Chicago Children's Museum

What awaits at Hide N Seek 2025: A Night in Monte Carlo? Check out these activity sneak peeks and try your luck — if you dare… 💎 Because you can never sparkle too much, add some shine to your collection in our Gallery of Glam Art Studio, sponsored by Kendra Scott Jewelry, featuring the Kendra Scott Color Bar. 🍷 Buried deep in the Wine Mine are special bottles of wine in our Dinosaur Expedition, transformed for one night only. Will you strike gold? 🃏 Dare to play and try your luck in our Skyline Casino with poker, blackjack, roulette, and more! Be a part of this one-of-a-kind, can’t-miss event on April 26 — hosted by the Associates Board to raise vital funds for Chicago Children's Museum. P.S. it's the final week to take advantage of our Early Bird discount. Purchase your ticket before 3/31 for $25 off! CCM.org/hidenseek

Thank you to all 130+ donors, members, and CCM friends who attended last Wednesday's exclusive Closer Look event for a sneak peek at our latest exhibit, Zoom Room. Attendees were invited to play, explore, and race through Zoom Room before learning about the world of racing during a conversation with Alex Rorke (President of the Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association) and Julie Giese (President of NASCAR Chicago Street Race). We are so thankful to Julie and Alex for making the time to share with us! And finally, a special thank you to our friends NASCAR Chicago Street Race for the die-cast cars each family got to take home in their special goodie bags. We couldn't imagine a better way to welcome Zoom Room's return! 🏁 If you haven't already, get in the driver's seat now through September - learn more at ccm.org/zoom-room. 🏁 To learn more about the Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association, visit VSCDA.org. 🏁 To learn more about NASCAR Chicago, visit NASCARChicago.com. (P.S. tickets are now available and, new for 2025, kids 12 & under are FREE throughout the weekend with a ticketed adult Grounds Pass!)

Save the date and try your luck at 🎲 Hide N Seek: A Night in Monte Carlo 🎲  hosted by the CCM Associates Board.    ♠️ Saturday, April 26  ♥️ From 7pm-12am  ♣️ At Chicago Children's Museum  ♦️ Adults-Night-Out, 21+     For one night only, explore the museum after hours — totally transformed for a night of fun, food, drinks, and play, inspired by Monaco. From the Casino to the Masters, the Grand Prix, and more, dare to play (and win!) - for yourself and for all children who experience the power of play at Chicago Children's Museum. All funds raised go towards access initiatives like Play for All and Museums for All to remove barriers to play and learning for nearly 100,000 children and families each year.      Purchase your ticket now and SAVE $40 with a limited-time early bird discount at ccm.org/hidenseek!

Chicago Children’s Museum is pleased to welcome Roopa Weber of Ariel Investments, Jordan Dubnow of Cedar Pine, and Megan Jiménez of Slate Asset Management to our Board of Directors officially, as of January 1, 2025! Our Board of Directors is a group of committed volunteers who contribute their leadership, talents, support, and time to further the museum’s mission of creating a community where play and learning connect. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our new Board Members!

Chicago Children's Museum is excited to be featured as a special guest in mOppenheim Org's Nonprofit Report, a weekly update on nonprofit organizations, issues, and leaders. Jennifer Farrington (President & CEO of Chicago Children's Museum) discussed the importance of children's museums in fostering a love of learning in children alongside special guests Rayanne Darensbourg (CEO of Children's Museum Houston) and Deborah Spiegelman (CEO & Executive Director of Miami Children's Museum). Learn more about the role children’s museums play in the museum ecosystem at https://lnkd.in/gX-sfBJR.

🌟 A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our Annual Meeting at Chicago Children's Museum! 🌟 We had the incredible opportunity to welcome the CCM Board of Directors, Associates Board, Advisory Board, and Community Council to the museum to explore some of the unique spaces, programs, and practices that make CCM special. Attendees got to go behind-the-scenes, in sessions led by CCM's own expert educators, leaders, and staff. This meeting gave us the chance to join together in community, while reflecting on the impacts made both within the museum and beyond our walls. As we look to the future, we are so thankful for your support, and continued belief in the power of play.

Yesterday morning, families, educators, community partners, Chicago Public Schools staff, CCM staff, and students joined together at Webster Elementary's new Curiosity Classroom for a very special ribbon-cutting! ✂️ 🥳 This new addition to Webster Elementary is one of 15 Curiosity Classrooms opened this fall, making for 25 total across the city! Curiosity Classrooms are hands-on, multi-sensory STEAM classrooms serving more than 3,000 students and staff, designed by Chicago Children’s Museum and created in partnership with the CPS Office of Early Childhood Education. This initiative is made possible through leadership support from Crown Family Philanthropies and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, as well as a generous gift from CME Group Foundation. Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday to experience, explore, and play in this classroom that will inspire collaboration, curiosity, and playful learning for years to come. Learn more about this initiative at curiosityclassrooms.org.

Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, donated to, or contributed in any way to 2024 Gala: Play Today, Shape Tomorrow! ✨ This year we raised more than $1.2 million and hosted 530+ attendees at The Geraghty to make a better world through play and joyful human connection. 🎉 A very special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Clayco, and our Gala committee, led by Co-Chairs Ellenna Berger and Andrew G. Miller. We cannot thank you enough for your generous support that propels the success of CCM. ICYMI: Our gala happens every year and raises vital funds that allow us to create extraordinary playful learning experiences for years to come – both in the museum and within our communities. Stay tuned for next year's gala, and ways to support. CCM.org/Gala #ChicagoChildrensMuseum #CCMGala2024 #PlayTodayShapeTomorrow

Chapman is proud to sponsor the Chicago Children's Museum's Annual Gala “Play Today, Shape Tomorrow.” Chapman attorney Bianca W. serves on the Associate Board and will be joined by partners John Luchristt and David Sykes. Connect with them there!

👏 A special round of applause to our premier sponsors Outline Interiors/Laura Tribbett & Charles A. Tribbett, IV and Russell Reynolds Associates/Lisa Brown Tribbett & Charles A. Tribbett III! 👏 2024 Gala: Play Today, Shape Tomorrow wouldn't be possible without the amazing support of our sponsors, co-chairs, attendees, and all who support Chicago Children's Museum's mission. 🥂 Learn more about our annual gala - happening this Saturday, November 16 - at ccm.org/gala.