ShareWell Announces Funding And Debuts Renderings For The New Cayton Children's Museum At 18th Annual Discovery Award Dinner

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On the evening of November 7, ShareWell, the non-profit organization that oversees the Zimmer Children's Museum and the youTHink youth development program hosted its 18^th Annual Discovery Award Dinner at the Skirball Cultural Center. Each year, the gala raises invaluable funds to continue the organization's mission of providing programs and experiences that instill social responsibility and community values in today's youth.

The dinner recognized honorees Barry & Andrea Cayton, Craig Erwich, and Sandra Stern for their continuous support of ShareWell initiatives. Barry L. Cayton is Founder and President of Audio Command Systems. His wife, Andrea, serves as Vice President of the Board of the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust and is an active supporter of Jewish philanthropy. Craig Erwich is the Senior Vice President of Originals at Hulu, the premium streaming service. Sandra Stern is the President of Lionsgate Television Group, a leading global entertainment company.

The evening honored the significant contributions of these key supporters as ShareWell prepares to embark on a new chapter through the opening of the Cayton Children's Museum in early 2019, relocating to a 21,000 square foot space at Santa Monica Place. "Thanks to the visionary and truly generous support of families and foundations – especially Andrea and Barry Cayton and The Goldrich Family Foundation – who believe in the need and impact of our work, we are making tremendous progress towards our goal. As Board Chair, it is an honor to lead ShareWell during this transformational moment in our history," said ShareWell's Board of Directors Chair Andy Kaplan.

Kaplan announced that of their 15 million dollar goal, ShareWell has already raised 10.8 million dollars. "When the Board learned that there was an opportunity to grow, to act on our mission in bigger and bolder ways, Courtney and I knew we had to join as Campaign Co-Chairs to make this dream a reality. We are well on our way to success, but we still have a gap to close and many innovative, engaging, and cutting-edge exhibits that need support to bring them to life," said ShareWell Board of Directors Vice Chair, Jamie Mandelbaum.

Designed by R&A Architecture + Design as an inclusive space for free and safe discovery, the new Cayton Children Museum's design was unveiled to event guests who were shown an exclusive first look at the interior renderings and design direction for the new museum, currently under construction.

Envisioned as a series of unexpected spaces, the museum's non-linear layout relies on a network of freestanding, tactile objects purposefully sited to frame portions of the five exhibit neighborhoods while not revealing the entirety of the museum's offerings all at once. The free plan approach affords each visitor the opportunity to chart his or her own "Path of Awesome" through more than 30 exhibits focused on helping kids play their way to a better world. The exterior of each architectural object was designed to have a unique interactive or tactile experience associated with it to further the museum's mandate for storytelling. Together, the objects and exhibits encourage activity throughout the open playscape and blur the line between exhibit and architecture. By prioritizing the power of play, The Cayton Children's Museum will inspire a sense of curiosity in a contemporary space designed for exploration and adventure.

ShareWell's Board of Directors Vice Chair Courtney Mizel adds in closing, "Building on our teachings at the Zimmer, the Cayton Children's Museum exhibits will have the power to shape a child's social consciousness and to help them understand the many roles they can play in our communities and in the world. The new exhibits speak to all of us and serve as a reminder of what is possible when we join together to make amazing things happen."

The Cayton Children's Museum is set to open in early 2019 at its new home at Santa Monica Place, located steps away from the Santa Monica Pier. To learn more, please visit www.sharewell.org 

ABOUT SHAREWELL
ShareWell is a Los Angeles-based non-profit comprised of two main program initiatives: the city's premiere children's museum and youTHink, an innovative youth development program. The organization guides children and youth to recognize possibility within their communities and beyond, and to take meaningful, collaborative and collective action to create a better future.

PRESS CONTACT
Matt Walker
323-930-7930
[email protected]

SOURCE ShareWell

Related Links

http://www.sharewell.org