WSECU and Hands on Children’s Museum Partnership Enters Seventh Year

Aug. 23, 2024 (Olympia, Wash.) – WSECU’s Inspired Learning for All partnership with the Hands On Children’s Museum celebrated its seventh year of supporting local families and children with three different cost-saving benefits for museum attendees, specifically focused to help credit union members and low-income families to take part in the museum’s fun and educational elements.

The centerpiece of the partnership is free or reduced-cost admission to the Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia for families that receive basic food assistance through a Washington State electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card.

The partnership also offers discounted rates for all WSECU members. Credit union members receive a 10 percent discount on museum memberships and a 50 percent discount on “WSECU Wednesdays,” held on the first Wednesday of each month.

“The success of Inspired Learning for All, which has helped open the museum doors to so many families, is reason to celebrate,” said WSECU Board Past Chair Doug Mah. “WSECU took a naming rights opportunity and turned it into so much more.”

Museum Executive Director Patty Belmonte reports impressive numbers for the program’s usage. In 2024, the program has had nearly 20,000 visitors using the EBT card access program in the first six months of the year.

“In its first half, this partnership has been transformational for the museum and for thousands of families,” Belmonte said. “Thanks to WSECU’s investment, Hands On achieved an important milestone to become a national ‘Museum for All’.” The Museum for All designation is presented by the Association of Children's Museums and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to recognize museums that encourage families of all backgrounds to visit regularly and build lifelong learning habits.

Without a doubt, the museum is a special place to any child who visits. As one parent shared with the museum, “My children love this museum and I would not be able to bring them without the [EBT] program. I believe this place to be so important for the children, parents, and the community and I am grateful to be able to come.” Another visitor wrote, “I'm in school full time and a single mom, so money is tight and being able to bring my boys for free means everything.”
From its inception, the “Inspired Learning for All” partnership has been more for the credit union than a simple sponsorship. If offers a chance to support meaningful programming that can be transformative for families of young children.

“To be associated with a premier institution like the museum has value in itself,” Mah added. But the primary reason WSECU invested in Inspired Learning for All was to support early learning for the families that may have the most to gain from visiting.” Research repeatedly shows early childhood education, which often looks like play, is essential to a strong foundation for later academic success.

“We are thankful for the collaboration and partnership of WSECU with Inspired Learning for All,” said Belmonte. “Our organizations’ shared values and commitment to investing in the success of the whole community is making a meaningful difference in children’s lives.”