Z.V. Pate/Swink-Quality Oil & Gas Co., through the Z.V. Pate Foundation, announced Monday a $25,000 gift to the Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham comprehensive campaign as general support for the project. The new children’s museum will be an interactive learning-through-play experience designed to aid in the development of childhood skills, imagination and creativity.
The museum is being constructed on East Washington Street in downtown Rockingham in what used to be the McKenzie Furniture building. Discovery Place, Inc. officials have said they hope to open to the public in early 2013.
“Z.V. Pate and Swink-Quality Oil & Gas Co. are a shining example of the generous, community-focused corporate pillars that we are lucky to have here,” said Russell Bennett, Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham campaign co-chair. “It has truly moved me to watch the individuals and companies across the Sandhills unite in support of a project so meaningful to this region.”
Swink-Quality Oil incorporated in North Carolina in 1945 and is a distributor of BP, Shell, TOTAL, Gulf and Liberty brand products throughout the Carolinas. The company provides complete motor fuels, industrial and farm lubricants, home heating fuels and propane service for the surrounding areas including all of Richmond, Robeson and Scotland counties and parts of Anson, Moore, Montgomery, Chesterfield and Marlboro counties. David Burns, chairman of the Z.V. Pate Foundation, and Gene McLaurin, president and CEO of Swink Quality Oil, serve on the Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham campaign cabinet.
“Being already invested in this community both personally and through my company, I feel indebted to our neighbors who make it such a wonderful place to call home,” said McLaurin, who is also the mayor of Rockingham. “It has been an honor to work with the community in building what we know will be a vibrant, enriching educational opportunity for all of our children.”
The project’s ongoing capital campaign, which was launched by the commitment of $6.6 million in funds from the Cole Foundation and the Richmond Community Foundation, continues to secure additional needed funds. The visionary leadership gifts of the two foundations, which were facilitated by The Foundation For The Carolinas, are intended for the long-term sustainability of the museum.
Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham will be the second Discovery Place KIDS site after opening the first in Huntersville in 2010. The museum kicked off its official construction at a community event in March.
Discovery Place KIDS is an innovative model in regional children’s museums developed by Discovery Place, Inc., the parent company of Discovery Place and Charlotte Nature Museum. Discovery Place KIDS is built on the theme of “I CAN” and offers unique opportunities for learning through play for children and their parents or caregivers.
For more information about Discovery Place KIDS, call 704-372-6261 or visit discoveryplaceKIDS.org.
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