The third annual Bronx Children’s Museum gala took place in Manhattan to benefit the borough’s first children’s museum opening next year!
If you didn’t know, the Bronx Children’s Museum is one of few cultural institutions in the Bronx geared toward young children, especially those children and families who cannot afford or would not normally visit a museum.
The Bronx has 1.3 million residents. It is larger than Boston, has 250,000 children under the age of nine, and is the only borough in New York City without a children’s museum facility. The new permanent facility will be located in the South Bronx, just steps from Yankee Stadium.
Stars came together to raise money for the new Bronx children’s museum. Gala honorees included Hollywood legend and EGOT recipient, Rita Moreno; Roc Nation executive Shawn “Pecas” Costner; and prolific architect and landscape designer, Jonathan Marvel. The Gala was hosted by Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View/ABC News Legal Analyst, a Bronx Children’s Museum Board Member.
Who was there? Actress and Bronx Children’s Museum Gala Co-Chair, Kerry Washington! Did you know she is from the Bronx? Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Eight-time Grammy nominated Latin Jazz musician, Bobby Sanabria (West Side Story Reimagined) and past honorees, Sesame Street icon Sonia Manzano and international entrepreneur, Rafael Collado (Get My Boat); and Kerry Malawista and Alan Heilbron – donors of the “Museum on The Go” Bus – were also there!
Children performed while guests dined and participated in an auction. A dinner with Rita Moreno went for over $20,000!
The Museum’s big purple “On the Go!” bus, a traveling interactive exhibit featuring the natural habits of the Bronx and Harlem Rivers and Orchard Beach, was parked outside of the event on Broadway. The Museum is known for their extensive STEAM-based outreach programming in elementary schools and community based organizations which engage 18,000 children annually in arts, culture and the natural sciences. But it will soon expand into a brand new brick and mortar facility opening next year!
The new space will be located near Yankee Stadium in the South Bronx and is slated to open in 2020. To learn more about Bronx Children’s Museum, visit www.bronxchildrensmuseum.org. Let’s raise the BX up!
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-Diego
