Dear Friends,
I want to share two stories with you about how the Miami Science Museum changes lives:
One moment changed a young man from Haiti's life forever: when Lubens was only 8 years old, his mother died. His aging grandmother, a woman of strength and resilience, came to South Florida to care for him and his 3 siblings. At age 16, Lubens' only thought was to find a job to ease the pressure on his grandmother, who was already working 2 jobs to support the family.
Another moment defined Lubens' future forever: he was accepted into the Miami Science Museum's Integrated Marine Program and College Training (IMPACT), an Upward Bound Math and Science program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This program identifies low-income, first-generation college bound students and prepares them for post-secondary study, college, and a bachelor's degree in science, math, technology, and related fields. The program has a 95% success rate of placing disadvantaged youth in college.
Where is Lubens today? He graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology. He works as a Security Engineer for Lockheed Martin in their Information Systems Leadership Development Program (ISLDP) and he is completing his Master's of Science in Management Information Systems at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
This year Lubens received RPI's Founders Award of Excellence, honoring students with strong academic standing who embody the qualities of discovery, creativity, leadership, and responsibility. He is only the 7th student from the ISLDP to be awarded this honor. Lubens is a testament to the truth of this statement. The Museum is training and shaping the work-force of the future.
Now meet Lucille. She is a single foster mother--with more than 50 adopted children. Lucille is a Screech Owl who cares for the many orphaned baby owls that are brought to the Falcon Batchelor Bird of Prey Center and Animal Hospital. Without the volunteers who rescue these fragile creatures and bring them to the Animal Hospital, many would become part of the food chain for predators!
The Falcon Batchelor Bird of Prey Center and Animal Hospital rehabilitates more than 500 raptors and other injured animals each year. Even more importantly, the Wildlife Center's educational outreach programs have instilled the joy of discovery, love of learning, and respect for the environment in thousands of children.
By making a donation to the Miami Science Museum, you have the opportunity to have a tremendous impact on the life of a child, rehabilitate an injured animal, and leave a legacy for the South Florida community. With your help, we can use our knowledge and resources to make it possible for talented future-engineers, like Lubens, to achieve greatness; or for baby screech owls, like Lucille's little orphans to soar freely through the skies again. We need you to make these successes possible.
As we reflect on our good fortune at this time of year, please know that your donation makes a difference in the lives of all those who look to the Museum to help them build a better life. Your tax deductible gift ensures that we are always there as a springboard for the Lubens and Lucilles in our community.
I hope we can count on you to make your gift by December 31, 2007 so we can continue our strong track record of success.
Your support makes it possible for us to change tomorrow through the many individual lives that we touch every day with our life changing programs and services.
Thank you for continuing to partner with us in our success! We hope to see you at the Museum soon!
Lubens, Lucille, and many others like them thank you too.
Sincerely,
Gillian Thomas
President & CEO
P.S. Are you interested in special naming opportunities in our Wildlife Center? Please call our Development Department at (305) 646-4224.
