Gilmore Car Museum has received a grant of $115,000 from the Margaret Dunning Foundation to support youth-centered exhibits.
The funding will be used to design and fabricate a new exhibit pathway located throughout the Museum. Five new interactive exhibits will employ STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) core concepts with the goal of developing the next generation of car enthusiast. The new exhibits will merge history and science to help young visitors learn about the evolution and social impact of the automobile.
“We are excited and extremely grateful to have received this grant from the Margaret Dunning Foundation” said Chris Shires, Executive Director of the Gilmore Car Museum. “Ms. Dunning was a true car enthusiast and believed in inspiring the next generation learners. These exhibits will support the Museum’s mission and fulfill her desire to serve young learners.”
The exhibits will be designed by the Good Design Group, an award-winning, Michigan-based exhibit company and will feature the input of both students and teachers. Mary Burke, science specialist from the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) will provide guidance and curriculum assistance. She will ensure the project aligns with state educational science and math standards for grades 6 through 12.
About the Margaret Dunning Foundation
The Margaret Dunning Foundation was founded by Ms. Dunning in 1997. She was born in 1910 in Redford Township, Michigan, and moved with her mother to Plymouth, Michigan in the 1920s. During her lifetime, Ms. Dunning was a successful business woman, philanthropist, and civic booster. She was a major supporter of many Plymouth-area nonprofits, including the Plymouth District Library and the Plymouth Historical Society. In addition to her personal philanthropy, Ms. Dunning was a classic car enthusiast and was a regular participant in the Woodward Dream Cruise with her 1930 Packard 740 Roadster.
Ms. Dunning died in 2013 at the age of 104. Her estate provided additional funding of the Margaret Dunning Foundation, which continues to support her charitable interests and legacy. For more information: www.margaretdunningfdn.org.
The Gilmore Car Museum—North America’s largest auto museum with over 189,000 square feet of exhibit space—is located just 20 minutes northeast of Kalamazoo on M-43 and Hickory Road. To learn more about the Gilmore Car Museum visit www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org or call the museum at 269-671-5069.
Source: Press Release
