ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Pee Dee Electric and North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives have announced gifts to the comprehensive campaign for Discovery Place KIDS – Rockingham, a Museum being developed in Richmond County that will offer learning-through- play experiences for young children and their caregivers. North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, the trade organization for rural electric cooperatives that service 2.5 million households in 90 counties across the state, has made a $37,500 pledge to complement the major gift given by Pee Dee Electric, a member-owned electric cooperative covering Richmond, Anson, Union, Stanley, Montgomery, Moore and Scotland Counties.

The combined contributions to Discovery Place KIDS – Rockingham follow last week’s donation announcement from Richmond County Tourism Development Authority, as well as initial gifts from the Cole and Richmond Community Foundations designated for long-term sustainability.

The City of Rockingham will serve as facility partner for the new Museum, which will be located on Washington Street in the former McKenzie Furniture building.

“Our hearts and our roots are in our region’s rural communities,” said Jane Pritchard, director of corporate communications, North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. “Our organization began as a way to support and give back to these areas, and this new Museum will help cultivate a rich quality of life for an important part of the state.”

“We anticipate that this Museum will be a fantastic educational and community-building asset to our region,” said Bruce Simmons, director of marketing and communications, Pee Dee Electric. “From anywhere in our service area, it is just an hour’s drive to downtown Rockingham.

As a customer-owned company, we are delighted that Pee Dee Electric patrons will be able to experience this extraordinary learning opportunity with their children.”

A corporate committee of community volunteer leaders, co-chaired by Anne Edwards and Butch Farrah are engaging the support of area businesses and corporations. Committee members include Brian Baucom, Kendall Casey, Jerome Davis, Bennett Deane, Carolina Goodwin, Frank Jenkins, Keith Parsons, Rick Sago, Roger Staley, Stephanie Thomas, Trey Wilson. The ongoing comprehensive capital campaign, led by community leaders and Discovery Place, Inc., will help provide the financial resources to build the Museum. Discovery Place KIDS – Rockingham will be the second Discovery Place KIDS museum developed by Discovery Place, Inc.