PTM 2010 Annual Report

here aren’t many institutions that can reflect on a year in which it hosted

As a result of his visit and enthusiasm for children’s museums, Chairman

visits from more than 565,000 children and their grownups, more than

Landesman invited Please Touch to be a lead partner for “Operation Appreciation:

25 weddings, an exhibit about the many environmental benefits of trees,

Blue Star Museums,” a collaborative initiative that supports free museum admission

nearly a half dozen high school proms, an exhibit of 20 Phillie Phanatic

for active military families. Some 5226 children and adults were able to visit the

statues painted by local artists, more than 20 galas, a swap meet of the SillyBandz

museum last summer because of this program. We were thrilled to give back to our

phenomenon, an appearance by television sensation Nd <VWWV <VWWV ! a jazz

military families, just as the museum was pleased to be able to offer free visits to

festival, and a visit by Buzz & Woody from Idn Hidgn (# That was the 2010 we had at

more than 20,000 schoolchildren from the Philadelphia and Camden school districts

Please Touch Museum. Actually, that wasn’t even the half of it.

in 2010. Another 11,165 visitors were able to enjoy discounted $2 admission to the museum throughout the year thanks to our Target First Wednesday partnership.

Our second full year at Memorial Hall, and 34th in our history, was filled with tremendous artistic and programmatic highs as we navigated a challenging financial

All of these things were accomplished in 2010 despite a year in which philanthropic

climate. The year began with the arrival of :meadg^c\ IgZZh >ch^YZ VcY Dji! a

support was down everywhere, creating a time of financial uncertainty. In order to

national traveling exhibit presented in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation

build on our momentum and continue to develop programs that enrich the lives of

and Doubletree Hotels, and it ended with another incredible Countdown to Noon™

all children, Please Touch Museum must create a stronger financial foundation.

New Year’s Eve celebration attended by more than 4,500 visitors. We expanded our

That is why the museum has launched the Campaign for Success and Sustainability,

footprint in Fairmount Park with the debut of our first “Stroller in the Park” Family

in order to expand our core educational curriculum, and take advantage of even

5K, expanded our community service efforts with new partnerships in Philadelphia’s

greater opportunities to serve families with young children. This will require the

neighborhoods, and expanded our support of families with special needs with the

efforts and generosity of both longtime and new community-minded supporters

launch of our Autism Access Program. We were also honored to be named among

like those who made the move to Memorial Hall possible and paved the way to

the top 10 children’s museums in the nation by EVgZcih BV\Vo^cZ#

where the museum is today.

Please Touch Museum continued to be the launching pad for Philadelphia’s arts

These are our memories of 2010. In the coming pages, you will meet some

& culture scene, introducing the youngest in our community to their first visual

s—who of the people—our members, visitors, employees and friends—who

arts experience, their first live music, dance and theater performances, and their

eir stories made it such a wonderful year at Please Touch Museum. Their

first journey into the educational and fun experience of visiting a museum. Our

ories, make us believe that Please Touch is the place to make memories,

mission of enriching the lives of children by creating learning opportunities through

creating a legacy of learning for future generations.

play was on full display March 2, when Please Touch Museum was honored to host a visit from Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. During his day trip to Philadelphia, Mr. Landesman toured a sampling of our city’s innovative arts initiatives. After the visit, on his “Art Works” tour blog, Mr. Landesman said Please Touch Museum “is probably the most welcoming and userfriendly museum I’ve ever seen.”

Laura H. Foster

Sally W. Stetson

President & CEO

Chair of the Board of Directors

Please Touch Museum®

Please Touch Museum®

The staff of Please Touch Museum recognized the need during a typically busy weekend on the gallery floor.

Please Touch turned to Variety, the Children’s Charity of Philadelphia, and a partnership was born. On March 27, 2010, these two organizations dedicated to serving the city’s kids hosted the first Autism Access Night, an evening of hands-on, interactive, sensory-based Please Touch activities for families and caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

For many in attendance, a highlight of the event was an appearance by actress Holly Robinson Peete and her twelveyear-old daughter, Ryan Elizabeth Peete (pictured), who read their book, “My Brother Charlie,” which is based on the Peete family’s own experiences

living with Ryan’s autistic twin brother RJ. The generous support of the Peetes’ HollyRod Foundation allowed the museum to present two Autism Access Nights in 2010.

For Lori Verlinghieri, it was a monumental night for a different reason.

The Delaware resident came to the event with her husband, Ray, their three-yearold twin daughters, Jenna and Zoe, and their 7-year-old son Jacob, who has multiple disabilities and developmental delays and is not independently mobile or verbal.

We were visiting all of the activities and interactive displays. Jacob’s twin sisters were trying everything out and we’d help Jacob to experience the activities we thought he would enjoy. His sisters were splashing at the water table and since Jacob loves water so much, I thought I’d hold him up against the table. Much to our surprise, he was able to balance himself against the edge, lean over, and splash away! It was so heartwarming to see Jacob be able to play alongside his sisters. I cried as I got the opportunity to watch my three children engage in such a fun and typical activity.

Frankly, we never would have thought to stand him up there to play if it wasn’t for the Variety event where we knew it was not hurried and no other kids would bowl him over while trying to get to the water. But seeing him do that encouraged us to take him out of his chair that whole night so he could experience the various exhibits. It was amazing.

At this year’s Variety event, we brought Jacob over to the same water table. When he wasn’t able to hold himself up I started to get upset, until I realized that he had grown and needed to move to a spot where the wall was higher. As soon as we placed him at a more appropriate height, he splashed away! We also got wonderful pictures and movies of our son balancing himself in a variety of the cars at the Museum, while turning the steering wheel.

That may not sound like a big deal to other people, but for us we watched in amazement as Jacob instinctively knew what to do in the car, and then showed such delight in doing it!

Kathleen Hoglan has been a pre-kindergarten teacher in the small, rural community of Alloway, NJ, for nearly three decades. That’s a lot of ABCs, art projects, games and songs. You might say she’s an expert in learning through play. In fact, People to People International named her just that, recruiting her in 1995 to serve as a Citizen Ambassador to China, where she traveled to discuss the importance of play in early childhood education.

For each of her 29 years as a pre-K teacher, Kathy has taken her students on a field trip to one special place: Please Touch Museum.

“As the teacher in charge, I can’t wait to see what is new each year, and try out the exhibits for myself,” says Ms. Hoglan. “I have also gained many ideas from various displays that I have brought back to my classroom. The museum is full of engaging, fascinating and fun exhibits that the children are able to experience on a first hand basis. There is no better way to learn than through play and hands-on experiences. The exhibits even hold the attention of my ADHD students as they engage in play.”

So, what is this Please Touch veteran’s favorite avorite avo oritte exhibit? exhiibit? ex ?

The Shop-Rite Supermarket.

“I usually end up as the cashier and the children ch hild dren n can’t ca ’t wait to bring their loaded carts to me, to check check them out.”

When her favorite little museum moved to o Memorial Memoriall Hall in 2008, Kathleen was thrilled. “Thiss iss a marvelous, ma arve elou us, beautiful older building with architecture that th hat you you u just ju ust don’t see built anymore. It is wonderful to o see se ee this old building being preserved and utilized in such a wonderful way.” She was happy to see the new museum had more exhibits and more room to move around, and that it retained the qualities that kept her coming back year after year.

“The fun, exciting atmosphere with kind, considerate attendants is still intact!”

Please Touch Museum is nationally recognized for its community programming and outreach, its ongoing effort to bring the museum’s educational resources to underserved communities. The museum’s outreach programs are designed to be multi-generational, cross-curricular, and consistent with state learning standards.

School Readiness programming, Creative Parenting for Teens lessons, teen mentoring programs and Autism Access programs are some of the many outreach efforts of the museum.

The Community Partners program worked with three social service agencies in 2010: Interim House West, a substance abuse rehabilitation facility for women and their children; Village Care Family Services, an Early Intervention program that serves low income families; and Jane Addams’ Place, a comprehensive emergency homeless shelter for mothers with children. The program served approximately 80 families, and provided educational workshops for parents and children around the theme of learning through play.

Krista Pfleger, a student at Syracuse University, interned with the Community Partners program in 2010, working with families in an Early Intervention program (she later joined the staff as community outreach coordinator). Her experience summarizes the program’s challenges and breakthroughs:

The first week was a challenge; some children were very shy and apprehensive to join in the activities. We even had to coax the parents into participating and having fun. Over the course of the six-week program, parents and children became more comfortable and actively participated and visibly enjoyed the workshops. However, one little girl in particular was much more difficult to coax into playing. She didn’t talk or smile, so it was difficult to tell if she was absorbing anything or even having fun. By the last workshop, she was starting to come out of her shell, and would join in the games and play on her own, but she was still very shy.

At the end of the program we went on a field trip; the group met at the museum, including thatt little girl. The look on her face when she walkedd into the museum was priceless; she had a smilee from ear to ear. She immediately reached up to

pull on my hand and guided me over to the exhibits. I was pleasantly surprised to meet this curious little girl that felt confident enough to explore and inquire about her surroundings.

A few weeks later, I got a call from downstairs that there was a gguest who wa wanted to see me.

I went downstairs and it that same little girl and her family. Not only did s she he remember me, but she ran over, gave me a hug, g g and showed me how much fun she was having playing in the museum.

Making An Impact School Readiness EVkZ i]Z LVn [gdb EgZ"@ id @/ This collaboration with Please Touch Museum’s Community Advisory Board aimed to increase the number of children who are registered early for Kindergarten in the Parkside community.

This campaign in the neighborhood reached approximately 1,000 households. @^cYZg\VgiZc B^mZg/ Served 525 children and families 7dd`h id @cdl! 7dd`h id <gdl/ Served over 200 kids in four local schools; additionally, the museum piloted a program at Overbrook School for the Blind that adapted the creative dramaticsbased literacy activities for children with multiple needs.

EdgiVWaZ EaVn/ Served 1140 kids in their classrooms

A sample of responses from a Community Partners Program surveys: F/ L]Vi Y^Y ndj aZVgc i]gdj\] i]^h egd\gVb4 “Spending time with your children is very important, but the quality of time is more important than the quantity.”

“How important it is for both child and parent to play together.”

“I had forgotten how much fun playing is and how important it is for my children. Thank you!”

7ZilZZc egZ VcY edhi" hjgkZn! i]Z cjbWZg d[ eVgZcih l]d WZa^ZkZ i]Vi eaVn^c\ l^i] i]Z^g X]^aY ^h ¹kZgn ^bedgiVciº ^cXgZVhZY Wn *& # ;daadl"je fjZhi^dc/ > WZa^ZkZ i]^h ^h WZXVjhZ° “It motivates him” “It helps us stay close” “It’s an important part of how kids learn and develop” “It increases the bond between parent and child”

We could go on and on about the facilities, exhibits, art activities, story times, but the memories that make us happiest are when Luke interacts with the staff!

Dr. Bruce and Fran Northrop have been members of Please Touch Museum since 2008, since the day the museum relocated to Memorial Hall, bringing their now 3-year-old grandson Luke to the museum almost every Wednesday.

To the Northrops, Please Touch is much more than a place to play and spend quality time together. It is a second home, filled with a second family.

His first “friend” at Please Touch was Mike, who does such a great job keeping the tables and floors of the cafeteria so clean and inviting. For the past 6-8 months, whenever Luke talks about going to Please Touch, his eyes light g up, and he says, y “See Mike!” They have become such ggood friends, that when Luke sees Mike, he just j runs into his arms. And when en Mike surprises Luke, Luke squeals withh delight, and runs to him!

His next best friend end is Joann at the members desk! Joann oann always y asks Luke for his “ticket,” and makes a bigg deal of accepting it and “checking him welcomes im in.” She we w lcomes him with such interestt and joy, and truly sets the tone for the day!

Joann is a treasure!

Luke’s new friend is David, who does the most phenomenal

job of engaging the children in the theater.

We would never miss the 11 o’clock show!

Luke is now calling out, “Hi David” when he sees him and David responds like he has just seen the most wonderful child in the world. David’s productions are enchanting, and I am delighted that our grandson has the opportunity to experience such good theater at such an early age!

We are delighted that we have the opportunityy g of beingg members of Please Touch! Your staff is helpingg us to socialize our ggrandson and develop his confidence. We can’t think of a more noble ggoal for a children’s museum!

Please Touch Museum prides itself on being not only a great children’s museum, but also a welcoming environment for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Mary Gill couldn’t agree more…

I have two grandchildren and we come often. The children love the museum. I also have a daughter who is a C6 quadriplegic as the result of a car accident.

We love to watch the children at the business of play, but one time, as they were boarding the carousel, one of your wonderful employees asked my daughter if she would like to ride. We didn’t know it was possible to get a power wheelchair on the carousel, but your great people made one little girl and her aunt and nana very happy that day.

After being shut out of so many experiences, it was so nice of the museum’s staff to go the extra mile for us. We want to say thank you to all of you who make Please Touch Museum such a great place.

A playdate is defined as “an arranged appointment for children to get together for a few hours of play.” The playdate has become a standard part of the lifestyles of today’s busy parents as a time when children can form friendships and interact in an unstructured, open-ended environment.

In 2010, the museum formed its own series of “You & Me Playdates,” offering parents and children an opportunity to join together to create music and art, and pretend with puppetry and creative dramatics, in joyful and innovative workshop sessions facilitated by museum educators. These workshops inspire children’s creative expression and spark wonderful parent-child memories, building on the museum’s educational mission.

Please Touch Museum has long been a destination for playdates of all kinds, as children form lasting friendships while playing in the museum. Joanne Trumbetas of Broomall, PA, shares her memory…

One of my fondest memories from the museum is the day my little girl Daria invited her best friend Dillon from pre-school on a playdate. Seeing the joy in their faces as they explored each exhibit of the museum was priceless! As they participated in making crafts and taking full advantage of the “hands on” fun at the museum, you could tell they were able to use their imaginations as well as their creativity. As the day came to an end, the carousel was the “Grand Finale.” As you can see, their friendship grew even stronger after they experienced the museum together.

Please Touch Museum continued to delve deeper into the history of Memorial Hall in 2010, building new weekend guided tour programs and group tours of the National Historic Landmark and its role in the 1876 Centennial Exposition. The museum trained a team of new Centennial Tour guides, who completed a three-month history course led by Stacey Swigart, the museum’s Curator of Collections, and Theater Experience Manager David Hutchman.

The knowledgeable guides provide visitors with a fun, in-depth walk through the restored landmark building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and has served multiple purposes in its 135 years.

While the 1876 Centennial is a major focus of the tours, there are also many fun facts from Memorial Hall’s 20th century history as a multi-use recreation center. Where was the indoor, Olympicsized swimming pool? Did Memorial Hall really have four jail cells? Where was the basketball court, and when did the Philadelphia Orchestra use it as a recording studio? Grown-ups can also enjoy viewing the museum’s extensive and diverse collection of art works and contemporary toys.

While the tours have proven popular, a guide is not a prerequisite for enjoying a day at the museum without the kids. Just ask Dana Granieri…

Recently, I brought my Mom and Dad, minus my children, to Please Touch Museum. \We had such a wonderful time! \Dad is a wholesale rare books, prints, maps, frames and antique rug dealer. So, when we ended up downstairs in the antique model room of the Centennial area, he was in heaven! We enjoyed ourselves so much.

He even recognized one of his prints from his collection depicting part of the model.

We then had a lovely coffee and treat in the cafe. On our way out we did a very early holiday shopping since there was a terrific sale in the gift shop for members!

I’ll always cherish this sweet memory of a ‘big’ child going to the children’s museum with her Mom and Dad (now Grandparents). Thanks for moving to this location!

By day, Please Touch Museum is filled with children of all ages who laugh and learn while pretending to be a bus driver, or an astronaut, or a doctor, or a visitor to Wonderland.

By night, the museum plays host to some of Greater Philadelphia’s most prestigious, fun and joyous events, from gala fundraisers like the American Red Cross Red Ball, to the senior proms of Radnor High School and Lower Merion High School, to more than 30 to 40 weddings per year. That’s right, just two years after opening at Memorial Hall, Please Touch has become the ‘it’ place for life’s milestones like senior prom and wedding days. Who saw that coming?

What is it like to get married at Please Touch? Let’s hear from Courtney Falcone and Peter Salveson, who were married at the museum on Saturday, October 9, 2010…

Choosing Please Touch Museum and Max & Me Catering for our wedding last October was the easiest decision of the wedding planning process. The museum offered us a unique combination of “fun,” with the colorful exhibits, and “class” with the gorgeous architecture of Memorial Hall, which we couldn’t find anywhere else in the city. Add to this the amazing catering service that Max & Me provided and it was a perfect match.

Kim and the other Max & Me staff not only quickly became trusted event planners, but friends. We would call with question after question and we could always count on getting a helpful response that quickly put our concerns at ease. From the exciting food tasting appointment to the final walkthrough a couple days before our wedding, the process was not only worry-free, but very enjoyable.

Our wedding night was one we will never forget. Kim was there to calm our nerves and make sure everything ran smoothly. We didn’t have to think about anything except enjoying our night. Every little detail that we had planned over the previous 11 months came together just as we envisioned it.

The cocktail hour in the carousel room transformed all our guests into excited children as they carefully chose which animal they should ride on. When we entered the main hall for our reception, it was hard to believe that a children’s museum could look so grand and elegant.

The food was wonderful (especially the crab claws!) and the cake lived up to the hype as Kim had said it would from day one. We were provided an attendant that was there to take care of our every need. Our outside vendors commented on how much “easier” it was for them to work with Max and Me than other venues in the city.

Having the opportunity to work with Please Touch Museum and Max & Me Catering was an honor. They made our wedding day more amazing than either of us could ever imagine.

Many children receive their first experience with music at Please Touch Museum. It may be dancing along the keys of the Big Piano, or hearing a live music performance in Hamilton Hall. Or it may be during a typical day at the museum, when a cheerful violinist or guitarist entertains kids with a performance on the gallery floor.

That cheery performer is Ann Goering, music coordinator at Please Touch, and 2010 was a banner year for Ann as she continued to build the museum’s music program in order to fill the educational gap that shrinking budgets have created in public schools. The year included the presentation of the 18th annual Junior Jazz Festival as well as World Music Weekend, featuring a variety of live performances such as Eastern European folk music and the heavy beats of Balkan brass.

PTM believes that music is an inspiring and stimulating language that people of all ages and backgrounds can understand. The music program gives kids a chance to appreciate music and create sounds for themselves. One of the highlights of each visit is the End of the Day Parade, when the Education staff hands out musical instruments and leads kids on a march through the museum. Shannon Andrus agrees…

My daughter loves the Please Touch Museum. She loves everything. This story is about Miss Ann the music lady.

My daughter Flannery absolutely loves music and hearing people play instruments. When Ann comes around with her instruments she is like the Pied Piper to my daughter. She runs up to her, claps and dances, and, hilariously to me, makes requests. Ann always complies and plays for her.

It’s wonderful.

Everybody dance now!

Visual art, music, literature and live theater were joined by another popular art form at Please Touch Museum in 2010, as dance really came into its own as a core part of the museum’s programming. Family dance parties and live dance performances by regional dance troupes filled Hamilton Hall not only during “Dancing Days” months in August and September, but throughout the year. Special guests Angelina Ballerina and Muno and Foofa from the TV hit Nd <VWWV <VWWV even hosted their own sold-out dance parties at the museum in August.

The museum believes that introducing a young child to dance, much like introducing art, music, theater and literature at an early age, can inspire a lifelong love of the arts.

Phyllis Sandle agrees. She has seen it firsthand while coming to the museum with her granddaughters Fiona, 6, and Ruby, 3.

Coming to the museum is a big part of our lives and plans each week. We have never been bored or not had a great experience at Please Touch. h. In fact, myy daughter still can’t believe how the threee of us love to go to the museum and are always excited about the choice to go there. And we always come home with great stories and experiences to tell their mom and dad.

I remember the ballet show we saw on a Saturday. Fiona came home and told herr mom she wanted dance lessons. And, so we went to dance lessons. To think I had a place to take both of my girls to see young people perform in a beautiful facility like the Touch.

They both love to go to the shows and nd when they walk in they feel so welcomee in the theater. The shows are just so enjoyable and well done. And they always s have a message. And, that message is what we talk about on the way home.

If they're not asleep!

My personal feeling is every day in a child's life should be great. Why not? Childhood should just be a great memory. And, I want to thank Please Touch Museum and their staff for helping ping me to achieve this goal for my girls.

The Please Touch Playhouse Theater is always active with original shows written, produced and performed by the Please Touch Playhouse troupe, as well as featuring hired musicians, storytellers and other performers. All of them are great, but some of them—like magician Tommy McDonnell— are family. Tommy has been mesmerizing kids at Please Touch for more than a decade and his wife JoAnn, can be found each day caring for our visitors at the Hospitality Desk. Here is what the Luzi family has to say about the magic show…

In June, we had our son’s sixth birthday party at Please Touch. He couldn’t wait, but we were wondering how his friends would enjoy it. Nate is the youngest boy in his class, so all of his friends were already 6 and some of them were just a few months away from being 7. Most of them had been to the museum before, and we feared that they’d think they were ‘too old’ for it.

Well, that fear disappeared after about five minutes.

They all had a great time. The staff was wonderful and didn’t treat the kids like they were babies. They had age-appropriate games to play, and of course they had a blast in the exhibits and on the carousel.

But the absolute highlight for everyone was the magic show in the theater. Tommy, the magician, was hysterical. He had all the parents and the kids laughing, and his magic tricks were amazing. When Stu the rabbit appeared the kids all went bonkers.

We didn’t even know that a magic show would be booked for that day, so it was an incredible treat.

The next day, when we took Nate to the toy store to spend his gift cards, can you guess what he picked? A magic set!

Lee M. Pachter knows a little something about young children. He’s the Chief of the Section of General Pediatrics and Associate Chair for Community Pediatrics at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, and teaches Pediatrics at the Drexel University College of Medicine. He is also Associate Editor for the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

But above all, he is also a dad. And so, when he decided to relocate his family to Philadelphia from Connecticut in 2010, he and his wife knew their 4-year-old daughter and 16-month old son would feel plenty of anxiety about moving to a new home in an unfamiliar new city.

We wanted to start their new adventure with something fun, positive, and exciting so, on a whim, we decided to take them to Please Touch Museum, not knowing what to expect.

It was the best introduction to Philadelphia that any child could have. Our four-year-old daughter fell in love with Alice in Wonderland and the Statue of Liberty, and our 16-month-old son worked his muscles and mind in the toddler play areas, created music in the drum circle, and they both went wild dancing to live music in the center atrium.

We were so lucky that Please Touch Museum was our children’s intro to life in Philadelphia. It certainly made the transition less stressful, and they now remember that time in a positive light. We became members right that day, and have been coming back ever since.

Time can move swiftly at Please Touch Museum.

A visit to the SEPTA Bus, a ride on the carousel, some splashing in River Adventures, a trip to Wonderland, and before you know it four hours have passed and you’ve still only experienced half of what the museum has to offer.

One day each year time literally takes center stage, as the museum presents the New Year’s bash “Countdown to Noon.” More than 4500 people joined the fun on Dec. 31, 2010, ringing in 2011 with a family dance party, puppets and a Countdown show starring the museum’s Education staff. Elizabeth LaVecchia remembers one little partier who was counting sheep instead of counting down…

The first time we took our youngest Sophia (15 months old) was for the New Year’s celebration at noon. We got there early to be sure that she could see all the exciting things the museum had to offer. We were excited to see her face as she played in every exhibit without hearing “no,” “be careful,” or “don’t make a mess.” She reveled in the glory of free play for two hard hours. When she saw the carousel for the first time she was instantly in L.O.V.E.! We took her for a ride and she smiled from ear to ear the whole time.

Once the ride was over it was time for the New Year’s Celebration that we had anxiously awaited. The music started with dancing and…she was done and slept through it all. Her celebration had started long before the one planned for everyone.

She was celebrating being a toddler in an awesome environment!

A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1.800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Please Touch Museum® is a non-profit organization and is accredited by the American Association of Museums.

Written by Frank Luzi. Designed and illustrated by Christie Morrison

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