New $2 million Challenge Match will Support Museum Expansion

The South Florida Museum is pleased to announce that an anonymous donor has made a $2 million pledge that will triple donations raised as part of the Connect Campaign through June 2020.

This exciting matching gift challenge means that every $1 donated to the South Florida Museum’s Campaign will have a $3 impact. That also means donations

Brian Carter, President of the Museum’s Board of Trustees, and CEO Brynne Anne Besio accept a generous donation from U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan. The donation from the Buchanan Family Foundation will be matched as part of a $2 million pledge by an anonymous donor made as part of the Connect Campaign.
like the one made on Thursday by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Florida) and his wife Sandy Buchanan through the Buchanan Family Foundation of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County will have triple the impact in the community.

“I’m very excited about what this expansion is going to mean, especially for children, the community and the investment in the redevelopment of downtown Bradenton’s infrastructure,” Buchanan said after he took a hard-hat tour of the under-construction North Education Center and Mosaic Backyard Universe (MBU) at the Museum.

The North Education Center includes new classrooms and technology upgrades as well as the MBU, a new early learning resource designed especially with young children and families in mind. “This is very exciting for Bradenton and Manatee County; it’s incredible what we’re doing with the waterfront here and I’m glad to be a part of it,” he said.

To date, the Museum has raised more than $15 million through the Connect Campaign to support the creation of its Master Campus Plan — including architectural and engineering plans. This matching gift will help the Museum complete the current phase of construction.

“The North Education Center and MBU have taken shape over the past 16 months, and the positive community response — like this generous pledge of matching funds and the Buchanans’ donation — has been an amazing experience to be a part of,” said Brian Carter, President of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “We’re building the best backyard in the world and setting the stage for millions of new experiences to come.”