An existing partnership between Explore & More Children's Museum and M&T Bank is expanding, with the latter announcing additional funding for use in the museum's capital and curriculum needs.
M&T's new investment raises its commitment to Explore & More to $500,000. The bank will become the official sponsor of the cafe to be located in Explore & More's future Canalside museum. Funds from the additional investment announced Friday will also support curriculum.
Also benefiting from the investment announced Friday is the Westminster Community Charter School.
"Through this growing partnership, Explore & More will be bringing its approach to experiential learning to Westminster Community Charter School, and Buffalo Promise Neighborhood," said M&T Senior Vice President Shelley Drake.
M&T Bank partners with the school through the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood program.
"We share similar visions. We share similar goals, and we're very closely aligned," said David Chamberlain, Vice Chairman of the Westminster Foundation and CEO of Buffalo Promise Neighborhood. "As we celebrate today this unique partnership between our organizations, I'm eagerly anticipating the extraordinary opportunities that, together, we'll be able to provide to Buffalo children."
The overall cost to build the new museum at Canalside is $27 million. Nine million dollars was provided by New York State, and Explore and More has raised eight million more, leaving 10 million more to go in the next two years.
"We are right on target and we feel really confident. There's such a groundswell of support," said Explore & More CEO Douglas Love.
Plans are to host a groundbreaking at Canalside next spring, and host the grand opening in the second half of 2018.
