Explorit welcomes new development director

Kimberly Cox, a veteran fund-raising professional in the Sacramento-San Joaquin area, has joined Explorit Science Center as director of development.

“We are delighted to have such a dynamic and qualified individual join our team,” said Lou Ziskind, executive director. “She has a ‘can-do’ and ‘why not?’ professional philosophy that will be a real asset in today’s challenging economic times.”

Most recently, Cox was resource development director at Community Partnership for Families in Stockton. Previous posts include director of development at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento from 2004-2007 and director of major giving at KVIE Channel 6 from 2001-2004.

Museum work factors into Cox’s background as well, with stints at the Haggin Museum in Stockton and Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.

“I see limitless potential for Explorit,” Cox said.  “Preparing young people for a rapidly changing future is critically important. Explorit does exactly that by inspiring curiosity and a passion for learning about science. I’m thrilled to be part of this effort.”

Cox is a past board member of the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals, a current member of the Stockton Downtown Rotary Club and a graduate of Leadership Stockton, a prestigious program designed to inspire men and women to assume leadership roles in the community.

Curiously, her quest to join the Explorit staff has giving Cox a new hero: Albert Einstein.

“When I was waiting to hear about the job after my final interview, I happened to have a Happy Meal at McDonalds. The toy inside was a miniature Einstein, which I thought had to be a good sign of a job offer to come,” she jokes. “The job became mine, so Einstein is now my best bud. He sits on my desk as my inspiration and guiding light.”

Cox succeeds Alison Cagley, who left Explorit for a position in Sacramento earlier this summer.
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The JM Long Foundation has given Explorit $25,000 to establish a Science Education for Schools Scholarship Program. The gift allows the center to freeze program fees for the coming school year at the 2008-‘09 level. In essence, that means the foundation is partially supporting every school program that Explorit presents.

Other major gifts in the past couple of months include:

• ScholarShare Investment Board gave $7,400 to sponsor Summer Science Camp ’09 as well as a Free Admission Day for all on Sept. 20 and one Family Science Night at a low-income school in the fall.

• Save Mart CARES donated $2,500 to support Explorit’s outreach programs in low-income schools in Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties. Participating schools can choose from the center’s Classroom Adventures, “Health in Your World” Family Science Night, School Assembly Program or Young Scientist Series.

• River Cats Foundation Inc. is sponsoring Explorit ‘s Young Scientist Series after-school program with a donation of $2,500.

• Woodland Healthcare gave $1,000 to sponsor summer camp.

Explorit depends on charitable donations to maintain its array of science education programs; fees alone do not sustain them. For more information about giving opportunities, please contact Kimberly Cox, director of development, at (530) 756-0191 or kcox@explorit.org.
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Explorit Science Center is at 2801 Second St., Davis. Public hours: 2-4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission is $4 general, free for ages 3 and under. It’s free for everyone on the fourth Friday of each month. For more information: (530) 756-0191 or www.explorit.org.