Discovery Museum presents Discovery Gala: Toasting Our Gold Medal Moment on September 28
ACTON, MA – Discovery Museum will host its annual 21+ fundraising event, Discovery Gala: Toasting Our Gold Medal Moment, on September 28, 2024, at the Discovery Museum. Supporters are invited to a adults-only evening of signature cocktails, playful cuisine, and abundant fun. Proceeds will support access programs for families and schools that make the Museum welcoming and accessible to everyone.
More than 63,000 people were served for free or nearly free on-site and in elementary schools through the Museum’s access programs in 2023, 25% of the total served. Money raised at Discovery Gala will fund these programs, including free events for families experiencing autism, sensory challenges, or hearing or vision loss; free memberships for families served by our community partners; and in-classroom Traveling Science Workshop programs to schools in underserved communities.
This year’s gala will celebrate the Museum’s 2024 recognition with a National Medal for Museum Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as well as a 2024 Best of Boston® award from Boston Magazine for Best Family Activity, West. “Taken together, these two awards mark the best of what the Museum offers our community,” said CEO Marie Beam. “The national medal recognizes our service to and impact on our community. It is the nation’s highest honor for a museum. The Best of Boston® award calls out our well-earned reputation for fun! We have so much to celebrate at Discovery Gala—we hope the community will join us!”
Attendees will indulge in gourmet twists on their favorite childhood foods and creative cocktails while they explore and play in the Museum’s galleries. They can network, dance, and discover how Discovery Museum enriches the community. A silent auction, program support opportunities, and one-night-only museum merchandise will round out the experience. The on-site-solar-powered Gala will have a uniquely low environmental impact, and Discovery Museum will purchase carbon credits to offset the vehicle emissions of all guests, vendors, and staff.
The event will run from 6:00 to 9:00pm. Discovery Museum is located at 177 Main Street, Acton, MA. Tickets start at $125 per person and are available online at discoveryacton.org/gala. Host sponsorships and corporate sponsorships are also available.
Discovery Gala: Toasting Our Gold Medal Moment is sponsored by Draper Labs and PSG, with additional support from Dube Construction Management, Enterprise Bank, and FinanceBoston. Thank you!
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About Discovery Museum
Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum for families that blends science, nature, and play. The museum and its Discovery Woods accessible outdoor nature playscape and giant treehouse blend the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning on a beautiful 4.5-acre campus abutting 180 acres of conservation land in Acton, MA, about 20 miles west of Boston. Originally founded in 1982 and expanded to two museums in 1987, the museum reopened in a single, 16,000sf accessible building after a complete renovation and expansion in early 2018. Hands-on, open-ended exhibits developed by professional educators inspire curiosity and exploration, providing a fun and engaging experience for children and adults to discover their world together. Serving families and schools from towns throughout the region, the museum is devoted to informal education that enhances classroom learning. Discovery Museum is committed to accessibility and is a proud recipient of the Massachusetts Commonwealth Award, the only winner in the Access category, and a LEAD® Community Asset Award from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
In 2024 Discovery Museum was awarded a National Medal for Museum Service from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the nation’s highest honor awarded to museums that make “significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.”
Discovery Museum is a community-supported non-profit organization.