In tough times, Explorit’s Scholarship Fund needs a boost

“Science should be fun and exciting for children of all ages,” says Ethel Sassenrath.  “I hope others enjoy the science activities and educational programs Explorit Science Center has to offer, just like my children and grandchildren still do.”

Chances are, you may not have heard of Ethel, but part of her lasting legacy is Explorit Science Center, and more specifically, the scholarship fund named for her.

Ethel started her work with Explorit Science Center when it opened in 1982, with only a handful of volunteers running the organization out of a couple of borrowed rooms and using their personal cars to move around the exhibit components.  As a scientist with a PhD. in biochemistry and with children of her own, she quickly became passionate about sharing science education in the local Davis community.

These five or so volunteers gradually collected more people with a similar interest, most of them from UC Davis. As the organization began to grow, a board was developed and staff began to receive a partial salary.  Quite a difference from today’s two buildings, four vehicles, 19 staff members, and the 80,000 children and adults from 16 counties that we serve each year!

When Ethel retired from Explorit’s board in 1998 after 16 years of involvement, her admirers wanted to set up a fund in her honor.  It was easy for her to decide how the wanted to direct the proceeds – she just had to watch children enjoy the hands-on family science nights, such as our flagship program, “Science in Your World.

“Scholarships help the schools and children that need it the most,” she says.

The Sassenrath Scholarship Fund was created to allow Explorit Science Center the ability to provide our outreach programs to low income schools and individuals for free or at a reduced rate, furthering the tradition of making science education as accessible as possible. Some Explorit supporters earmark their gifts to go to the Sassenrath fund every year.

More recently, the fund has been supplemented by the new “Wall of Giving” hand campaign started at Explorit’s main site, 2801 Second St.  Visitors are asked to donate $1 or more to the fund so we can grant fee assistance to schools that have had to cancel or have not been able to even book programs because of cuts in state and local budgets. Donors get a small blue cardboard hand to post on the Wall of Giving.

Ethel was distressed to hear that the available funds for scholarships have been depleted this year and that schools have had to be turned away from Explorit Science Center’s programming.  She personally made a recent donation to the fund and has told her family in lieu of birthday gifts for her special day coming up on Feb. 21 that she would rather have them make a donation to this fund.

Ethel wants your help! What can you do?
• Stop by our Second Street location and donate $1 or more for each member in your family to support local science education.
• Go to www.explorit.org and donate to the fund online.
• Encourage your children’s schools to book outreach programs in your community today.

We are grateful for Ethel and many others who were founders of Explorit Science Center – now a regional resource for schools and families.  Together, we can see a brighter future for our schoolchildren and the world of science around us.

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Explorit Science Center has a long-term exhibition called “Move It! Science in Action” and will open a second exhibition, “The Energy Story,” on Feb.  21.  Admission is $4 general, free for ages 3 and under. The museum is open from 2-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Explorit is at 2801 Second Street, Davis. For more information: (530) 756-0191 or www.explorit.org