Children's Museum Virtual Play Soirée Shined a Light on Service

DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) hosted Play Soirée, a joyful celebration of creativity, resilience, and perseverance, on June 12, 2021. The virtual event raised more than $145,000 and was streamed into homes across the region and at an in-person watch party hosted by DCM.

The program featured DCM leaders, partners, advocates, and beneficiaries who each played a critical role in the extraordinary success of the Museum during the last 15 months of unique challenges throughout pandemic uncertainty. Museum CEO, Andrea Wiles, elaborated on the strategies employed by the DCM team to reach new audiences through collaboration and partnership with dedication of families, donors, and stakeholders throughout the communities we serve. “We made it our mission to break through the walls of isolation to support those juggling the nearly impossible last year while the ground on which they stood shifted constantly.”

Wiles explained, “Our vision is that all children have access to exceptional early learning and STEAM experiences. We are committed to work in partnership with parents, caregivers and all who serve them to build the pathways, the bridges, the tunnels and the momentum to ensure the opportunity for each child to reach their full unique learning potential. The path to our future; the path to equity; begins in early childhood and traverses through exceptional experiences in play, discovery, science, math and engineering. DuPage Children’s Museum is not a nice to have; it is a must have. We are the nimble partner in our communities who can fill gaps and remove barriers. As a partner. Not alone. Together.”

Also featured were testimonials from critical partners whose constituents benefitted from the targeted work of DCM. DuPagePads CEO, April Redzic, spoke about the staggering increase of families with young children facing homelessness during the pandemic. She also shared the unique challenges children face when they do not have access to secure housing, and how STEM with DCM programs allowed those children to engage in hands-on play that inspired them to dream bigger and exclaim, “I want to be a scientist!”

DCM’s Play Soirée program featured a keynote address from scientist J’Tia Hart, PhD. Dr. Hart’s curiosity as a young learner sparked interest in a career as a nuclear engineer researching uses of STEM to encourage peaceful applications. However, finding her way to a STEM career was a challenge because of a lack of representation in a field dominated by men. Hart commended the DCM Great Friend to Kid Award recipient, Andrea Beaty, for using her characters in the Questioneers book series to celebrate curiosity and nurture the STEM talent of young women and challenging gender bias in the STEM field.

One of the Play Soirée guests shared, “I always thought of the museum as a fun place to take my kids and grandkids. I had no idea how much community engagement was happening to support underserved children and families. It is really impressive work.” DCM early learning specialists lead engagement efforts with community partners who serve under resourced families. Partners in Play (PiP) participants from East Aurora JumpStart 131 and Teen Parent Connection reflected on the impact of DCM’s programming to help them understand the importance of play as the way children learn. Parent Jocelyn Brionez shared the impact the PiP program has had on her family. “I have learned about how to use certain toys and how to talk with the children while they play; I am more actively engaged in what they are doing during play time. My daughter is only two and she is so verbal! I feel so blessed to have this resource.”

During the event, DCM recognized bestselling childrens’ author, Andrea Beaty, as the Museum’s 2021 Great Friend to Kids Award recipient. Annually, the Museum honors exceptional individuals who have demonstrated a genuine commitment to all children through their work and giving. Beaty was introduced by Chicago Community Trust, COO, Andrea Saenz, who leveraged her experience as a mom and former first deputy commissioner and chief strategy officer at the Chicago Public Library to underscore the power of Beaty’s characters and stories.

Saenz explained, “Ms. Beaty’s inclusive and compelling vision for pathways into historically exclusive careers beautifully challenges long-held biases and has undoubtedly inspired children of all backgrounds to pursue their innate curiosity and creativity. Her books also equip families to support and encourage their children to learn and grow through challenges, including through failure.” She concluded her remarks by saying, “I’m so pleased that DuPage Children's Museum has selected Andrea Beaty as the 2021 Great Friend to Kids Award recipient. She is exactly what our children need her to be, demonstrating multicultural representation, celebrating diversity, and giving children permission to make mistakes. Her bold way of calling out life’s limitations, and the limitations we put on ourselves, gives kids the courage to learn through failure – and we all know learning takes courage and encouragement.”

In addition to the individual donors who contributed to the Benefit Ball, DCM would like to extend sincere appreciation to sponsors who supported this event: Molex, David & Orit Carpenter, Wintrust, PNC, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Busey Bank, Croke Fairchild Morgan & Beres, Pepper Construction, Vistex Foundation, and The Sidley Austin Foundation and Media Sponsor ABC 7 Chicago. Their generous gifts and continued support of DCM’s mission and vision advance exceptional early learning Arts and STEM experiences so that all children reach their full unique learning potential through hands-on play.

To make a gift to Keep the Play Growing at DuPage Children's Museum, please visit dupagechildrens.org/give/ or contact DCM Chief of Development, Renee Miklosik at 630.637.8000 x2400 or via email at rmiklosik@dupagechildrensmuseum.org.