DONOR SPOTLIGHT: MANDELL-BRAUNSTEIN FAMILY
Supporters of organizations throughout Hartford, the Mandell-Braunstein Family recently made a $1 million gift for the Connecticut Science Center’s STEM Career Connections initiative. The generosity of Joyce and Andy Mandell, along with their children and their families, have proven instrumental once again in funding a strategic priority of our work. In 2013, they also provided the cornerstone gift to create the Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Academy for Teachers at the Connecticut Science Center, providing capital to increase teacher training in Connecticut. This year alone, the STEM Career Connections program will reach more than 50,000 visitors onsite, and the Mandell Academy will train nearly 1,000 teachers. The impact of the Mandell-Braunstein Family’s generosity is – and will continue to be – significant.
Inspirational moments happen at the Connecticut Science
Center each day when visitors explore our exhibits or attend our programs. Whether engrossed
in a hands-on exhibit or captivated by a 3D movie, children and adults are learning about
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in a fun and engaging way.
The Connecticut Science Center’s programs extend well beyond the walls of our unique building in Hartford. With Connecticut’s adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the Science Center is playing a pivotal role in changing the way science is taught and students are learning. Affecting nearly every child in the state, this forward-thinking work will have great impact on science education and Connecticut’s future economic and workforce needs.
Currently, a team of STEM professionals and educators at the Science Center’s Mandell Academy for Teachers is working closely with the State Department of Education to train teachers and facilitators, readying them to incorporate new NGSS principles into their everyday curricula and teaching practices. Concurrently, Science Center staff is developing tools for educators to use in their classrooms to highlight curriculum ties that will enrich field trip experiences. Over the next five years, new Science Center exhibits and laboratory spaces, as well as improvements to current exhibits, will support NGSS and reinforce the role of science and technology in everyday life, bringing this learning to all Science Center visitors.
Please MAKE A GIFT to support the important work we do in the Science Center and in classrooms throughout Connecticut. Your gift will ensure that children and families throughout the state experience inspirational moments of science learning. Thank you.
Leadership Gifts
Make a gift of $1,000 or more to become a member of our Leadership Giving Society.
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Planned Giving
Enhance your legacy and help ensure the future of the Connecticut Science Center.
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Endow Hartford
The Endow Hartford 21 Match Program will match any gift made by an individual, family, or business.
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Matching Gifts
Talk with your HR department about making a direct matching gift to the Connecticut Science Center.
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