morgan
Heather and Nathan Myatt
Sandy and Terrell Temple*
Betty and Richard Vise
Deanna Wilbourn
A&B Electric Company, Inc.
Atmos Energy
BankPlus
Bowers Auto
Citizens National Bank
Community Bank
East Mississippi Oral & Facial Surgery Friends of Key Field
Glass, Inc.
McElroy Truck Lines
Nathan E. Daniels Roofing Company
The Chisholm Foundation
The Montgomery Institute *
Woodall Electric

PERFORMERS
$10,000-$49,999

Linda and Tim Allred
Debra and John Anderson
Lindsey Aull
Barbara and Gary Boone
Bess and Ben Box
Gayle and Joel Callahan
April and Cole Cardwell
Amanda and Matt Cassell
Katie and Douglas Coleman
Ann and John Compton
Tom Crowson
Holley and Michael Davis
Kimberly and Dru Denison
Joel Drummond
Jennifer and Bob Eubanks
Nicola and L.J. Fruge’
Veldore Young Graham and Twaskie Graham In Memory of Barbaree
Rosenbaum Heaster
The Tim Hogan Family
Rose and Scott Hudson
Mary Ann and Jay Howell
Pat and Bobby Jarrett
Tara and Dan Komar
Farheen and Asif Lala
Annie and Vern Lund
Holly and Jonathan Moore
Amy and Ken Nelson
Hallie Phillips
Cleta and Thad Quarles
Nicki and Adam Reeves
Karen and Sonny Rush
Sela Ward and Howard Sherman
Lisa and Mike Van Drunen
Kristi and John Voss
Nicole and Kevin Ward
Liz and Rod Wilson
Stephanie and Benny Wright
Alliance Health Center Employees Charles L. Young, Sr. Foundation
Charles Ledbetter Forestry Consultant
D & H Construction
Downtown Optimist Club
Fountain Family Foundation
Gipson Steel
Great Southern Bank
Hodge Orthodontics
Hotel & Restaurant Supply*
Insurance & Risk Managers
Jackson Newell Paper Foundation
Little Caesars
Long Distribution
Lowes*
Magnolia Beverage Company
Magnolia Steel Company, Inc.
Dr. Britt McCarty and
Dr. Shelley McDonald
Merrill Lynch
Nissan of Meridian
North American Coal Corporation
Pilot Flying J
Regions Bank
Rotary Club of Meridian
Sequel Electrical Supply
Truckers Supply Company
Waters International Trucks
Young Professionals of Meridian

ARTISTS
$5,000-$9,999

Laura and Richard Abney
Kacey and Bo Bailey
Deidre and Percy Bland
Patty Ann and Robert Bogue
Rainey and John Breaux
Laura Carmichael
Jamie and Bob Cater
Brooke and Michael Chamblee
Beth and John Clay
Susan and Bob Coffin
Amy and Jim Coleman
Lynn and Bill Crawford
Terry Dale Cruse
Bethany and Logan Davis
Bet and Doug Deweese
Sean Dunaway
Lea and Ed Eiland
Alana and Scotty Elliott
Bethany and Jon Flint
Linda and Fred Grant
Sally and Lloyd Gray
Cathy and Maurice Hall
Susan and George Hill
Blair and Austin Holmes
Kim Houston
Veronica Johnson
Janice Deweese Jones
Eris Deanne Jordan
Jenny Ruth and Larkin Kennedy
Kim and Chris Knight
Lou Ann and Alan Lamar
Frances and Sam Long
Dustin Markham
Jennifer and John McRae
Jim McRae
Amanda Murphy
Mary Lindsey and Chris Newlin
Julia and Tyler Norman
Sherry and Jim Purdy
Ronnye Purvis
Mitzi and Chuck Reece
Caroline and Lane Rush
Mary Allison and Kenneth Saul
Leigh and Danny Thomas
Elyse and Jim Thompson
Diane and Sonny Toms
Helen and Lee Valentine
Ericka and Daniel Vaughn
Dianne and Ronnie Walton
Candice and Robert Ward
Kim and M.L. Waters
Wilmer Whittle
Anna and Daniel Wile
Mary Ann and Joe Wilkerson
Elizabeth and Russell Williamson Benefits Management Group
CF Rail Services
Century Club Charities, Inc. Commercial Bank
Delta Industries
The DIVAS and Friends Insurance Advisory Group, LLC Leading Edges*
Meridian Council for the Arts
Pretty Presentations*
Slay Steel
Woodstock Furniture

Leadership

SUSAN
GARRARD

President/CEO

SARAH SKELTON

Chief Financial Officer

Emily
HOFF

Executive Director of Mississippi Children’s Museum – Jackson

ELIZABETH WILSON

Executive Director of
Mississippi Children’s Museum – Meridian

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MCM – JACKSON

Beth Hansen, Alicen Blanchard, Olivia Host, Wilson Hood, Crisler Boone, Donna Bruce, Michael Cormack, Margaret Cupples, Dr. Terry Dale Cruse, Margaret Cupples, Dr. Lisa Didion, John Fletcher, Jeffrey M. Graves, Jet Hollingsworth, Maggi Lampton, Carla Lewis, Ashley Meena, Melanie Morgan, Chip Pickering, Bethany Smith, Adams Yerger, Camille Young, & Susan Garrard

MCM – MERIDIAN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Dr. Terry Dale Cruse, Hallie Pearson Swindoll, John Anderson, Dr. Amy Carter, Otis Gowdy, David Hall, Kelvin Jackson, Kim Knight, Dustin Markham, Jim McGinnis, III, Melanie Mitchell, Don Rogers, Leigh Anne Whittle

We couldn’t have done it without you!

Collection of photos from the Mississippi Children's Museum in the shape of Mississippi

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.