Marco Island, Big Hearts: A Celebration of Early Believers

Every year, the Marco Island gathering reminds us of something powerful: the Grand Forks community isn’t defined by geography. It’s defined by its people. With winters being what they are back home, it’s become natural for so many of them to spend the colder months in Marco, enjoying the Florida sun.

This year’s celebration was especially meaningful. The room was filled with early supporters of the Grand Forks Children’s Museum, many of whom stepped forward long before the project had renderings, momentum, or a capital campaign. They believed in the idea when it was still just that...an idea. And their generosity has helped carry it forward ever since.

The Marco Island gathering has grown into one of the museum’s most steady and heartfelt sources of support. People don’t just come to catch up with friends from home, they come because they believe in what this museum will mean for the children and families in Grand Forks and across the region. This has become their tradition… a tradition of showing up, giving generously, and standing behind a project they helped lift from the very beginning.

The donations over the years have fueled planning, design, exhibit development, and the momentum that’s brought us to this exciting moment in the campaign. The museum will break ground next month!

We’re profoundly grateful to everyone who joined us this year and for those who have supported the museum from the very beginning. Your belief in this project has shaped its path, strengthened its mission, and brought us closer to opening a place where imagination, learning, and play come alive for every child.

Thank you for your generosity, your enthusiasm, and your enduring love for Grand Forks. The sunshine in Marco Island is wonderful but the warmth in that room was something even brighter.

Katie Mayer, Executive Director, Grand Forks Children's Museum