CLEVELAND (May 24, 2025) – Great Lakes Science Center kicked off the public phase of its Force for Tomorrow campaign Thursday evening with the goal of raising $25 million to create new exhibition galleries, ensure the museum’s innovative programming is accessible for the entire community, and to make a long-lasting commitment to the Science Center’s future.
Science Center fundraisers are well on their way toward meeting that goal, said Great Lakes Science Center Board Member Howard Lewis, who is co-chair of the campaign, as he announced the launch of the campaign at the Anchor Ball gala on May 22, 2025.
“With a bold goal of $25 million, we are revitalizing our exhibition galleries, expanding access to transformative opportunities, and growing our endowment to ensure the long-term sustainability of our mission,” Lewis told the gala’s more than 400 attendees. “Together, we can ignite curiosity and inspire all who walk through our doors. I am thrilled to announce that, as of tonight, we are 73 percent to our goal.”
The new campaign has the full support of the Science Center’s Board of Directors who have all committed to making gifts to fund the museum’s endowment.
Science Center visitors are already seeing tangible results of the campaign. A $2.25 million investment in the Science Center by JobsOhio in honor of Sherwin-Williams allowed for the creation of the Sherwin-Williams Cleveland Creates Gallery. The new permanent exhibition, which opened in 2024, allows guests to explore the tools and skills driving STEM career opportunities in Northeast Ohio.
Construction will begin this summer on a new $1.2 million early childhood exhibit, Handle With Care, scheduled to open in the fall. The exhibit, designed for children ages 8 and younger, will incorporate STEM learning and fundamental engineering principles, while fostering empathy and creativity through imaginative play. The project was made possible with support by the Reinberger Foundation, PNC Foundation, Carol A. Barnak, the Nancy Andrews Foundation, the Joan. P Wenk Charitable Foundation, Zest Pediatrics, the Stocker Foundation and Medical Mutual.
A new gallery of interactive exhibits and hands-on experiments allowing guests to explore the vital role technology plays in how we use, clean, and protect fresh water is on the horizon following Handle With Care.
An additional $1 million gift from Parker Hannifin will ensure all local children can visit the Science Center and experience these new exhibits, by funding free field trips for students across Title-I eligible schools in the region.
Other gifts will support the Science Center’s endowment, providing long-term financial security for the museum.
“Each gift to the campaign represents an investment in our growth and financial stability ensuring that Great Lakes Science Center remains a vital part of the community and continues to be a regional center of excellence where guests and their families go to learn, experiment and grow – today, tomorrow and forever,” said Science Center President & CEO Kirsten Ellenbogen. “It allows us to continue to grow our educational and workforce development programming. Every dollar donated is a commitment to the future, allowing us to provide the community with new opportunities to cultivate the innovators of tomorrow.”
About Great Lakes Science Center
Great Lakes Science Center is one of the top 10 museums in the nation as celebrated by the 2025 USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel award for Best Science Museum. The Science Center hosted Total Eclipse Fest in 2024, one of the largest free eclipse events in the country and is home to the NASA Glenn Visitor Center. The Science Center makes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) come alive for more than 300,000 visitors a year through hundreds of hands-on exhibits, temporary exhibitions, the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater, historic Steamship William G. Mather, daily science demonstrations, seasonal camps and more. The Science Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit institution, earned a 2023 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid, a leading provider of insight and data about the non-profit world. The Science Center is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Visit GreatScience.com for more information.
