one by one®: Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology
Since receiving a one by one grant, Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) staff have given its branded nonprofit swag to everyone from visitors, volunteers and sponsors to the President of the United States. Located in Syracuse, New York, the nonprofit museum is focused on delivering dynamic science education to learners of all ages and abilities. It welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually and hosts field trips seven days a week. Throughout the year, MOST operates STEM education programs and community outreach events. And it added a sitting president to its list of visitors, as Joe Biden stopped for an April event.
STEM education for everyone
MOST is housed downtown in a historic 35,000-square-foot Armory Square building. Its exhibits include everything from manufacturing technology to animatronic dinosaurs to the National Grid ExploraDome movie theater for documentaries and planetarium shows. The museum welcomes thousands of students each year from central New York schools and organizations—many at no cost to the children and their families—sometimes from more than 100 miles away.
“Syracuse, unfortunately, is one of the nation’s highest poverty areas for children,” said Courtney Armbruster, MOST director of marketing and communications. “We also have a very high population of refugees, so many children are learning a second language. Our mission is to reach out to people from underrepresented groups in STEM careers and get them interested in science, technology, engineering and math.”
Nonprofit swag to say thanks
Like so many nonprofits, MOST carries out its mission with limited resources, so the opportunity provided by a one by one grant was welcome. Armbruster purchased branded tote bags and pens, which are combined with other items from the museum gift shop to create gift bags for sponsors, volunteers, guests and other stakeholders. Sometimes the promo products serve as souvenirs, and sometimes they serve as thank-you gifts.
“Grants are critical to the mission of MOST,” Armbruster said. “We have a shoestring budget to get through the day-to-day needs, and that little extra really helps us provide for our community and do what we do every day.”
A note from Cheryl
It is an honor to back MOST’s mission to provide STEM education—without barriers—for all ages and abilities. We hope the museum’s new nonprofit swag helped bring awareness to the organization’s extensive programming and opportunities. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.com.