“Play and learning go hand-in-hand. They are intertwined. Think about them as a science lecture with a lab.
Play is the child’s lab.”
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
Dear Friends,
Reflecting on Fiscal Year 24/25 at Marbles Kids Museum brings to mind countless moments of joyful play and learning. From scaling brand-new climbers in The Marbles Playway to solving engineering challenges in Family STEM Club, experiences at Marbles continue to spark curiosity, creativity and connection for our community.
Marbles stands at an exciting moment in our history. As we celebrate 18 years of service and impact, we are also looking boldly ahead. This year marked the successful completion of our first-ever capital campaign, Bigger Play, Brighter Futures — a transformative milestone that will fuel expansion and strengthen Marbles’ role as a community resource for generations to come.
We are proud to share this Annual Impact Report highlighting three achievements from FY 24/25:
• The transformation of our outdoor courtyard
• A bold investment in Marbles’ future
• Thriving STEM programs that spark a love of learning
The power of play at Marbles is only made possible thanks to you – our donors, partners, members, guests, volunteers and teammates. Together, we are building a future where every child has the chance to learn, grow and play at Marbles.
Jonathan Frederick, CEO
Ericka Santos, Board Chair
Meet the Pollinator Pals
Marbles’ in-house Exhibits team designed, fabricated and installed two custom climbing structures – a dragonfly and a bee – to encourage kids to keep their bodies and imaginations active.
Photo Credit: Monica Slaney
Adding Outdoor Space for Play & Connection
In 2024, Marbles unveiled the Marbles Playway, a joyful community space that brings kids and families together to connect with nature and each other. This colorful urban oasis – renovated in partnership with Wake County, McAdams, Clearscapes and Barnhill Contracting – welcomes Marbles guests and downtown visitors alike to an accessible, free-to-all destination in the heart of Raleigh.
Award-Winning Transformation!
The Marbles Playway earned two honors for its impact on downtown Raleigh – a 2025 DRA Imprint Award and the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Community Appearance.
thank you
The Marbles Playway is dedicated to Team Marbles and Founding CEO Sally Edwards. The project was made possible thanks to generous funding from Wake County, The Jandy Ammons Foundation, The Burt’s Bees Foundation and many current and former board members.
PhotoCredit: Monica Slaney
Fueling Bold Steps Forward
Marbles successfully concluded our first-ever capital campaign, Bigger Play, Brighter Futures, with more than $9.1 million raised – 14% beyond our initial goal of $8 million! With campaign funds, Marbles will add new indoor and outdoor exhibits, enhance guest amenities and launch The Marbles Impact Fund to support future accessibility and sustainability.
Coming in 2026!
Futuropolis, presented by The Conlon Family, will be an immersive exhibit inviting kids to dream big about their futures through hands-on play and exploration in spaces such as The Manufactory, presented by Novo Nordisk.
The Marbles Skyway, presented by North State Bank, will be a whimsical rooftop space featuring a colorful racetrack supported by The Barnhill Family.
A Vibrant Mural along Marbles’ building exterior will bring playful art and bright colors to downtown.
Think Tank, presented by First Citizens Bank, will add capacity for field trips, camps and educational programs.
thank you for bringing Bigger Play and Brighter Futures to Marbles! Campaign donors celebrated at Marbles BIG IDEA and Marbles Imagination Ball 2025.
“The success of this campaign is confirmation to how impactful Marbles is for our community. What makes Marbles truly such a special place is the A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Marbles TEAM!” - Campaign Donor
Campaign Cabinet
Blount Williams Co-Chair
Dargan Williams Co-Chair
Laura Bunn
Sally Edwards
Susie Erlinger
David Fountain
Tyler Highsmith
Mary Anne Howard
Sig Hutchinson
Nancy McFarlane
Elizabeth Merritt
Sharat Nagaraj
Julie Paul
Grace Rountree
Mitchell Silver
George York
Smedes York
Campaign Donor List
$100,000+
• Wake County
• AJ Fletcher Foundation
• Anonymous Trust
• Joan & W. Prentiss Baker III
• Barnhill Family Foundation
• Margaret & Ted Bratton
• The Conlon Family
• The Josephus Daniels Charitable Fund
• The Dickson Foundation
• William C. Ethridge Foundation
• First Citizens Bank
• Grady-White Boats
• Gregory Poole Equipment Company
• Linda & Rob Grew
• The Robert P. Holding Foundation
• Mary Anne Howard
• The Maynard Family
• North State Bank
• Novo Nordisk
• Emily & Greg Poole III
• Dargan & Blount Williams
$50,000-$99,999
• Alfred Williams & Company
• BryantCorp
• Carlyle Adams Foundation
• Susie & Jim Erlinger
• Institute of Museum & Library Services
• Martin Marietta
• Nancy & Ron McFarlane
• Elizabeth & Mike Munn
• Linda C. & Cecil Sewell
• Truist Charitable Fund
$25,000-$49,999
• Baker Roofing Company
• Deborah & Christian Bigsby
• The Cannon Foundation
• Katie & Zach Clayton
• Jody & Tom Darden
• Duke Energy
• Lucy & Trey Doak
• Floyd Family Foundation
• Lucy & David Fountain
• Lee Ann & Kevin Gordon
• Tyler Highsmith
• Anna & Gerry Lipscomb
• Marjorie Hodges & Carlton Midyette
• Kim & Fielding Miller
• Lavanya & Sharat Nagaraj
• Becky & Tom Oxholm
• The Rales Family
• Mary Margaret & Kade Ross
• Christina & Stuart Smith
• The John C. Williams Family
• Nancy & Monty White
• York Properties
$10,000-$24,999
• The Baulch Family
• Burroughs Wellcome Fund
• Heather & Jared Cozart
• Sally & Jim Edwards
• Tom G. Fisher, Sr.
• Carly Apple & Jonathan Frederick
• Brenda & Ron Gibson
• Hillsdale Fund
• William D. & Dr. Sally C. Johnson Family Foundation
• Stephanie & Ted Klinck
• Sara Daniel & Richard Lascell
• Donna & Billy McClatchey
• Helen & Frank Morisey
• Julie & Mack Paul
• W. Trent Ragland Jr. Foundation
• Larry & Debbie Robbins
• Cece & Peter Scott
• Ann C. & C. Hamilton Sloan Family Foundation
• Temple Sloan Family Foundation
• Sally & Bill White
$5,000-$9,999
• Henriette Williams-Alexander & Thomas Alexander
• Jennifer & Paxton Badham
• Laura & Bill Bunn
• Sharon & Tim Crawford
• Elizabeth & George DeLoache
• The Driver Family
• Hampton & Nicholas Hofer
• Greer & Chuck Lysaght
• Dana & Matthew Martinez
• Rankin & Bill McGugin
• Elizabeth & John Merritt
• Carol & Robbo Newcomb
• Gordon & Lillian Richardson
• Grace & Graham Rountree
• Heidi & Gregg Sandreuter
• Mary Beck & Chris Skinner
• Hardin Engelhardt & Ron Wilder, in memory of Carolyn Hardin & George Engelhardt
• Margaret & Judson Williams
$1,000-$4,999
• Allene & Jim Adams
• Maggie & Trey Adams
• Sheri & Preston Bergen
• Mr. & Mrs. John R. Bratton
• Sam & Cooper Bratton
• The Buescher Family
• Mary & Jack Clayton
• Laura & Jim Crenshaw
• Custom Brick & Supply
• Linda Duvall
• The Fearn Family
• Trish & Raiford Garrabrant
• Ericka Santos & Adam Garrido
• Cari & Bill Gradison
• Sallie & Gordon Grubb
• Bonnie & Ed Hancock
• Beth & Chris Harrell
• Deanna Hawkes
• Molly & Jason Herndon
• Sherry & David Heuser
• Sondra & Skip Hill
• Kate & Walker Hobson
• Nancy & Sig Hutchinson
• Coles & Reid Jones
• Willa & John Kane
• Wendy Kaszak
• Kristine & John Lane
• Leslie Ann Jackson & Chris Locascio
• Johnny & Frances Morisey
• Cindy & Glen Myers
• Lane & John Nash
• Kathy & Steve Pretzer
• Mary Nash & John Rusher
• Leah & Runyon Tyler
• Emily & David Vanderweide
• Lauren & Josip Vukina
• Mary Grace & Rick White
• Kalesia & Chris Woody
$100-$999
• Lydia & Will Anders
• Lucie & Richard P. Badham, Jr.
• Patti & Jim Bartis
• Lauren & Alex Bean
• Korrie Blanchard
• Ashley & Russell Brennan
• Felicity & Carter Brenneman
• Connie & Tom Carrigan
• Lisa & Ed Dreyer
• Amanda & Andrew Dworznicki
• Anne & Jon Enberg
• Cassandra Lagod & Mike Forman
• Frances G. Fontaine
• Blake & Wesley Fricks
• Sammi Gough
• Tina & Jimmy Glover
• Carol Hamlin
• Lindsay & Cory Howes
• Lori Hwalek
• Kathryn & Mike Lawn
• The Leigh Family
• Etta Buckman & Robert Long
• Debbie & Jay Mackie
• Caitlyn Matuska
• Katherine England & Michael McManus
• Susan Rodger & Thomas Narten
• Night Bird Foundation
• Stephanie & Chip Parmelee
• Jennifer & Erik Pittman
• Pam Rideout
• Shirley Huang & Clinton Spedding
• Haylee & Evan Tollison
• Honour & John Thornton
• Linda & Lawrence Thornton
• Bianca Vilanova & Jose Vega
• Susan Wall
• Kate & Tim Whitney
• Elaine Wood
Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
All year long, kids and families engage in hands-on science, technology, engineering and math programming at Marbles. Marbles’ STEM experiences foster problem-solving, collaboration and confidence in the workforce of the future.
More than 5,700 kids and families participated in Marbles’ hands-on STEM programs throughout the year, including…
SustainabiliDAY is Marbles’ annual celebration of Earth Day, when families and community partners explore renewable energy, recycling, water conservation and more, learning how small choices can make a big impact.
Marbles Backwards Science Fair
was hosted in April as part of the NC Science Festival. Real scientists displayed their STEM projects while families voted for their favorites and discovered the joy of science through play.
Marbles Family STEM Club serves Wake County 3rd graders and their families with hands-on STEM learning experiences. Participants explore STEM through free monthly programs featuring playful activities and interactive presentations from diverse professionals.
“Family STEM Club has been a fun and meaningful way for us to learn together. My son gained a better understanding of STEM careers and is more curious about almost everything!”
- Family STEM Club Parent
thank you
Marbles’ STEM programs are delivered in collaboration with many sponsors and partners, including Amgen, Chiesi, FUJIFILM Diosynth
Biotechnologies, Google Fiber, Hitachi Energy, Lenovo, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, NC Soybean Association, Sheetz and Veradigm.
July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025
Total Campus Visitors
469,333 Museum Guests
74,615 Marbles IMAX Guests
6,174 Museum Member Families
50,140 Field Trip & Group Visitors
50,929 Individuals Served Through Free & Reduced Access Programs (Fiscal Year)
Visitation
50 States
from all & 98 NC Counties
514,456 Total Crops Sent from Farm to Table in On the Farm
11,064 Volunteer Hours
332,778 Soybeans
90,933 Beets
40,591 Squash
27,828 Corn
22,326 Sweet Potatoes
July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025*
Contributed Revenue
Organizational Expenses
& Exhibits
Expenses
Contr. Revenue
Earned Revenue
Museum Admissions & Memberships
IMAX Admission & Concessions
Camps & Family Events
PlayStore
Facility Rentals & Birthdays
Café & Miscellaneous
Total Earned Revenue
*Financials do not include restricted Capital Campaign revenue or expenses.
Board of Directors
As of June 30, 2025
Jason Herndon Chair
McAdams
Ericka Santos
Vice Chair
Clorox
Lennie Austin
Treasurer & Finance Chair
Pricewaterhousecoopers
Sharon Crawford
Secretary & Development Chair
Little Architects
Kristine Lane
Communications Chair
KDL Events
Sarah Morgan
Learning Chair BuzzARooney LLC
Jeané Whittington Powers
Facilities Chair
Bobbitt Construction
Trey Adams
Atlas Stark
Lorie Barnes
Early Childhood Education Consultant
Preston Bergen
Fifth Third Bank
Christian Bigsby Cisco
Kelli Braunbach Wake County, Retired
Korrie Blanchard Wake Tech
Stacey Buescher Kane Realty
Connie Carrigan Smith Debnam Law
Heather Cozart Certified Public Accountant
Dawn Dawson WCPSS Office of Early Learning
Mike Forman On Location
Deanna Hawkes NCDHHS
Shirley Huang WakeMed
Leslie Ann Jackson Camber Foundation
Wendy Kaszak MetLife
Gail Jones NCSU
Naeill Leigh Lincoln Financial Group
Dana Martinez Amgen
Jennifer Pittman ABB
Grace Rountree
Duke Energy
Mary Beck Skinner First Horizon Bank
Bernette Stivers
Wind Rose Construction
Tim Whitney TradeWinds
FY 24/25 Donor List
July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 (Includes campaign gifts and pledges received in FY 24/25)
$50,000+
• Anonymous Trust
• AJ Fletcher Foundation
• Joan & W. Prentiss Baker III
• Barnhill Family Foundation
• Margaret & Ted Bratton
• BryantCorp
• Carlyle Adams Foundation
• The Conlon Family
• The Josephus Daniels Charitable Fund
• Susie & Jim Erlinger
• William C. Ethridge Foundation
• First Citizens Bank
• Grady-White Boats
• Gregory Poole Equipment Company
• Linda & Rob Grew
• Mary Anne Howard
• Institute of Museum & Library Services
• Martin Marietta
• The Maynard Family
• Nancy & Ron McFarlane
• MetLife Foundation
• Elizabeth & Mike Munn
• North State Bank
• Novo Nordisk
• Emily & Greg Poole III
• The Dickson Foundation
• The Robert P. Holding Foundation, Inc
• Truist Charitable Fund
• Wake County
• Dargan & Blount Williams
$25,000-$49,999
• ABB
• Amgen
• Baker Roofing Company
• Bank of America
• Deborah & Christian Bigsby
• The Cannon Foundation
• Carolina Hurricanes
• Chiesi
• Katie & Zach Clayton
• Jody & Tom Darden
• Lucy & Trey Doak
• First Horizon Bank
• Floyd Family Foundation
• Lucy & David Fountain
• Lee Ann & Kevin Gordon
• Tyler Highsmith
• Anna & Gerry Lipscomb
• Linda C. & Cecil Sewell
• Lowes Foods
• Marjorie Hodges & Carlton Midyette
• Lavanya & Sharat Nagaraj
• North Carolina Bankers Association
• North Carolina Science Museums Network
• Nugget
• Becky & Tom Oxholm
• PNC Bank
• W. Trent Ragland Jr. Foundation
• The Rales Family
• Mary Margaret & Kade Ross
• Christina & Stuart Smith
• Surya Technologies
• Terminix of NC
• UNC Health
• The John C. Williams Family
• WakeMed Children’s
• Nancy & Monty White
• York Properties
$10,000-$24,999
• ABS Kids
• The Baulch Family
• Blue Cross NC
• Burroughs Wellcome Fund
• Heather & Jared Cozart
• Sara Daniel & Richard Lascell
• Sally & Jim Edwards
• Fidelity Charitable
• Fifth Third Bank
• Tom G. Fisher, Sr.
• Carly Apple & Jonathan Frederick
• FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
• Brenda & Ron Gibson
• Google Fiber
• Hillsdale Fund
• Hitachi Energy
• J&K Cabinetry
• William D. & Dr. Sally C. Johnson Family Foundation
• Johnson Subaru
• Stephanie & Ted Klinck
• Lenovo
• Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
• Donna & Billy McClatchey
• Helen & Frank Morisey
• NC 529
• NC State Agriculture & Life Sciences
$5,000-$9,999
• A. E. Finley Foundation, Inc
• NC State Veterinary Medicine
• NC Soybean Producers Association, Inc
• Julie & Mack Paul
• Larry & Debbie Robbins
• S&P Global
• Cece & Peter Scott
• ShareFile
• Truist
• The Burt’s Bees Foundation
• United Therapeutics
• Veradigm
• Wegmans
• Wells Fargo
• Sally & Bill White
• Workplace Options
• Henriette Williams-Alexander & Thomas Alexander
• Alfred Williams & Company
• Atlas Production Group
• Jennifer & Paxton Badham
• Barnhill Contracting Company
• Laura & Bill Bunn
• Pat & Sheldon Campbell
• celito
• Chase Bank
• Coastal Credit Union
• Sharon & Tim Crawford
• The DeLoache Family
• The Driver Family
• Duke Energy
• Hardin Engelhardt & Ron Wilder
• Heidi & Gregg Sandreuter
• Sherry & David Heuser
• Highwoods Properties
• Hampton & Nicholas Hofer
• IQ Contracting
• Greer & Chuck Lysaght
• Mann Family Foundation
• Dana & Matthew Martinez
• McAdams
• Rankin & Bill McGugin
• Elizabeth & John Merritt
• NC Egg Association
• Carol & Robbo Newcomb
• NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
• Publix Super Markets Charities
• Pure Barre
• Gordon & Lillian Richardson
• Rodgers Builders
• Grace & Graham Rountree
• Mary Beck & Chris Skinner
• TradeWinds
• Emily & David Vanderweide
• Catrina & Erick Vienrich
• Wake Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry
• Margaret & Judson Williams
• ZuZu For Kids
$2,500-$4,999
• Maggie & Trey Adams
• Sheri & Preston Bergen
• Mr. & Mrs. John R. Bratton
• Burkhart Pediatric & Adolescent Dermatology
• Peggy & Patrick Campbell
• Custom Brick & Supply
• The Fearn Family
• Filotimo Foundation
• Anna & Jimmy Goodmon
• Cari & Bill Gradison
• Wendy Gradison & Lee Goldman
• Molly & Jason Herndon
• Coles & Reid Jones
• Leslie Ann Jackson & Chris Locascio
• Emily & David Kornstein
• KPMG LLP
• M.R. Metzger Family Foundation
• NC Electric Membership Corporation
• Charlotte & Scott Russell
• Smith Debnam Law
• SouthState Bank
• Summit Hospitality Group
• Lauren & Josip Vukina
• Wells Family Dental Group
• Mary Grace & Rick White
• Kate & Tim Whitney
• Chris & Kalesia Woody
$1,000-$2,499
• Allene & Jim Adams
• Jennifer & Brian Ammirati
• Sarah & David Ammirati
• The Belville Family
• Sam & Cooper Bratton
• The Bruce Family
• The Buescher Family
• Cisco
• Clearscapes
• Laura & Jim Crenshaw
• Danielle & Britt Davis
• Linda Duvall
• Margaret Faust
• Trish & Raiford Garrabrant
• Ericka Santos & Adam Garrido
• Steph & Chris Gray
• Sallie & Gordon Grubb
• Beth & Chris Harrell
• Deanna Hawkes
• Sondra & Skip Hill
• Kate & Walker Hobson
• Nancy & Sig Hutchinson
• Olivia Fried & Alan Hymowitz
• Willa & John Kane
• Wendy Kaszak
• Kristine & John Lane
• The Leigh Family
• Johnny & Frances Morisey
• Cindy & Glen Myers
• Lane & John Nash
• Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
• Kathy & Steve Pretzer
• Pam Rideout
• Mary Nash & John Rusher
• Shirley Huang & Clinton Spedding
• Britt & Michael Thomas
• Kasey Joyner & Marlyn Thompson
• Leah & Runyon Tyler
• White Oak Commercial
$500-$999
• Atlas Stark
• Holly & Lennie Austin
• Lucie & Richard P. Badham, Jr.
• Lauren & Alex Bean
• Bobbitt Construction
• Shanda & Corey Branch
• Felicity & Carter Brenneman
• Amy & Penn Clarke
• Joyce & Jeff Davis
• Yvonne Davis
• Jennifer & Ryan Fawcett
• Cassandra Lagod & Mike Forman
• Sidney & Suzanne Gulledge
• Carol Hamlin
• Gwen & Tim Hazlehurst
• Rachael & James Hollifield
• The Howard Family
• The Clay & Howison Families
• Mitchell Klein
• Lenovo HR OTM
• Etta Buckman & Robert Long
• Jennifer & Erik Pittman
• Rebecca & Mike Putnam
• Dawn & Doug Sander
• Jenn Dominguez & Nate Spilker
• Bernette & Nathan Stivers
• Leila & Sterling Thomas
• Heather & Daniel Vogel
• Kristin & Eric Weimer
• Kerrie Wilson
• Elaine Wood
$100-$499
• Daniel Allen
• Max Ammons
• Lydia & Will Anders
• Rachel & James Bailey
• Nancy & Frank Baird
• Lorie Barnes
• Abby & Tim Barrett
• Patti & Jim Bartis
• Mandy & Nathan Becker
• Chris Bell
• Jim Bell
• Korrie Blanchard
• Lorie & Dave Brown
• Connie & Tom Carrigan
• Bo Crouse-Feuerhelm
• Amanda & Andrew Dworznicki
• Janine & David Eash
• Anne & Jon Enberg
• Taylor & Dan Eron
• Meghan Fitzgerald
• Frances G. Fontaine
• Blake & Welsey Fricks
• Alisha Gardner
• Kendrick Gay
• Tina & Jimmy Glover
• Addie Thornton & Avery Goldman
• Sammi Gough
• Kristi & Bob Heckel
• Miller Hoffman
• Lori Hwalek
• Lindsay & Cory Howes
• Allison & Michael Irving
• Lisa & Jonathon Kadis
• Hilary Kuss
• Debbie & Jay Mackie
• Shirley Marshall
• Caitlyn & Matthew Matuska
• Katherine England & Michael McManus
• Pamela Michell
• Karen Mitchell
• Wren Mitchell
• Sarah Morgan
• James Myer
• Susan Rodger & Thomas Narten
• Night Bird Foundation
• Stephanie & Chip Parmelee
• Taveyana Perez
• Daniel Perry
• Meg & Marty Pomerantz
• Yesenia Sexton
• Haley & Scott Shamblee
• Roxie Shevack
• Stacey Simeone
• Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP
• Scott Szczepanski
• Cameron & Joshua Taylor
• Robert Teague
• Brandy & Jon Thompson
• Honour & John Thornton
• Linda & Lawrence Thornton
• Kelsey Vargun
• Bianca Vilanova & Jose Vega
• Anisha & Jonathan White
• Carissa & John White
t hank you to our generous donors and to our partners at Wake County for supporting the Power of Play at Marbles.
