Gifts from Lunder Foundation and William H. Pitt Foundation will provide lasting support for affordable admission and hands-on learning

(WEST PALM BEACH, FL) – Cox Science Center & Aquarium (CSCA) has announced two $1 million endowments commitments that will provide ongoing support for hands-on STEM education, expand access for families and support the organization’s vision for science education across Palm Beach County.

The Lunder Foundation is providing a $1 million endowment gift designated to support CSCA’s Museums for All initiative, which expands access to STEM learning for families across the region.

Launched in October 2021, Museums for All allows families receiving Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) benefits to visit CSCA for $3 per person. The initiative helps remove financial barriers to interactive science education and advances the organization’s commitment to equity and accessibility.

"Museums and science centers are gateways to possibility and belonging," said Paula Lunder, a West Palm Beach resident and representative of the Lunder Foundation. "Through our support of Museums for All, we are working to ensure that every child and family, regardless of circumstance, can walk through those doors and find a place where curiosity is nurtured, potential is recognized and opportunity feels within reach."

The William H. Pitt Foundation also committed a $1 million endowment gift for general science education programs and dissections in CSCA’s Wet Lab, planned for the future Hall of Science, a space the foundation helped bring to life through prior support.

Each year, thousands of students in grades 2 through 12 participate in hands-on laboratory experiences in the Science Center’s current Wet Lab, including pig, squid, frog and shark dissections. Students also learn to use glassware, lab tools and chemistry materials in a real laboratory environment. When CSCA’s expansion opens in late 2027, participation in these programs is expected to double.

"Hands-on science changes the way children see themselves and what they believe is possible," said Pauline Pitt, a Palm Beach resident with the William H. Pitt Foundation. "By endowing the Dissection and General Science programs, we are ensuring that students across our community have ongoing access to authentic lab experiences that spark curiosity, strengthen confidence and open doors to future opportunities."

The combined $2 million in commitments accelerates progress toward CSCA’s long-term vision and reinforces the Science Center’s role as a regional leader in experiential STEM education.

“These generous gifts will strengthen our endowment and help ensure that more children see themselves reflected in the future of science and innovation,” said Kurt Allen, President and CEO of Cox Science Center & Aquarium. “We are profoundly grateful for this continued investment in our mission and for the lasting impact this generosity will have on inspiring and empowering future generations.”

Cox Science Center & Aquarium’s purpose is “transforming lives by opening every mind to science.” The Cox Science Center & Aquarium features immersive, educational exhibits, a 10,000-gallon aquarium, an outdoor science trail and more. The Cox Amphitheater hosts daily live science shows and special events. In 2021, the Center launched a transformative capital expansion campaign. Construction began in May 2024 with completion expected in late 2027.

Annual memberships pay for themselves in as little as two visits and includes reciprocal admission over 350 other ASTC Science Center member institutions worldwide. To learn more about CSCA’s current offerings or to purchase tickets, please visit coxsciencecenter.org or call 561.832.1988.

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