News Release

Release Date: February 4, 2003

Contact: Ganesh Ganpat, Executive Director, (806) 355-9547 ext. 24
g.ganpat@dhdc.org

Discovery Center Launches Capital Campaign
$12 Million Effort for Exhibits and Planetarium

AMARILLO, TX, February 4, 2003 -- The Don Harrington Discovery Center announced today a $12 million capital campaign aimed at renovation of the planetarium and development of new exhibits and educational programs. The announcement was made at 1:00 p.m. during a news conference at the museum.
At the same time, the Discovery Center revealed that it already has raised 61 percent of the total campaign goal of $12 million, which included a challenge gift. Funding of $3 million from the Harrington Foundation and a $3 million challenge grant from the Sybil B. Harrington Trust have been secured. A $1.2 million gift from the Sybil B. Harrington Trust will begin the renovation of the planetarium system immediately. The remaining $4.6 million for the campaign will be raised privately from individuals, corporations and foundations. The museum has two years to reach the challenge amount of $3 million from the Sybil B. Harrington Trust. Jim Allison, President of the Board of Directors for the Don Harrington Discovery Center, unveiled the title of the campaign as “Futures Bright”.

Museum officials stated that the new exhibits and program development will begin when all the funding is secured for the campaign. At that time, the new entry area, life science area, physical science area, preschool science area and outdoor science park will be designed and then built. The process of fundraising and the creation of the exhibit areas are estimated to take two to three years, pending the outcome of the capital campaign. The museum has already begun to design the new planetarium system. A brief shutdown of the planetarium is scheduled after Memorial Day with the reopening planned for mid-July.
Ganesh Ganpat, Executive Director, and Jim Allison, President of the Board of Directors, made the announcement to a group of supporters. “This project will provide an attraction destination for the Panhandle area,” said Ganpat. “The project will also provide a high-learning, educational organization focused on informal science education. The Discovery Center will also provide entertainment and provide an annual economic impact over $1.5 million to our community.“

“We see the new Discovery Center as a valued community asset,” said Allison. “I think by having a first-class science museum we are making an improvement to the quality of life in our community. The community has some high expectations for the Discovery Center. We feel we have done our homework with the planning and have a realistic plan that is financially sustainable.”

The museum is a private, not-for-profit organization that makes science exciting, relevant and interesting to all types of learners by providing interactive exhibits and programs that actively engage children, adolescents and their families. It fosters inquiring minds and nurtures the individual genius that is within each of us.

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