The Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation has donated $1.5 million to the Knock Knock Children’s Museum in Baton Rouge for the first phase of construction at City Park. Lori Bertman, president and CEO of the Pennington Foundation, says about two years ago the foundation pledged to match the museum’s fundraising efforts if it found 30 donors willing to give $50,000 each.
“And they exceeded that challenge” with 32 donors, Bertman says.
Kelli Harton, chairman of the Knock Knock museum board, says it took about eight months to secure donations, and the museum had 32 donors by last March. BREC donated $3 million to the museum in 2010.
The Knock Knock museum could possibly break ground by the end of this year, Harton says. The museum board will now focus on raising funds for exhibits, which are expected to cost about $4 million, Harton says.
The following are donors who pledged $50,000 or more to the museum: Albemarle Foundation, All Star Automotive Group, Amedisys Inc., Larry “Chip” Bankston Jr. (in memory of Graham Bankston), Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co., The Boo Grigsby Foundation, Aza and Tim Bowlin, Brookwood Properties, BREC, Capital Area United Way, the city of Baton Rouge, Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge Foundation, ExxonMobil, The Frazer Family, Friends of Knock Knock, The Douglas L. Gordon M.D. Family, Gwen and Todd Graves, Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, Junior League of Baton Rouge, Lamar Advertising Co., Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, Richard F. Manship, The Marsh Family, The Mary Charlotte and Lloyd Collette Fund, The McMains Foundation, Catherine and Matthew Saurage, The Savoie Family, SGS Petroleum Service Corp., Stanocola Clinic, Waters & Pettit Commercial Real Estate, Kathy and Mike Worley, Knock Knock Founding Board of Directors.
