On April 4, Port Discovery Children’s Museum hosted its annual fundraising gala, Play It Forward, with the theme honoring the “Magic of Play”. The evening brought together Baltimore’s community of advocates for children, families, and playful learning to celebrate the power of play, reflect on Port Discovery’s impact, and look forward to exciting new developments at the Museum. The culmination of donations received leading up to Play It Forward raised $34,422.
A Night of Enchantment
The event was a spectacular display of creativity, featuring incredible performances that reflected magic, wonder, and awe. A wide variety of performers from Cirque Deluxe dazzled the crowd with their incredible flexibility and skill. Talented young magician Loralie Eanet (also known as The Great Lordini from the School of Magic Arts) and magicians Annie Montone and Brian Kehoe captivated the audience at their magic performances. The event ended with a museum-wide party with fun activities including: kaleidescope art projects, a paper fortune teller activity and card stacking challenges. The playful energy set the stage for the evening’s most anticipated news: the reveal of opening dates for two new exhibits, Galactic Builders and Skies; the growth of the At Play Learning Institute (APLI); and most exciting – the announcement of a $2.5 million gift from Lilly Endowment Inc.
A Transformative Future
In her address, President & CEO, Carter Polakoff shared exciting updates on the Museum’s future. One key announcement was the award of a transformative $2.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support the creation of Joyful Steps, a new signature exhibit designed to inspire wonder, movement, and meaningful reflection on how joy shapes our lives and character.
This exhibit is part of Lilly Endowment’s Fostering Character Through Children’s Museums initiative, a national effort to encourage the development of positive character traits among children and youth. Joyful Steps is one of only 23 projects funded nationwide by the Lilly Endowment, designed to help children learn about and practice positive character traits through engaging, play-based experiences.
“We are thrilled to partner with Lilly Endowment to bring Joyful Steps to life,” Polakoff said. “This exhibit will offer children and families the chance to explore the concept of joy and reflect on its role in shaping who we are and who we want to become.”
Polakoff also discussed the continued growth of Port Discovery as a learning lab and education hub, which has been driven by generous support from visionary donors such as the Sherman Family Foundation and LEGO Foundation, whose investments are providing essential support toward the At Play Learning Institute, which has already impacted hundreds of families across the state by equipping caregivers and early childhood professionals with tools to bring the science of play in their everyday experiences. Port Discovery is also thrilled to have been selected into Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Program, which is supporting critical technology upgrades that will improve ticketing operations and customer experience.
Exciting Next Steps
Polakoff offered a sneak peek at the first major new exhibits of the museum’s 5-year master plan that are currently under construction: SKIES and Galactic Builders. Opening in October 2025, SKIES a fully immersive, low sensory, calming exhibit themed on the daily sky rotation between the sunrise and sunset. The exhibit will include reading nooks, a soft resting zone, and pillow/blanket fort building activity.
Galactic Builders is an otherworldly space themed STEM exhibit that will engage visitors in extended activities that promote play-based inquiry, mechanical engineering, systems thinking, and collaborative testing. Exhibit activities include parachute testing, rover building, and rocket launching. Both exhibits promise to ignite curiosity and provide hands-on learning experiences that will inspire children to dream big and explore new worlds.
Community Support and Momentum
The success of this year’s Play It Forward is a testament to the strength of the Baltimore community and its support of Port Discovery’s mission. Thanks to the generosity of all of our sponsors, donors, and guests, the event raised significant funds that will directly support the museum’s educational programs and initiatives.
“It’s all about momentum,” Polakoff said. “We’re becoming a training ground for educators, a bridge to university partners, and a catalyst for community-based learning.”
As we continue our mission to inspire lifelong learning through play, we thank everyone who made Play It Forward a success. Together, we are building a future where every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive.
To continue supporting the magic of play: https://tinyurl.com/2s3t7jtw
Photo Credit: Whitney Wasson Photography
