press release
Young Sluggers Will Learn the Science of Baseball from Their Favorite Nationals Players at National Children’s Museum
For immediate release:
October 17, 2019
– The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation Brings the Science of Baseball to DC Through Washington Nationals Partnership with National Children’s Museum –
Washington, DC – National Children’s Museum, a nationally recognized cultural and educational institution that serves children and families, is pleased to announce an exciting partnership with prominent Washington-area philanthropists and sports and entertainment leaders, The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation. The $200,000 gift will fund two interactive baseball experiences, “Pitch Perfect” and “Grand Slam Science,” within the Museum’s Engineering Games + Play exhibit. The experiences will be Washington Nationals branded and feature key players from the team.
In the Engineering Games + Play exhibit, young visitors have the opportunity to explore the science, engineering, and math skills that power their favorite players and sporting experiences. Through the accessible lens of play and sports, visitors can design, build and test as they imagine themselves as future STEAM innovators, athletes, engineers, and mathematicians.
“Community is a critical component of our Engineering Games + Play exhibit, where the Museum will celebrate Washington, DC through our local sports teams,” said Crystal Bowyer, president and CEO of the National Children’s Museum. “We are proud to partner with The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation, who is a champion for our city. They cultivated an amazing team and culture within the Washington Nationals organization and brought the DC community together in the most wonderful way. We can’t wait to bring that same energy inside the Museum.”
“On behalf of the Lerner, Cohen and Tanenbaum families, we are delighted to support this important addition to Washington, D.C.’s cultural and educational landscape,” said Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, president of The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation. “We know the National Children’s Museum will spark a joy of exploration and imagination in locals and visitors alike.”
Through these two interactive experiences, visitors will explore the physics behind the perfect pitch and the mechanics of a home run hit. In “Pitch Perfect,” visitors will explore how stance, ball grip, aim and speed affect the accuracy of a pitch and have an opportunity to put these findings into practice through a live pitching experience on a green screen. In “Grand Slam Science,” young sluggers will discover their hitting sweet spot through an interactive batting simulation.
This ten-year partnership with The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation helps to ensure that National Children’s Museum will be able to reach a wider, more diverse audience, capturing young children’s interest in engineering before career aspirations are formed.
About National Children’s Museum
Reopening in November 2019, National Children’s Museum is poised for its greatest chapter yet, just steps from the White House and National Mall at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. With accessible Metro and transportation options, locals and tourists alike will meet at National Children’s Museum for a playful learning experience dedicated to providing interactive science, technology, engineering, arts, and math exhibits and programs. Founded in 1974, the Congressionally-designated Museum has served Washington’s youngest learners for over 45 years.
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