POWER IN PaRtNERINg - Da Vinci Science Center

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POWER IN Partnering

Investing in Our Community

2 0 1 4 Annual R e por t

O UTREA C H PR O GRAMS l e h i g h va l l e y s ci e n c e f e s t i va l

inventor's lab program

MENTO R ALLENTO W N

Table of Contents

Investing in Our Community

3

National and Regional Recognition

4

Supporting Our Schools

6

Building Tomorrow's Workforce

8

Inspiring Young Minds12

Reaching the Underserved

13

2014-2015 Outlook: Year of the Planet

14

Our Financials16

Da Vinci Science Center Gala

18

Our Supporters19

Our People21

Helping Bring Science to Life

22

Our Values23

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Investing in Our Community

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Go big or go home.

That popular phrase expresses our belief that the Da Vinci Science Center can become one of the most respected and influential organizations of its kind in delivering upon our mission: To Bring Science to Life and Lives to Science. Examples of "going big" this past year include winning regional and national awards, bringing nationally-featured exhibitions like the NASA-branded Space: A Journey to Our Future to visitors, and being chosen to lead a national movement to change how students are mentored in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines.

A key to our success is the work by our dedicated Board and staff to build partnerships with schools, businesses, other non-profits, and cities to advance and promote high-quality STEM education and careers.

This annual report highlights these partnerships, including one of the most important of all ? our partnership with you, our donors. Your support, along with the growing interest of our consumer base, has given us the strength and positive reputation required to bring our mission to life.

While we certainly "went big" during 2014, we know that our work is not done yet as we strive to inspire even more young people to take an interest in math and science. In addition to our programs for youth, we are helping teachers engage students in hands-on learning that deepens their understanding of fundamental STEM concepts and builds 21st century skills critical to their success in tomorrow's workplace. This is important because in 2013 U.S. teenagers trailed their peers from more than 60 countries on international math tests and barely kept pace on international science tests. The more alarming fact is that U.S. teens have not shown any improvement over the past 15 years.

The impact of these statistics becomes real when area business leaders tell us about the shortage of talent with the required skills and knowledge in STEM fields. These STEM jobs are among the highest-paying in the region and will continue to be in high demand in the future. We see the Da Vinci Science Center playing a critical role in helping to turn this trend around.

As we move forward and seek more ways to "go big" and truly make a difference, we thank you for your support, and we hope that you consider future opportunities to "go bigger" in your investment in STEM education.

BY THE

NUMBERS

Lin Erickson Executive Director and CEO

Vincent Sorgi Chairman, Board of Trustees Senior Vice President and CFO, PPL Corporation

122,946 Total participants - the second straight year with more than 120,000 total participants

37,810 Total participation in Outreach Programs, a 49.5 percent increase over the previous year

1,369 Total memberships sold - a record total for a second straight year

25,000 Students participating in school field trips

Positive net income for fiscal year after securing annual loan payment

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National and Regional Recognition

Leading a National STEM Mentoring Movement

The Mentor Allentown Coalition ? a partnership of more than 30 diverse companies and organizations created and led by the Da Vinci Science Center ? was one of three national grand prize winners in the 2014 US2020 City Competition. US2020, an initiative of the national Citizen Schools organization, selected the Mentor Allentown Coalition to help lead a national movement to mentor students from low-income backgrounds, students from minority backgrounds, and female students toward STEM careers.

The Mentor Allentown Coalition will create the local systems and structures that make it possible to provide high-impact mentoring for up to 2,000 low-income students, students of minority backgrounds, and girls in Allentown. Attainment of that goal over time will triple the number of students mentored in STEM subjects in Pennsylvania's third-largest city.

Annual Report to the Community 2014

Mentor Allentown Coalition Partners

Air Products

Allentown Chamber of Commerce

Allentown Promise Neighborhood

Allentown School District

Allentown School District Foundation

Allentown YMCA & YWCA

America On Wheels Museum

Avantor Performance Materials

B. Braun Medical, Inc.

The Baum School of Art

Bethlehem YWCA

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley

Boys & Girls Club of Allentown

Capital Blue Cross

Casa Guadalupe

Cedar Crest College

Christine Stazo Farmers Insurance

City of Allentown

Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley

Community Bike Works

Computer Aid

Da Vinci Science Center

DeSales University

Diocese of Allentown

Explorer Scouts, Minsi Trails Council

Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania

Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA)

Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC)

Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI)

Lehigh University

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC)

Lehigh Valley Health Network

Lehigh Valley Zoo

Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board (LVWIB)

Moravian College

Muhlenberg College

Olympus Corporation of the Americas

PPL Corporation

St. Luke's Neighborhood Center

St. Luke's University Health Network

Strive, Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Wildlands Conservancy

Windkits, LLC

4

List as of Jan. 5, 2015

Photo Courtesy of the Corporation for National and Community Service

National Science Teaching Award for DSC Senior Director

David Smith, Ph.D., the Da Vinci Science Center's Edward and Inez Donley Senior Director of Science and Strategy, was a recipient of the 2014 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Distinguished Informal Science Educator Award. The annual award honors American educators who make extraordinary contributions to the advancement of science education in an informal or nontraditional school setting ? such as a museum or science center. Smith is the creator and director of the Da Vinci Science Center's professional development programs and convener of the Mentor Allentown Coalition, which was recognized at the 2014 White House Science Fair for its leadership in the national STEM mentoring movement.

One of three national grand prize winners in the 2014 US2020 City Competition

United Way Innovator's Award

The Da Vinci Science Center was the recipient of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley's 2014 Innovator's Award. The award recognized the Center for collaborating with schools and community partners to inspire students to explore STEM subjects.

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Partnering to Support Our Schools

Professional Development Programs for Educators

The Center's Greater Allentown Math Science Partnership with the Allentown School District ? which has been recognized as one of the 20 best of 630 American professional development programs for educators by the U.S. Department of Education ? provided training for 69 educators during the 2013-2014 school year. These educators serve more than 3,670 Allentown School District students. The Center also provided coaching and mentoring to teachers in the East Penn School District throughout the 2013-2014 school year and preschool STEM training programs for educators with Community Services for Children, Inc. and the Bethlehem Area School District.

School Field Trips

Collaborations with teachers helped provide school field trip experiences and hands-on workshops aligned with school curricula and national standards for approximately 25,000 students in grades Pre-K-12. Numerous corporate partners also supported these school field trip opportunities with direct investment or contributions through the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC).

Growing Outreach Programs

The Center's Outreach Programs continued their dramatic growth with support from several partners ? including area corporations, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley. Hands-on workshops and science shows were delivered to more than 37,000 youth and adults in schools and community centers throughout eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey.

6

Annual Report to the Community 2014

Hands-on workshops delivered to more than 37,000 youth and adults

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Partnering to Build Tomorrow's Workforce:

Year of Innovation

Building 21st Century Skills

The Da Vinci Science Center introduced the Year of Innovation in the fall of 2013 to promote scientific and technical innovation in many forms. Featured exhibits and programs highlighted the skills that are vital to all scientific and technical careers ? including creativity, collaboration, process skills, and problem-solving abilities. The Year of Innovation was made possible through support from several partners, including lead sponsor Air Products.

Tech City: Design, Create, Play

The Year of Innovation began with the appearance of the feature exhibition Tech City, which introduced youth and families to the design and creation processes that generate innovative products and ideas. Visitors were presented a playful series of challenges set inside a fictional city. With support from City Center Lehigh Valley, the Center was able to raise awareness of the downtown revitalization in Allentown, Pa, as anchored by construction of the PPL Center arena.

Space: A Journey to Our Future

The Center's Year of Innovation included

the summer 2014 presentation of the feature exhibition Space: A Journey to Our Future through partnerships with Air Products and the Dexter F. and Dorothy H. Baker Foundation.

It takes eight minutes for light from the sun to reach the Earth.

Kids were encouraged throughout the summer to share what they learned from the exhibition.

Astronauts

have to to keep

exercise their

muscles strong.

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