First Posted: 6/18/2012

Out of the donations Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham has received to come to fruition, the children’s learning museum — under construction on East Washington Street in Rockingham — received its first donation from a civic group on Monday.

Rockingham Rotary donated $32,500 to Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham and consultant Teri Lemons was there to receive the check.

Outgoing Rotary President Robert Voorhees said he was glad to be a part of it.

“As president, I was very pleased today to see the club make this donation to Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham,” said Voorhees. “Our members decided early on this year to make this contribution and the donation came out of funds raised for charity in years past.”

Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham is an interactive museum currently being constructed for children in the Sandhills region to foster learning through play. It is the second of its kind to be built. The first one opened in Huntersville last year.

“Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham will give back to the community for decades to come, and it won’t just benefit the children of Rockingham but the whole area. I’m thrilled by this cause and happy to be part of the effort. To drive by and see the construction is uplifting,” Voorhees said.

“One of the best things about being a Rotarian is the opportunity to give back to your community,” said in-coming Rotary President Rick Bacon. “The Rotary Club of Rockingham is pleased to make this gift to Discovery Place-Kids. We believe this gift will make Rockingham and Richmond County a better place to live for decades to come.”

The interactive museum is scheduled to open next year.

— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at [email protected].