Fort Kids Children’s Museum Announces Generous Community Support from Arvest Foundation and Rheem
Fort Kids Children’s Museum is thrilled to announce the overwhelming support from the community, highlighted by generous gifts from the Arvest Foundation and Rheem. These contributions will significantly enhance the mission of Fort Kids to build a world of possibility and connection through play and help build a children’s museum on the Arkansas riverfront.
Fort Kids Children’s Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit providing a safe and inviting space for ALL children and grown-ups to learn through play. Through hands-on exhibits, exploration, and education, we envision empowering children to connect to themselves, others, and the world to build a brighter future.
The Arvest Foundation’s commitment to community development is evident in their substantial donation. “I am proud to announce Arvest Foundation’s support of the upcoming Fort Kids Children’s Museum. This gift reflects the Foundation’s commitment to empowering the next generation of Arkansas children by providing them with the tools they need to learn and grow. Today’s students are tomorrow’s community leaders, and we are glad to help pave the way for a brighter future for our community,” said Mike Jacimore, President of Arvest Bank – Fort Smith region.
Rheem, a long-standing leader in the heating, cooling, and water heating industry, has also stepped forward with a generous contribution. “Rheem is honored to support Fort Kids in enhancing the museum experience for all guests by providing a state-of-the-art heating and
cooling system. We are excited to contribute to creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for visitors to enjoy,” said Kyle Druding, Rheem Senior HR Programs & Projects Manager.
Fort Kids Children’s Museum expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Arvest Foundation, Rheem, and many community partners for their unwavering support. Sarah Strom, President of the Fort Kids Board of Directors, shares “We are humbled and grateful for the steadfast support from the community. These donations will enable Fort Kids to continue building opportunities for children and families. The positive impact of these gifts will be felt by our community and our region for generations to come. Our hope is that Fort Kids will be built for our community, by our community!”
Fort Kids is excited to announce, alongside these gifts, another milestone hiring their Director of Development, Laura Wyerick. She shares, “It is a dream to be in this role, having been part of the journey from the very beginning. It is a mission and vision dear to my heart that I look forward to see being built with the help of our strong community.”
Fort Kids Children’s Museum invites you to join in celebrating these milestones and to participate in the exciting developments that these gifts will facilitate.
Fort Kids is working to raise a construction cost goal of $7 million by the summer of 2025 to break ground. Currently, just under $2 million has been raised with many other community supporters engaged. The total goal for the capital campaign is $16.3 million. While these funds are being raised, Fort Kids is meeting the needs of the community by offering monthly free programming to families through their Community Outreach program. Fort Kids strives to be strategic to reach all demographics and abilities within the River Valley. They are functioning as a children’s museum with no walls as they partner with like-minded community organizations to provide resources to local families.
Contact: Fort Kids Children’s Museum PO Box 180014, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72918 lauraw@fortkidschildrensmuseu.com
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