Rockingham-based Clarke, Inc. has announced a $25,000 gift to Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham, a children’s museum slated to open in 2013 in downtown Rockingham.
Designated for general museum support, the gift will help fund renovation, exhibition development, upgrades and maintenance, facility and endowment needs and more. Owned by Bob and Sharon Clarke, Clarke, Inc. is a local car dealership that prides itself on offering quality products at a fair price.
“Discovery Place KIDS is a draw for our region and a great gift to the young people who live here,” said Bob Clarke. “I moved to Rockingham in 1976 and this project is the most exciting thing I’ve seen happen here. Watching this new part of our downtown unite multiple generations is inspiring to my family and our business.”
With a 50-year history in the automobile business, Bob Clarke has managed and worked for several successful dealerships including Lapointe Chevrolet in Charlotte and Russell Bennett Chevrolet in Rockingham. After retiring in 1996, he launched Clarke, Inc. in 1997 as a family-owned company that he runs with his wife Sharon. Along with a variety of pre-owned vehicles, Clarke, Inc. also offers full detail work.
“Bob and Sharon are an integral part of this community,” said Russell Bennett, Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham campaign cabinet co-chair. “They always participate in every community project with enthusiasm and leadership and we are thrilled to have them on board.”
Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham will be a learning-through-play experience for children and their caregivers that encourages imagination, creativity and skill development. The museum’s capital campaign continues to secure additional funds needed for the project.
The Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham project was launched by the commitment of $6.6 million in funds from the Cole Foundation and the Richmond Community Foundation. Their visionary leadership gifts, which were facilitated by The Foundation For The Carolinas, are intended for the long-term sustainability of the museum.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.
Post a Comment
