ROCHESTER, NY—The Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) hosts its fourth annual major fundraising event, Innovation Celebration, on Friday, September 25. Community members are invited to sponsor the event or purchase tickets to join members, donors and staff for an evening themed with optics that showcases the fascinating aspect of science and innovation. The event begins at 6pm.
“Our optics theme is a relevant and exciting topic to celebrate, especially since Rochester will soon be home to the national Photonics Manufacturing Institute and we are thriving in the International Year of Light,” said Kate Bennett, president, RMSC. “We are energized to gather together our community members and celebrate an area that’s hugely important to Rochester’s future.”
At this radiant evening event, attendees will immerse themselves in the science of light and optics, network with fellow RMSC supporters and get hands-on with the Museum’s 200 interactive exhibits. Throughout the evening, RMSC experts will perform spectacular light-themed experiments. Attendees will enjoy an open bar with specialty drinks, food stations and hors d’oeuvres. Also, entertainers include guitarist Alphonso Williams and local band Vintage, as well as animal encounters with Wildlife Defenders and interactive light art from NoirFlux. Silent and live auction items include a flight on a private jet to Buffalo Trace Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, a week’s stay in a Sicilian villa and a trip for four to Orlando complete with passes to Disney and SeaWorld, among other valuable items and experiences.
Funds raised at the gala last year made Science On a Sphere® (SOS) possible. A giant, luminous sphere, SOS presents high-resolution video of Earth systems including atmospheric storms, climate change and ocean temperature. SOS is a powerful, engaging and educational piece. Attendees at Innovation Celebration will enjoy this experience throughout the evening. Funds raised at this year’s event will support the Museum’s important efforts to engage guests of all ages and backgrounds in immersive science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming, which sparks a passion for lifelong learning and builds foundations for bright futures for our community’s youth.
“We are glad to host our Innovation Celebration in support of the intriguing hands-on experiences we provide our community as well as opportunities we will offer in the future,” added Bennett. “We thank our members, donors and staff for their unwavering support,” added Bennett.
Support for Innovation Celebration will help the RMSC continue to engage families, friends and groups in exciting discovery experiences, and serve as a resource for informal STEM education. The RMSC invests in youth by inspiring interest in STEM through hands-on experiences, spectacular science experiments, explosions and theatrical performances, a preschool, science day camps and 1.2 million collection items—many that tell the story of Rochester’s innovative past. Support also allows the RMSC to serve the community by subsidizing admission and transportation costs, making it possible for nearly 20,000 underserved children, families and school groups to visit each year.
The chairs of Innovation Celebration are Nick Berno and Erin Lemcke-Berno. This year’s honorary chairs are Barbara and John Bruning. Nick and John are both current trustees of the RMSC board.
Tickets for the event are $200 per person and can be purchased by contacting Katie Mackey at 585.697.1973, katie_mackey@rmsc.org or online at www.rmsc.org. Valet parking is available. Cocktail attire is suggested. Share socially with #RMSCshines.
The RMSC hosts its Innovation Celebration annually. The fundraising event themes change yearly and support the RMSC mission.
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester’s past including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit www.rmsc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
