Children’s Museum of Cleveland “Up, Up & Away Gala”

The Children’s Museum of Cleveland (CMC) welcomed 300 guests to its Up, Up & Away gala held at the Museum’s MidTown home on Euclid Avenue. Co-chairs for the event, Jennifer Lopez and Holly Little, report that the event raised $100,000, from which all proceeds will support the Museum’s efforts to make it one of Northeast Ohio’s premier destinations for families with young children.

In addition, Patrick Perotti, partner of Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A. and founder of Ohio Lawyers Give Back, presented CMC’s executive director, Maria Campanelli, with a $50,000 check. Ohio Lawyers Give Back was founded by the law firm to distribute funds to worthy nonprofit organizations by promoting the use of doctrine that allows for the unclaimed funds in a class-action settlement to be directed to charity.

Guests celebrated the CMC’s first year of success after opening in its new location in Nov. 2017. The museum is housed in the historic Stager- Beckwith home, an original Millionaire’s Row mansion from Cleveland’s gilded age.

On Oct. 1, the museum opened its newest exhibit, the Meadow, designed specifically for infants, toddlers and early walkers up to age three. Funding for the exhibit was made possible from The JoAnn and Bob Glick Family. Guests had an opportunity to walk through and discover the space prior to its public opening.

As a leader in imaginative and creative play, The CMC gives children a place to discover their own adventures through interactive exhibits and programs. Its open-ended learning environment gives children the opportunity to imagine, experiment, problem-solve and communicate – building skills for a 21st-century learner. As a vital community resource, CMC provides experiences that can bridge a child’s learning between the museum, home, and school.

A massive display of white balloon clouds and colorful floral centerpieces adorned tables under a large white tent to transform CMC’s back parking lot into an airy breathtaking wonderland. Stephen M. Tokar of Tokar Event Design created the whimsical atmosphere; and Chef Doug Katz of fire food and drink catered the dinner. Auctioneer Mark Schroeder led the live auction bidding and raise the paddle portion benefiting the Museum For All program, which provides families receiving government assistance discounted admission. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS SUBMITTED BY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF CLEVELAND