our HISTORY In 1976, Montessori educator Portia Sperr founded Please Touch Museum knowing that young children learn best through play. Over the years, the Museum curated innovative programming and exhibits and became a treasured institution cherished by generations of families. Today, the Museum is preparing to serve as an essential community resource for children and families navigating a post-pandemic and increasingly complex world.
our MISSION, VISION and IMPACT Mission Change a child’s life as they discover the power of learning through play.
Impact
465,000 110,000
Vision A world where all children are creative, compassionate, confident and curious.
low-income and special-needs children and their families entered for free or for $2
14,000
Philadelphia School District children in Pre-K – Grade 1 visited for free
children and adults visited PTM in 2019 950+
Philadelphia Pre-K students celebrated Move-Up Day at the Museum
9,900+ active Member families
the CHALLENGE The Museum’s closure due to the public health crisis has created an unanticipated earned revenue gap. The Museum closed on March 14, 2020 and immediately took action to cut spending. COVID-19 poses a unique and serious challenge as the Museum depends on over 85% earned revenue to sustain itself. When we reopen in 2021, the Museum will have been closed for almost a year, resulting in a $3.5M revenue gap.
$3.5M
Revenue Gap Projection COST REDUCTION MEASURES
•Closure March 14, 2020 •75% Staff Layoff • 10%–30% Salary Reduction for 18 Remaining Staff
the NEED
Urgent resiliency support of $3.5M for working capital is critical to ensure the future of Please Touch Museum. Closing the earned revenue gap will allow the Museum to create a new and exciting future of play for the young children and families who depend on it as a haven of discovery, joy and connection.
the FUTURE of PLAY Important work is already underway to Create The Future of Play. • Summer Discovery Backpacks filled with educational activities were assembled and distributed in July to 1,000 children ages 4-8 living in West Philadelphia’s Parkside neighborhood, where 43% of families live below the poverty level • Centennial Innovations gallery focused on innovation, with major funding by The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, ready for visitors upon reopening • Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace, designed for hands-on tinkering and experimentation, now in progress and due to open in April 2021
the FUTURE of PLAY
A complete reimagining of the much-loved Market experience through a sponsorship by The GIANT Company, scheduled to open in October 2021. This new exhibit will double the size of its current footprint and evolve from a traditional shopping activity to an immersive play-based experience – exploring how food connects people throughout its journey from source to gathering place. This multi-generational exhibit will explore key themes: • Where does food come from? • Food insecurity and how to share with others • Food as a basis for cultural identity and community gatherings • Healthy food choices and preparation
the FUTURE of PLAY
The Museum is striving to become “a third place of learning” as we evolve to meet the growing needs of the community – especially our most vulnerable children.
As classroom learning continues to be disrupted with remote and hybrid models, children are missing essential academic and social-emotional skill-building instruction. Please Touch Museum has several programs under development, including: • Kindergarten Readiness Pilot Program funded by Vanguard, will serve children living in deep poverty in the Philadelphia neighborhoods of Parkside, Mantua, and Belmont, by providing necessary tools and resources for a strong start in school. • ArtistYear Partnership, a multi-disciplinary virtual learning pilot program, serving Philadelphia School District children and more, leveraging themes from our Centennial Innovations exhibit. • School-Museum Partnerships, exploring expanded relationships with area schools to create impactful, collaborative curriculum opportunities.
our CAMPAIGN
A $5M campaign to boldly design the future of play and create new learning opportunities for young children navigating the complex world around them. CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS
Matt Simon
The GIANT Company PTM Board Member
Tracey Santilli
Tierney PTM Board Member
David Davis
Accenture Consulting PTM Board Member
Ivy Silver
Strategist & Implementer
our GOAL
Secure resiliency support to close the earned revenue gap, allowing important work to continue and launching an endowed fund that will help create the future of learning through play for young children. Creating the Future of Play Campaign Goal: $5M
• $3.5M to support working capital — Urgent resiliency support provides a runway to reopening the Museum and continuing critical work underway • $1.5M to institute an endowed fund — The Otto & Portia Sperr Fund for Museum Learning honors our founder’s vision of children learning through play, supporting innovation and new approaches in early childhood learning
Success of our Creating the Future of Play Campaign will advance the mission and vision of Please Touch Museum and impact the young children we proudly serve for generations to come.
Endowed fund named for Museum Founder Portia Sperr
our ASK Support our Creating the Future of Play Campaign so all children, regardless of circumstance, can have the strongest start in their journey of lifelong learning.
WAYS TO GIVE
online call mail
PleaseTouchMuseum.org/donate
Samantha Gibb Roff at 267.273.4761 Pachy Banks-Cabral at 215.287.1072 4231 Avenue of the Republic Philadelphia, PA 19131