CMEE Awarded $153K

“The Children’s Museum of the East End is thrilled to be partnering with the Town of Southampton to create a satellite location in Riverside, one of the poorest communities on Long Island,” said president of the museum, Stephen Long. “In addition to helping revitalize Riverside, this funding allows us to bring much-needed educational programming to families who don’t have the ability to travel to our location in Bridgehampton.”

He said Congressman Lee Zeldin helped make the grant possible. Last congressional session, Zeldin voted in favor of H.R. 6157, which President Donald Trump signed into law, providing $242 million in funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services to advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development.

“Since its founding, the Children’s Museum of the East End has made learning fun and accessible, inspiring the next generation of Long Islanders to explore the depths of their imaginations while fostering a profound sense of community,” Zeldin said. “Its unparalleled exhibits have made it one of the most visited museums on eastern Long Island, but there are still many children who do not have the opportunity to travel to Bridgehampton. This important funding will allow the museum to expand its educational opportunities in Riverside, bringing the joy of learning to local children.”

CMEE also announced that it has been awarded $14,000 from Capital One. The funding will be used to expand Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math mentors to families living in Riverside. The mentorship program for Latino children is designed to galvanize interest in these “STEAM” subjects and encourage students to pursue this interest in their higher education.

“As one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. population, it’s especially urgent to encourage Latino children to pursue STEAM education in order to meet the growing demand for jobs in these fields,” said Leah Oppenheimer, CMEE’s director of outreach. “Good mentorship has been proven to be one of the most effective ways for kids to pursue these careers.”

Launched in 2016, the popularity of the STEAM mentorship program has grown to the point where the museum can no longer accommodate all students who wish to participate. The award will allow the program to expand, particularly serving families who might otherwise not be able to make the trip to Bridgehampton.

CMEE welcomes more than 75,000 visitors annually. The museum opened in 2005 and offers over 7000 square feet of interactive, hands-on exhibits, classrooms, and performance space. CMEE’s mission is “to spark imagination and foster learning for children of all backgrounds and abilities, and to build strong connections within the East End community by providing playful experiences.” For more information, visit www.cmee.org.

desiree@indyeastend.com