Explore & More Children’s Museum today announced a $1 million capital gift from Delaware North for the "Play It Forward" campaign in sponsorship of the "Being Good Neighbors" educational play zone in the new museum at Canalside, set to open in the second half of 2018.
The announcement was made today at a Culture Day program that Explore & More educators facilitated 
with third-grade students at Waterfront Elementary/Buffalo Public School #95.
“Being good neighbors, celebrating our diversity, and investing in the future of Buffalo’s children are shared missions of both Explore & More and Delaware North. Like our investment in Say Yes, we are happy to be a part of this project that will have such a profound impact on the lives of children and families here for years to come,” said Lou Jacobs, Co-CEO of Delaware North, the global hospitality and food service company that was founded 100 years ago in Buffalo and is headquartered here today.
“Like their team is doing today, Explore & More provides experiential learning opportunities that expand on what our students are learning in the classroom, and that are an important part of healthy child development, said David Hills, Principal of Waterfront Elementary/Buffalo Public School #95. “Today they are impacting this one classroom of our students, so you can imagine the impact they will have on the hundreds of thousands and children and families when they are right here on the waterfront, accessible to so many.”
“Explore & More at Canalside will be a good neighbor, making an impact on the region economically, socially, and educationally, bringing creative hands-on learning experiences to children and families, and helping to move the needle on school readiness,” said David McNamara, Managing Partner of Phillips Lytle and Chairman of Explore & More’s Play It Forward Capital Campaign. “Delaware North’s longstanding commitment to Buffalo is unparalleled, and its commitment to serving children – especially children in need – has never been more evident.”
About Delaware North
Delaware North is one of the largest privately-held hospitality and food service companies in the world. Founded in 1915 and owned by the Jacobs family for 100 years, Delaware North has global operations at high-profile places such as sports and entertainment venues, national and state parks, destination resorts and restaurants, airports, and regional casinos. Its 60,000 employee associates are dedicated to creating special experiences one guest at a time in serving more than 500 million guests annually. Delaware North has annual revenue of about $3 billion in the sports, travel hospitality, restaurants and catering, parks, resorts, gaming, and specialty retail industries.
About Explore & More Children’s Museum
Celebrating its 21st year in operation, Explore & More Children’s Museum provides an environment for creative play and learning through hands-on exhibits, activities and programs that inspire creativity, curiosity and imagination. Explore & More Children’s Museum is currently located at 300 Gleed Avenue in East Aurora, and will open in the South Aud Block at Canalside on the Buffalo waterfront in the second half of 2018. For more information, www.exploreandmore.org or call (716) 655-5131 ext. 11.
Photo Caption: Lou and Joan Jacobs announce a $1 million donation to Explore & More Children's Museum.