After 37 successful years of educating and inspiring children and families to make positive oral and overall health choices through unique programming offered at its facility on Laclede’s Landing in downtown St. Louis, the Delta Dental Health Theatre today announced dramatic expansion plans. The theatre will move to a new location on Macklind Avenue, by the Saint Louis Science Center, and, will soon become part of the region’s first-ever kids’ health museum, to be named HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis. Construction is set to commence by the end of the year, and the new museum will open to the public late spring of next year.
“HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis will merge the best elements of children’s museums and health education to offer a unique form of ‘edutainment’ designed to give children the passion to lead healthy lives,” commented Shannon Woodcock, president and CEO of the Delta Dental Health Theatre, at a press conference this morning. “Our mission is to educate and inspire kids, and the community, to make positive health choices to achieve optimum health. It is time to infectiously contaminate children of all ages to learn, have fun and make great life choices.”
HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis will be located at 1100 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110. The building is owned by the Saint Louis Science Center Foundation, which has entered into a long-term lease agreement with HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis. The $2.5 million project will feature 12,000 square feet of exhibit and program space that will have the capacity to reach up to 90,000 children annually. This new museum will have the distinction of being the only free-standing children’s museum in St. Louis dedicated solely to health education. It will be 100 percent accessible to those of all abilities and feature a completely unique model of health education highlighted by hands-on, interactive exhibits.
Features are set to include a “My Mouth” 4D theatre, Health Hut and Nutritious Café, eye play interactive floor, mock doctor and dental offices, farmer’s market, “Face your Future” tobacco exhibit, “All About Me” self-assessment that tracks data and trends, universally accessible indoor playground through Unlimited Play, open floor space and a gift shop for educational items and toys on health. The current Delta Dental Health Theatre will also be relocated here as the interactive learning center with unique, high-energy, educator-led programming that will increase individual knowledge about the connection between personal choices and health outcomes, encourage positive health practices and turn visitors into health advocates for themselves, their families and this community. The general contractor selected for the construction of this project is ISC Contracting, and the exhibit design firm is Qualified Services, Inc.
In order to make the museum a reality in the St. Louis market, the Delta Dental Health Theatre launched a capital campaign in the spring of this year with the goal of raising $2.5 million. To date, over $1.25 million has been secured, thanks, in large part, to the financial contribution of long-time supporter Delta Dental of Missouri. The state’s leading dental benefits company is deeply committed, in principle and in practice, to advancing oral health and overall health for individuals, children and families in the communities it serves, and presented a check for $600,000 to HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis during the press conference.
Other key financial supporters, who were publically thanked and acknowledged this morning included members of the Delta Dental Health Theatre’s Board of Directors, St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources and The Saigh Foundation. This project is also coming to fruition through partnerships with the St. Louis Science Center and HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum, and collaborations with several regional healthcare and business organizations.
“We were delighted to be a part of this project, which brings to the region another fantastic amenity for children and families, as well as for area educational institutions and their students,” commented Joe Reagan, St. Louis Regional Chamber President and CEO.
HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis today also announced it will be entering into the public phase of its fundraising campaign. Woodcock encouraged individuals and companies in the St. Louis community to participate, stating, “Imagine a generation of children who know their current health choices will impact their entire lives. Imagine YOU helping to make that happen. Please consider the potential impact that an informed and inspired generation of children can have on the quality and length of their own lives! Together, we can build healthier communities.”
Those interested in contributing to HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis can call the Delta Dental Health Theatre at (314) 241-7391 or visit www.ddhtstl.org.
The Delta Dental Health Theatre is currently located at 727 North First Street on Laclede’s Landing in downtown St. Louis, Mo., and will remain open and continue to offer its existing programming while the new facility is being built out.
The Delta Dental Health Theatre was originally organized as a program under the Foundation of the Greater St. Louis Dental Society in 1977. In 2002, it was incorporated as an independent 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. In 2004, Delta Dental of Missouri became a major corporate sponsor and played a key role in the theatre’s $145,000 renovations in 2011.
For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris or Shannon Woodcock
The Hauser Group HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum St. Louis
(314) 436-9090 (314) 241-7391