Dear *{{First Name}}*,

Each year, I write to let you know how grants and your donations have helped during the year and how you can help for the upcoming year. In 2026, we were very fortunate to have help in several areas. Below are some of the needs that were taken care of:

•    The old telephone system and security camera system were replaced with grant dollars from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC). Both were not working correctly, and the need was huge to replace them.
•    MMCM believes every child should be able to experience the museum. In 2026, a grant from GM Corporate Giving Fund paid the bulk of the cost for field trips to assist both public and private schools. So many schools do not have the means to bring their students to MMCM. The donations, grants, and Kids at Heart fundraiser net proceeds earmarked for field trips made it possible for the following to visit: through July 2026, these gifts paid for 3667 children, 493 teachers, 1516 lessons, and 107 bus stipends of $50 per bus, with a maximum of 2 buses per field trip. We are not done with the year! It takes around $35,000 to assist the schools. We are in need of donations and grants for the 2026-2027 school year.
•    The Insides Out gallery and its different medical areas were updated, including the replacement of the big heart. This was done with personal donations and grants from Saginaw Community Foundation, Covenant Healthcare, and MyMichigan Health.
•    Many sponsors helped with the community events.
•    The front of the building will be tuck-pointed, and other minor repairs were completed.
•    A new conveyor will be arriving soon to replace the broken one in Aunt Sugar’s Farm & Uncle Pickles Barn, thanks to a grant from Michigan Sugar
•    Each of the donors is listed on our website (unless a request has been made not to be listed): michildrensmuseum.org. We share on social media the many sponsors that help the museum throughout the year. We hope to include your name for 2027!

In 2027, a new gallery is being planned. It is a replica of Round Island Lighthouse that sits across the shipping channel from Mackinac Island. Freeland Boy Scouts have worked on this lighthouse for over 25 years.

The project will be a community build for the shell. The inside will be fabricated and will have nautical-themed hands-on activities. The estimated cost for the fabrication and the materials needed for the construction is $135,000. We are seeking donations towards this gallery and also volunteers to assist with construction. We will be promoting all who help. The starting date will be announced later once the funds are secured.

There are different ways you can help the museum. Attached is a form that lists the many ways your gift can be directed by you. Donations can go toward general expenses, or donations can be restricted to a specific use. We hope you will be able to help us in 2027 so that MMCM can keep providing services to the community. 

Thank you for helping to keep MMCM relevant and a safe place for children to play and learn!

Click the 'Donate Today' button below, or you can text MMCM2026 to 50155 for steps on how to donate online. You can also call (989) 399-6626 to make a one-time donation over the phone.

Luke Hendrick

While our outdoor pavilion is currently closed until May 1st, there are picnic tables inside the museum near the entrance available for anyone who wants to take a break from playing in the museum and eat lunch or a snack.

The museum is now open on Sundays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and Sunday birthday parties may once again be scheduled.

Sunday birthday party times are 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm or 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. The entire museum is available for after-hours birthday parties or for other events like family gatherings and corporate events. As the weather gets colder, our indoor birthday parties become more popular and are often booked months in advance. Please book your party as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

You can find information about our birthday parties on our website by clicking the "parties" button, or calling the museum directly. To check for date and time availability, please call us at 989-399-6626.

October is here with some crisp fall weather. If you are looking for a fun indoor activity for your toddler, we will have a craft in our lobby every Tuesday from 11-11:30 am, included with regular admission. 

As your appointed "Gallery Guru," I am excited to be getting our new conveyor for Aunt Sugar's Farm/Uncle Pickle's Barn gallery very soon. We hope this makes playtime at the farm even better. We are working on some minor updates around the museum as well. 

If you see something new and really like it, please let our front desk staff know. If you notice an area that you have a great idea for, also let them know, and they can share your ideas with me to see if it fits our mission. I strive to keep the museum in good working order for all of you!

Would you like to commemorate a special day, honor a loved one, or create a lasting legacy at the museum? Our personalized plaques, displayed on two of our majestic kid statues, allow your tribute to shine. One statue, adorned with silver colored “In Honor Of” plaques, inspires celebration, while the other, featuring gold colored “In Memory Of” plaques, offers a heartfelt remembrance.

Volunteers are needed to make MMCM's family-friendly Halloween Monster Mix & Mash a fun and memorable event for families and children to have a fun and memorable experience.  Help is needed for setup, face painting, and themed crafts and games.

Event setup: Friday, October 30th, 3:30 pm - 5 pm

Event day: Saturday, October 31st

There are 3 shifts available:

Shift 1:  9:45 am – 1:30 pm

Shift 2:  1:15 pm – 5:15 pm

Shift 3:  9:45 am – 5:15 pm

If you are interested, please contact Whitney (Volunteer Coordinator) by e-mail with the button below or by phone: (989) 399-6626.

Our amazing volunteers of the Month are Tara & Lily Fritz, a mother-daughter team that began volunteering at MMCM in June 2026 and together have donated 140 hours of their time.

When Lily & Tara come to volunteer, they bring positive energy and smiles. They help in the galleries, sorting donations, with craft preparation, and special events. Being able to see Lily’s confidence and enhance her life skills is something special to be a part of. Their commitment to MMCM continues to make them a cherished addition to our volunteer team. Thank you, Lily & Tara, for your help!

"Lily and I absolutely love volunteering at the Children's Museum!! Lily is always so happy when we come in because she can see purpose in her tasks. Her confidence has grown immensely, which has also made her more comfortable with trying new activities and communicating with others. And I am so glad that I get a chance to help while spending quality time with my daughter. To all of the wonderful staff, we can't thank you enough!!”-Tara

“Pinch on the left, pinch on my right, grab Pandy’s hand and hold on tight!”  The Gabby’s Dollhouse MEOWseum Discovery Days fun continues until Sunday, October 4th! Located in the Airways Gallery of the museum, guests will be able to snap a picture with a magical Gabby’s Dollhouse backdrop and life-size Gabby standee! In addition to this awesome photo opportunity, MMCM will be hosting a scavenger hunt all week long! Hidden throughout MMCM’s galleries will be pictures of Gabby and her friends. At the end of the trail, scan the QR code for a cat-tastic photo filter to use on your pictures! Please note: there will not be a live Gabby character for kids to meet with, just the cardboard prop for photo purposes. All additional crafts and activities relating to Gabby’s Dollhouse will be included in regular museum admission. 

Keep an eye on our Facebook and website for more information about the paw-some extras we have in store! 

Friday, October 2nd 

Mermaid Slime 

1:00pm-3:00pm 

Saturday, October 3rd 

Kitty Ear Headbands & Cat Wands 

11:00am-1:00pm 

Sunday, October 4th 

Memory Game Tournament 

1:00pm-2:00pm 

It’s time to put on your best costume and party! Our annual Halloween Monster Mix & Mash will be hosted on Saturday, October 31st from 10:00AM until 4:00PM! Fill up on Monstrous Graham Crackers, create your own Toilet Paper Tube Monster, and decorate your own Paper Plate Sugar Skulls! Wear your favorite costume and mix it up with other ghouls and ghosts, and then participate in our frightening dance party! Please note this event is not a trunk-or-treat-style event and will be a candy-alternative event. Stop in for a frighteningly fun time! 

Don’t miss out on our Saturday Scrap Studio Kits! These craft kits can be made at the museum in our Scrap Studio or taken home to be done later. Scrap Studio Kits are included in admission to the museum and are only available while supplies last. 

Halloween Necklaces 

Candy Corn Magnets 

Tissue Paper Candy Corn 

Well, hello *{{First Name}}*,

What an exciting month September was! All sorts of fun events and activities, and cooler weather (Yessss!) I hope you were all enjoying Touch-A-Truck regardless of the rain. Check out those pics! I wish I could fit them all in this newsletter, but I can't. I'm likely pushing its deliverability already! We have lots of things to show and tell and so little space to do it! If you want to see more, check them out on the web here:  https://michildrensmuseum.org/event-info/

Did you see those puppies?!?! So CUTE! Or what about that little City Sewer bot? It has a camera that pops up out of the end like an alien! It was very cool! Also, cool that they brought it out! I was going to say especially with it raining, but I have a feeling it was in its element out there. To be fair, I imagine rain is a lot nicer than what it's normally covered in. Haha. 

Anyways, Happy Spooky/ Pumpkin Spiced Everything Season! I hope you join us for Gabby's and Halloween Monster Mix and Mash - in FULL COSTUME! Like Barney Stinson would say: SUIT UP!

Until then, take care, see you soon!

And thanks, as always, for making it to the end of the newsletter.

For those of you who are new here, I like to include something fun and interactive at the end of the newsletter. This year, I’m doing word searches! The words can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, and they can appear forwards or backwards to make it a little more challenging. Clicking on the image should take you to a website where you can complete it digitally! Enjoy!

I've added two (#15 & #16) fun ones at the end. If you don't already know what they are, it's a quick search and read! It's always fun to play and learn something new!

Luke Hendrick (Board Chair) - RC Hendrick & Son, Inc.
Ryan Shepard (Board Vice Chair) - Garber Management Group
Marisa Ahrens (Treasurer) - Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Advisors
Kristen Opperman (Secretary) - Hemlock Semiconductor
Erika Ardouin (Immediate Past Chair) - Garber Management Group

Dennis Barlow - Saginaw Intermediate School District
Dr. David Cline - Saginaw Valley State University

Kosta Povich - Braun Kendrick Finkbeiner PLC

Stacie Quast - Remax Results

Adam Root - Nexteer

Paul Sanderude - Dow Chemical Company

Karen Stiffler - MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw

Domingo Vasquez III - Musico Lessons LLC

Chris Young - Dow Chemical Company

Michelle Youngstrom - Trinity Lutheran Preschool

*{{Organization Address}}*