Posted on December 15, 2023
(HARTFORD, CT) – State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) along with State Rep. Martin Foncello (R-107) and State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) announced today that Newtown’s EverWonder Children’s Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will be the recipient of a $300,000 state grant being awarded by the State Bond Commission, at the Commission’s meeting on Friday December 15th,, 2023, The funds will help support the museum’s recent relocation and expansion.
Bolinsky said: “I’m very grateful to Governor Lamont, OPM Secretary Beckham, House Leadership and members of the State Bond Commission for this grant award! EverWonder is a local family treasure. From its founding in, 2011, when a group of local ‘children’s museum-loving moms’ dreamed of creating a comparable experience closer to home for local and neighboring families to enjoy, to this day, their growth has been remarkable, having accelerated beyond the original dream. In June 2018, the museum hired Merredith Christos as the museum’s first full-time Director. Under her leadership, and to support the growth, innovation, and expansion of programming, the museum relocated to a new ‘forever home’ at 11 Mile Hill Rd. in Newtown, in June, 2023, doubling its original space, and providing easy access from I-84, CT-25 & CT-34 for the growing base of visitors coming from far and wide to experience the museum’s special, fun brand of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) magic.” Together with her team of supporters, EverWonder doubled not only their space but also its visitors.
Rep. Foncello said, “EverWonder Children’s Museum is such a treasure for Newtown and the surrounding area. I want to thank Rep. Bolinsky for advocating for this state funding to help with their new, greatly expanded forever home. EverWonder has something for everyone now that they have space for expanded hands-on learning experiences for additional age groups.”
“Good news!” Sen. Tony Hwang said. “Through its hands-on exhibits and programming to spark imagination in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, the museum encourages children from Newtown and throughout our region to ask questions about the world around them. Rep. Bolinsky deserves credit for spearheading the effort to get this funding passed. Along with Rep. Foncello, we continue to work collaboratively to improve Newtown’s quality of life.”
Future expansion and renovation will frame EverWonder to be one of Connecticut’s largest children’s museums, and it’s still growing in reach and programming. As the only children’s museum in Connecticut to have grown beyond pre-pandemic levels last year, it’s poised in its new ‘forever home’ to support continued growth and will have the potential to add a second story of museum space to its new footprint. With this grant, the state is recognizing EverWonder as a regional visitor attraction with room to grow, benefitting young minds, and strengthening families in an intergenerational, nurturing, safe space, while reinforcing today’s public schools’ social-emotional learning (SEL) practices.
EverWonder is one of many deserving projects in the state bond package passed by the Connecticut General Assembly, along with the May 2023 biennium state budget, supported by Rep. Bolinsky.