Annual Report 2022

PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM

A LETTER FROM MUSEUM LEADERSHIP

Dear Friends of Please Touch Museum,

I think I can—I think I can—I think I can… This familiar phrase from the classic children’s tale The Little Engine that Could just may have been the unspoken mantra of Please Touch Museum during fiscal year 2022.

With each passing month, we witnessed the return of visitors who were seeking learning experiences for their children whose childhoods and social-emotional development opportunities were interrupted during the pandemic. Our dedicated team worked tirelessly to expand programs and opportunities for families to learn through play together — a hallmark of Please Touch Museum.

We made investments in exhibits, immersive programming, public health and education, and access, assuring all children can experience the magic and wonder of Please Touch Museum.

• We reopened the supermarket exhibit, doubling its size so children can learn about the journey of food from source, to store, to home, to community.

• We activated school field trips.

• We welcomed over 80,000 visitors to the Museum for free or reduced admission with Community Days, First Wednesdays, and Play Without Boundaries, our program for families with neurodiverse children.

• We launched our Kindergarten Readiness Program to support social-emotional skill development for children entering kindergarten.

• We increased our cultural programming to celebrate the vibrant communities and families in Philadelphia and beyond.

The resiliency of the Museum, and our commitment to changing a child’s life as they discover the power of learning through play, would not be possible without the passion of our PTM team and the generosity of individuals, funders, and the philanthropic community who continue to recognize the importance of investing in early childhood learning opportunities for all children, as we work towards a brighter tomorrow.

Thank you for joining us in our journey.

Yours In Play,

Patricia D. Wellenbach President & CEO

Christine Campbell Chair, Board of Trustees

INVESTMENTS IN EXHIBITS: A GIANT Reimagination!

After 18 months of planning, development, and construction, Please Touch Museum reopened one of its most beloved exhibits on December 15, 2021.

Food & Family, brought to you by GIANT, expanded the traditional children’s museum grocery store experience to increase multigenerational visitor engagement and approach learning through play in an entirely new way.

In the reimagined exhibit, children explore an open-ended learning landscape. Through three interconnected zones, children discover the journey of food from source to gathering place and its importance in cultures, communities, and traditions. The experience inspires children to be part of a multicultural community while using their imagination through creative role-playing opportunities.

In addition to “shopping” the aisles in the grocery store, children can also become “employees” in the store, wearing specially marked aprons and providing customer service as a stock person, checkout cashier, or working in the in-store pizzeria.

With food “purchased” in the grocery store, children work together in a hybrid home and industrial kitchen to prepare food to share with others in the festival area. There, friends and neighbors come together for a block party — complete with a grilling station, a food vendor cart, and game tables with tic-tac-toe and checkers. After all, food is more festive when we enjoy it with friends.

$1.3M INVESTMENT

3,650 SQUARE FEET

3,500 PROPS ROTATE IN THE EXHIBIT

Food & Family was made possible by a $1.2 million gift by The GIANT Company and $100,000 from Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr.

INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY: Public Health Event Series

What began as a simple idea — to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics at the Museum — quickly grew into a full-fledged public health event series impacting nearly 10,000 people.

4 FREE COMMUNITY DAYS NEARLY 10,000 VISITORS 20 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

52% COVID-19 VACCINES TO CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5

In the summer of 2022, PTM hosted Ready, Set, School, a series of four free community days designed to support families in getting their children prepared to learn in the fall.

Sponsored by Independence Blue Cross, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, and Keystone First, the Museum partnered with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to serve as the official vaccine partner, which administered 276 COVID-19 vaccines.

Each Community Day offered a vaccine clinic and centered on a wellness theme: Eating for Energy, Healthy Smiles, Understanding Feelings, and Bust a Move. Twenty community partners supported the public health event series, providing engaging programming, access to vital health-related resources and information, and offering giveaways to families in attendance.

Visitors engaged in programming on the importance of exercise and good nutrition; learned how to express feelings through art-making; practiced mindfulness meditations; participated in storytimes facilitated by child therapists; and discovered how food provides energy for the body so children can be ready to learn in school.

INVESTMENTS IN KINDERGARTEN READINESS: $1 Million in Federal Funding

“It’s never too early to start preparing our youngest minds for the future, and that’s exactly what the Please Touch Museum is doing.”

UNITED STATES SENATOR BOB CASEY, JUNE 2022

After meeting with families participating in the final cohort of the Museum’s pilot Kindergarten Readiness Experience (KRE), a research-based program that partners with families to help young children develop social-emotional skills needed to navigate the transition to kindergarten, Senator Casey announced a $1 million investment to advance strategic priorities for the program from 2022-2024.

The Kindergarten Readiness Experience addresses several crucial issues facing families with young children in Philadelphia, including the lack of socialization opportunities before entering formal learning environments and access to high-quality early childhood learning programs. Foundational to the program’s development was recognizing the adult caregivers — parents, grandparents, foster parents, or other parental figures — as their child’s first teacher and celebrating them for the critical role they play in their child’s future.

The initial research and pilot program for KRE in 2019-2021 was made possible through support of Vanguard’s Strong Start for Kids Program. The $1 million in federal funding through a U.S. Department of Education grant will support the Museum’s Phase 2 expansion, which includes external research and evaluation. The funding also supports deepening and expanding PTM’s partnerships with Philadelphia schools and teachers.

This transformational federal funding will allow the Museum to continue its work as the third place for learning, where families can gather to grow and learn together.

EARLY PILOT RESULTS

5578% INCREASE IN SCHOOLREADINESS SKILLS

88% PARTICIPANTS REPORTED CREATING A READING NOOK AT HOME

94% CAREGIVERS READ ALOUD TO CHILDREN A FEW TIMES PER WEEK

INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMMING AND EXPERIENCES: The Importance of Learning through Play

FY22 VISITATION

265,173 TOTAL VISITORS

30% FREE OR REDUCED ADMISSION VISITORS, EQUALING $1.6M IN COMMUNITY BENEFIT

6,167 TOTAL MEMBER FAMILIES

8,046 FIRST WEDNESDAY VISITORS

As more families returned to the Museum after its extended closure in 2020-21, PTM increased its programming for fun, for learning, and for all.

Traveling exhibits explored cherished memories from the past and modern classics of today. The Wizard of Oz Educational Exhibit opened in October 2021, exploring themes of bravery, kindness, and personal character.

In February 2022, things became wonderfully wacky as visitors manipulated crazy chain-reaction contraptions built to complete simple tasks in overcomplicated ways inspired by the work of Rube Goldberg, in Rube Goldberg: The World of Hilarious Invention! exhibit.

In June 2022, children wore lab coats and wielded stethoscopes as they cared for the animals in the Toy Hospital while learning about health habits, compassion, and nurturing care as part of Disney Junior’s Doc McStuffins: The Exhibit.

The Museum welcomed the return of school groups for its guided field trip programs, along with First Wednesdays sponsored by TD Charitable Foundation, when the Museum extends its hours into the evening with $2 admission after 4 pm.

Throughout the year, the Museum celebrated the diversity of cultures and communities. Special programming featured artists, performers, and storytellers, who provided engaging learning experiences, recognizing Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Holi, Pride, Juneteenth, and more.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Museum was open six days a week during FY 2022 and saw a 327% increase in visitation over FY 2021.

PTM’s Community Benefit program, offering free or reduced Museum admission through free Community Days, Museums For All/ACCESS, First Wednesday, Play Without Boundaries, and Blue Star, saw an increase of 336% over FY 2021, accounting for 30% of Museum visitation in FY 2022.

Earned revenue in FY 2022 covered 63% of operating expenses — compared to only 38% during FY 2021. The Museum spent $400,000 in education, programming, and exhibits costs during the year.

Cash and equivalents were $6.6M in FY 2022, compared to $7.3M in FY 2021. The Museum also received $319K in employee retention tax credits (ERTC). The Museum received grants and contribution pledges of $1.6M and a second Paycheck Protection Program loan was forgiven.

Revenue & Support, Expenses, and Assets

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

Our sincere gratitude for the contributors who supported Please Touch Museum between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022.

$100,000+

Anonymous

Patricia D. Wellenbach and Lawrence G. McMichael

$25,999-$99,999

Beth Rohlfing and Richard L. Tewksbury

$10,000-$24,999

Chris Campbell and Bill Massa

Karen Griffith Gryga

Carole Haas Gravagno

Kristen and David Han

Meghan and Benjamin Johnson

Christine and Brian Lobley

Aisling Murphy

Family of Portia Sperr

Tina and Shawn Tuli

Jennifer and Timothy Vecchiarelli

$5,000-$9,999

Angeline Arumainayagam

David M. Davis

Samantha Funk and Christian Hampson

Judith and Scott Hartzell

Arianna O. and Nicholas Lewko

Lisa and Greg Millhauser

Beth and Edgar Miranda

Cathy and Henry Nassau

Christyn L. Rossman and Jason Poore

Tracey and Chris Santilli

Matt Simon

Portia Hamilton-Sperr

The Tevah Fund, Judy and Ken Weinstein

Jessica and Gabriel Weissman

$1,000-$4,999

Willo Carey and Peter A. Benoliel

Harris T. Bock

Sharon and Kevin Coghlan

Robert Cohen

Ashley Davis

Mary and Howard Hurtig

Kate and Julian Jiggins

Carol Johnson

Maggie and Alan Kaplan

Harsinie Panditaratne and Matthew Morgan

Martha and Duncan Pitcairn

Meagan and Osman Sheikh

Mengmeng Shen

Julie Sloan

Ivy Silver and Steven Leshner

Shanna and Tyson Sowell

Sally and Lee Stetson

The Vincent Family Education Fund, Margaret O. and Fred C. Vincent

Virginia “Ginny” Palmieri Family Fund

Waterman Family Foundation, Joe and Jolly Waterman

Lisa and Paul Yakulis

Pamela Zimmerman

$500-$999

Anonymous

Elinor and James Buck

Sarah Burke and Takanori Ishizuka

Petersen Curt and Kirsten Johnson

Jane and Vincent Firth

Samantha Gibb Roff

Karla Leavens and Robert Lee

May and Ray Massa

Bruce Meyer

Jacqueline Morrill and Samuel Donahue

Charlene Palmisano

Gregory Parson

Mimi Sweeney

Jihye Tahk and Matt Thomas

Michael Walker

Valerie and Roger Wood

$100-$499

Mary S. and Peter Austen

Pablo Azar

Barry Becker

Scott Berger

Elisa and Jeffrey Bowley

Joanna Brinton

John Bunzel

Elizabeth Carmalt

Karen and Francis Ciccarino

Lucia Rose and Michael Colvin

Kirk Dorn

Muhammad Durrani

Karen Elinich

Aletheia Fin

Barry and Carlos Friswold-Colon

Susan and Glenn Fuir

Joyce and Sidney Gamburg

Colby Garber

Laura Geller and Matthew Courtin

Ravi Gill

Patrick Grecco

Joe Heck

Katherine H. Hovde and Kenneth M. Kulak

Sarah Kloss and Hari Palaiyanur

Nancy and Roy Kolb

Gail and Jeffrey Krimstock

Kate Loesch

Kate Malgieri and Jennifer Lorenzon

Mindy and Larry Nadel

Sara Nerken

Nicole Ochroch

Susan W. and Robert Peck

Shelly Power

Adam Rom

Emily and Suby Ross

Ralph R. Smith

Laura and Andrew Sparks

Corinne Stahl

Danielle Sutherland

Sarah Vahlstrom

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

$250,000-$499,999

The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation

The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage

$100,000-$249,999

National Endowment for the Humanities

$50,000-$99,999

Bank of America

Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross Foundation

$25,000-$49,999

Bimbo Bakeries USA

PECO

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

TD Charitable Foundation

$10,000-$24,999

AmerisourceBergen Service Corporation

Bassetts Ice Cream Company

The Benevity Community Impact Fund

The Blackbaud Giving Fund

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Five Below

Keystone First

PNC Bank, National Association

Schwab Charitable Fund

TD Bank

Tierney

$2,500-$9,999

Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation

Core Paricipant Network

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dilworth Paxson LLP

Fidelity Charitable Fulton Bank

The GIANT Company

The Glenmede Trust

Ladies Aid Society of the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

Osage Industries Inc.

Philadelphia Eagles

Signature 57

Talcott Administration Services Company

$1,000-$2,499

BBD, LLP

Bellevue Strategies, LLC

Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia

Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath

Financial Communications Society

IBM Corporation

Jim Roche Real Estate Team

Kaplan Partners

Kevin Luchko Lending Team

Major Media LLC

The Philadelphia Foundation

Philadelphia Zoo

Tompkins Insurance Agencies, Inc.

United Way of Alabama

USI Insurance Services

Vanguard Charitable

Vanguard Group Foundation

Visit Philadelphia

BOARD OF TRUSTEES & COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022

Board of Trustees

Christine Campbell, Chair

Shawn Tuli, Vice Chair

Kristen D. Han, Secretary

Donna Saul Millen, Treasurer & COO

Patricia D. Wellenbach, President & CEO

MEMBERS

Angeline Arumainayagam

David M. Davis

Samantha Funk

Karen Griffith Gryga

Arianna Orpello Lewko

Amy Lim

Greg Millhauser

Christyn L. Rossman

Tracey Santilli

Matt Simon

Richard (Dick) Tewksbury, Jr.

Timothy Vecchiarelli

Gabriel (Gabe) Weissman

EMERITUS

Elizabeth B. Cartmell

Sharon Coghlan, Esq.

Anne Hamilton

Gie Liem

Portia Sperr, Founder, Please Touch Museum

Community Advisory Council

Ron Allen

Shakia Boulware

Mike Burch

Robert Buscher

Cathy Cahill

Roberta & Alfonzo Connor

Calla Cousar

Ruby Davis

Evon Delee

Julia Diggs

Pam Evans

Lorraine Gomez

Cass Green

Falena Hand

Monica Harmon

Tina Harris

Rachel Honore

Lucinda Hudson

John Jordan

Charlene Mills

Pastor Joe E. Nock

Deion Payton

Derrick Pratt

Chris Spahr

Kelly Thomas

Dwayne Walker

Alice Wright

Yuka Yokoyama

4231 Avenue of the Republic

Philadelphia, PA 19131

PleaseTouchMuseum.org

Please Touch®, Please Touch Museum®, The Children’s Museum of Philadelphia, Where Learning is Child’s Play and Science All Around Us are registered trademarks of Please Touch Museum.

A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylavnia 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 Alliance of Museums.

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