“Given the beneficial and powerful role of play in children’s learning process, the intensive experiences of play in children’s museums have the promise to advance children’s cognitive abilities.”
International Journal of Educational Research
Dear Friends,
We are filled with gratitude as we reflect on another year of imagination, discovery, learning and PLAY at Marbles Kids Museum. We welcomed visitors from all 50 states, all 100 North Carolina counties and every corner of Wake County to experience the magic of Marbles.
Marbles is a place where children grow up – from the 1-year-old taking their first steps in Around Town to the 5th grade student solving problems in an IMAX Learning Lab to the Teen Play Corps volunteer leading camp programs. This beloved institution offers countless ways for kids of all ages and abilities to make memories, build relationships and explore new concepts. And we do it all through the power of play.
Please enjoy this annual Impact Report from Fiscal Year 23/24 that celebrates the unique and vital role that Marbles plays in our community. This year, Marbles served kids and families with…
• Innovative learning environments.
• Enriching field trip programs.
• Meaningful volunteer opportunities.
Marbles’ accomplishments are made possible through your support – our community of donors, partners, members, guests, volunteers and teammates. Thank you!
Jonathan Frederick, CEO
Jason Herndon, Board Chair
In December 2023, Marbles opened Under the Waves, a brand-new exhibit focused on sensory exploration. The calming space is designed to engage kids with sensory sensitivities and developmental differences, or those needing a respite from the stimulating museum.
Featuring a larger-than-life weighted octopus, shadow play, bubble tubes and various sensory activities, Under the Waves welcomes children of all abilities to explore in a peaceful, playful environment.
“ Sensory play lays a strong foundation for cognitive development in children. As they manipulate objects, explore different materials and experiment with cause and effect, they develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking abilities and scientific inquiry.”
Cornell University, Community Education Program
thAnk You
Many families and donors supported Marbles’ 2023 year-end giving campaign that allowed us to bring this unique exhibit to life. Marbles is also able to offer free monthly Sensory Friendly Playtime programs with funding from ABS Kids.
Leading the Way in Play
Marbles received The Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award from the Association of Science & Technology Centers for Under the Waves, recognizing the exhibit’s contributions to our community and our field at large.
Nikki D’Agostino, Learning Engagement Coordinator, and Hardin Engelhardt, Chief Learning Officer, accepting the Leading Edge Award.
Marbles welcomed 49,400 field trip participants, an increase of 80% over the prior year! Field trip programs welcomed students in preschool through 8th grade from near and far, with groups visiting from 50 different counties.
Field trips at Marbles spark curiosity and learning through hands-on, minds-on play. Students dive deeper into curriculum-aligned topics like biology, financial literacy, world cultures, ecosystems, weather and more.
School Groups at Marbles...
• Engage in a MasterMind or IMAX Learning Lab program
• View an immersive IMAX documentary
• Play in our innovative exhibit environments
thAnk You
Marbles’ field trips are developed in collaboration with Wake County educators and with support from funders including Chiesi, Google Fiber, Grady-White Boats and PNC Bank.
“At Marbles, students become scientists, explorers, architects and more. Students can experiment, test, redesign and test again. After leaving, kids make connections between what is taught in the classroom and what they learned at Marbles, within the larger context of the world.”
Wake County Elementary Teacher
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
460,029 Museum Guests
57,024 Marbles IMAX Guests
6,924 Museum Member Families
Vi sitation from all 50 S tates And from all 100 NC counties!
36,476 BIRDS SCANNED
49,488 Field Trip & Group Visitors
11,087 Volunteer Hours
51,773 Individuals Served by Free & Reduced Access Programs
Total X-Ray Scans in Ready Set Vet 32,070
306,681
Throughout the year, 816 active volunteers contributed 11,087 hours of service to Marbles.
Volunteer roles at Marbles are varied – from facilitating STEM activities at Kids Code to testing markers in imagiFAB to spreading mulch in Sun Sprouts.
Volunteers are vital to the Marbles mission. These individuals and groups allow Marbles to maintain affordable fees, attract audiences from all backgrounds and build relationships with community members.
Marbles Teen Play Corps
Marbles Teen Play Corps program helps middle and high school students thrive through meaningful volunteer service. Last year, 147 active Play Corps members contributed 5,840 hours of volunteer support for Marbles’ daily operations and especially by serving as youth mentors for our sold-out camp programs.
thAnk You
Teen Play Corps is offered at no cost to participating members thanks to generous funding support from Coastal Credit Union and the W. Trent Ragland, Jr. Foundation.
From Camper to Volunteer to Staff Member
Kamryn attended Camp Marbles as a child and, in 2022, joined the Teen Play Corps program as soon as she was old enough. After 2 years of volunteer service, Kamryn officially joined Team Marbles as a part-time camp counselor in 2024. Teen Play Corps prepared Kamryn for her first paying job, extended her network and helped her develop important skills to thrive in the workforce.
“Marbles Teen Play Corps has given me an opportunity to grow and improve skills such as conflictresolution, engaging with kids and sparking connections.”
Bella, Teen Play Corps Member
FY 23/24 Financials
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
Financials do not include restricted Capital Campaign revenue or expenses.
FY 23/24 Board of Directors
Jason Herndon Chair
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
Julie Paul
Immediate Past Chair
Lotus Campaign
Lennie Austin
Treasurer & Finance Chair
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Ericka Santos
Secretary & Communications Chair Burt’s Bees
Sharon Crawford
Development Chair Little Architects
Skip Hill Facilities Chair
Highwoods Properties
Shirley Huang Learning Chair WakeMed
Jennifer Badham Bank of America
Lorie Barnes Community Volunteer
Preston Bergen Fifth Third Bank
Christian Bigsby Cisco
Korrie Blanchard
Wake Tech Community College
Stacey Buescher
Kane Realty
Connie Carrigan
Smith Debnam Law
Heather Cozart
Certified Public Accountant
Sara Daniel Carolina Hurricanes
Deanna Hawkes NC Department of Health & Human Services
Leslie Ann Jackson Camber Foundation
Gail Jones NC State University
Kristine Lane Community Volunteer
Naeill Leigh Lincoln Financial Group
Dana Martinez Amgen
Sarah Morgan BuzzARooney
Jennifer Pittman ABB
MariaRosa Rangel Wake County Public Schools
Grace Rountree Duke Energy
Mary Beck Skinner First Horizon Bank
Bernette Stivers
Wind Rose Construction
Tim Whitney TradeWinds
Jeané Whittington Powers
Bobbitt Construction
FY 23/24 Donors
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
$100,000+
• Institute of Museum & Library Services
• Wake County
$25,000-$99,999
• ABB
• ABC 11
• Bank of America
• Barnhill Family Foundation
• Carolina Hurricanes
• Chiesi
• Duke Energy
• Fifth Third Bank
• First Horizon Bank
• Grady-White Boats
• Lowes Foods
• MetLife Foundation
• North Carolina Bankers Association
• North Carolina Science Museums Network
• Nugget
• PNC Bank
• Surya Technologies
• Terminix
• UNC Health
• WakeMed
$10,000-$24,999
• ABS Kids
• Amgen
• Blue Cross NC
• Duke Health
• Google Fiber
• Cari & Bill Gradison
• Coastal Credit Union
• Susie & Jim Erlinger
• Hitachi Energy
• J&K Cabinetry
• Johnson Subaru
• Lenovo
$1,000-$9,999
• A.E. Finley Foundation, Inc.
• Alfred Williams & Company
• Jennifer & Brian Ammirati
• Amelia & Andrew Bernstein
• Deborah & Christian Bigsby
• The Bruce Family
• Stacey & Nathan Buescher
• Pat & Sheldon Campbell
• Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
• NC 529
• NCSU CALS
• NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine
• North Carolina Soybean Producers Association, Inc.
