On Thursday, June 9, 2016, the Springfield Museums will launch the final leg of their $7 million capital campaign, Seuss in Springfield: Building a Better Quadrangle. The announcement has been scheduled to coincide with the Museums’ final Culture & Cocktails event of the season, which has appropriately been billed as a “Seussian Soiree.” Museums’ President Kay Simpson, Board Chair Sam Hanmer, and Campaign Co-Chairs Michele and Donald D’Amour will be on hand to announce the launch of the final phase of the campaign, which has raised close to $5 million to date through grants and donations from both the public and private sector.
“We’ve made great strides in raising funds to build the world’s first Dr. Seuss Museum and make critical improvements to our historic buildings and our infrastructure,” said Museums’ President Simpson. “We’re now asking for the public to come together and help us ‘Build a Better Quadrangle’ with donations of any amount.”
The Soiree will take place from 5:00 – 8:00 PM, with comments and acknowledgements of current donors to begin at approximately 5:15 PM. Although most Culture & Cocktails events are held indoors, the June 9 evening will take place on the festively decorated Quadrangle grounds, in close proximity to the statues in the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden.
Special entertainment for the evening will include acrobats from the Boston Circus Guild, fanciful balloon sculptures and street art demonstrations, a Seuss-themed photo booth, and music by DJ Spencer Lavoie of 4Life Entertainment Organization. Tickets are $15 for nonmembers and $5 for members, and includes hors d’oeuvres and chef-attended stations by Log Rolling Catering and a cash bar.
Due to the popularity of the event in the past, purchasing advance tickets is strongly encouraged. Tickets may be purchased at the Welcome Center or by visiting the Museums’website. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older. Valet service for $5 will also be available from the Springfield BID’s “Park With Ease” Program.
Besides collecting donations that evening, the Museums will also be accepting public donations via their website starting in early June. A dedicated micro-site, Seuss in Springfield.org, will also be launched soon, which will feature background on Ted Geisel’s family history in Springfield and interactive literacy activities for early readers. In addition to these developments, the Museums expect to make more exciting announcements and updates in the coming weeks about the new Seuss museum and enhancements to the Quadrangle as the projects continue to take shape.