EdVenture Children’s Museum in Columbia draws children from across South Carolina to play on a firetruck, inside a “grocery” store and on – and in – the enormous Eddie.
While many of the museum’s features are for small children – preschool and elementary school-aged – there are a number of programs at the museum that help develop youth in middle grades.
And a new corporate gift from Colonial Life to EdVenture will help support those programs.
A $75,000 contribution from Colonial Life will support three of EdVenture’s youth development programs, including Future Leaders, Museum Apprentice Program and BioInvestigators Program, for multiple years. It will also make Colonial Life the presenting sponsor of the BeABoss Youth Summit for 2017, 2018 and 2019.
“While most people know us for the museum, many aren’t aware of all the programs we offer for older children both inside and outside of the building,” said Karen Coltrane, EdVenture president and CEO. “So we’re especially grateful that Colonial Life saw the impact we’re making and offered to partner with us to reach even more children.”
Through Colonial Life’s donation, the BeABoss Youth Summit will empower 200 middle school students by teaming up with community leaders to make plans for future success. The Summit will be free for participants and will include a pep rally, a lunch and learn with community leaders, exhibitors and resources to help support continued development. The 2017 BeABoss Youth Summit will feature celebrity Chef Jeff Henderson of Flip My Food.
“This is another example of Colonial Life’s strong support for organizations that benefit and educate our children,” said Mary Wagnon, assistant vice president, pricing actuary and member of the EdVenture board of directors. “Partnering with great organizations like EdVenture allows us to not only provide financial resources to support ongoing programs but also to provide volunteer resources to make such programs as successful as possible.”
Colonial Life has supported EdVenture since its inception, originally as an investor in the capital campaign that helped build this imaginative and creative space for children in our community and visitors to South Carolina.
“I’m personally excited about the BeABoss Youth Summit coming up in early 2017, where I’ll have the opportunity to interact with participants to help them develop leadership skills and create plans for success,” said Tim Arnold, Colonial Life president and CEO.
