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Article for: The Davis Enterprise
Date: April 9, 2004
Author: Kimberly Bernick

EXPLORIT RECEIVES OUTSTANDING NONPROFIT AWARD

Citing "innovative contributions to the Sacramento Region," the Sacramento Nonprofit Resource Center named Explorit Science Center this year's "Outstanding Small Nonprofit."

"Explorit Science Center is a terrific example of excellence in nonprofit leadership," said Jan Stohr, executive director of the Sacramento Nonprofit Resource Center.

Accompanied by numerous Explorit staff, trustees and affiliates, Board President Bill Owens accepted the award, which was presented at the Sacramento Nonprofit Resource Center's "Look of Success" event March 27.

The award is the latest in a string of accolades for Explorit Science Center. Last year, Explorit was nominated for a National Award for Museum Service by Congressman Mike Thompson. Recently, Explorit was voted the top area provider of after-school programs in the James Irvine Foundation CORAL program. And this fall, Explorit will be one of only 10 museums around the country to partner with PBS's NOVA program in a national education outreach effort. The effort includes prestigious institutions like the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland and the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Owens' daughters Lauren and Sarah also helped demonstrate Explorit's hands-on style and go-get-'em attitude with a quick demonstration with emcee Elyse Dietrich of KTXL Fox40. A poll was taken of the audience as to who thought that a little girl, Lauren, could lift up Dietrich. The feat, of course, sounded doubtful. 

However, true to Explorit's nature, with a homemade lever and a little bit of conviction, Lauren did lift the event's emcee with one hand and without problems. This just goes to show that a little really can go a long way if you know what to do with it.

Explorit Trustee Lars Anderson credits the staff of the hands-on science center for creating a superior organization. "The Trustees and members of Explorit are indeed fortunate to have such tremendous talent and dedication at all staff levels," Anderson said.

Explorit has developed this exceptional reputation in part because of the Center's strength in reaching under-served audiences. Explorit reaches 56% of its audience through traveling outreach, serving 49,000 individuals annually on only a half million dollar budget.

Gyroscope, a museum planning firm calls Explorit "A lean organization that produces highly effective programs with minimal financial resources."

"Teachers and parents already value what Explorit does to make science accessible and fun for everyone," said Explorit Executive Director Suzanne Ullensvang, "So I'm delighted that the Sacramento Nonprofit Resource Center has recognized our work."

Founded in 1982, Explorit Science Center engages children and adults throughout the greater Sacramento area with a variety of hands-on science programs. Programs travel to school and community sites in the region and are offered at the family-friendly center in Davis.

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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition "Networks in Nature: The Original World Wide Web" runs through June 6. Public hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.explorit.org or call Explorit at (530) 756-0191.