Thanks to a generous $500,000 matching pledge, all donations received between now and August 31st will be doubled!
The Transform Tomorrow matching campaign was born from the love, relationships, and bonds that go beyond the traditional, nuclear family. The children’s museum will be a place for grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster families, guardians, caregivers, and more to learn, grow, PLAY, and build memories.
What Is a Matching Gift?
What is a matching pledge? What does that mean for your donation? It means that every dollar you donate to the Let’s PLAY Together Capital Campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar.
So, your:
- $25 donation = $50
- $50 donation = $100
- $100 donation = $200
- And so on!
This generous matching pledge is part of an overall $2 million gift from Steve and Marlene Bysted. If the match is fulfilled that will mean $2.5 MILLION for the project and (based on current numbers) put the total amount raised to around $14.5 million.
Interested in becoming an Everyone for the Kids Donor? Learn more here.
About the Donors
The Bysteds are Janesville natives with strong ties to the community. You may recognize the couple from their years of community service.
Marlene has served on the YWCA board, PTA, lunch buddy program, an elementary school volunteer, middle school mentor, and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). In 2016, she was the treasurer of the CMRC board. She is currently serving on the CASA board and Children’s Museum of Rock County Foundation board.
Steve has served on the YMCA board, WI Wholesalers board, and as a middle school and high school basketball coach. He is currently a Food Resource Assistant at Echo. Steve also owned Ott Schweitzer Distributing (now part of Frank Beverage Group).
“The Children’s Museum follows our commitment to paying it forward to the children in our community and will be a place for kids to play, learn, and grow,” said Marlene Bysted. “We believe all children should have access to opportunities to thrive.”
Together We Build Memories – One Match at a Time
Rock County is a wonderful place to raise a family, but we’re missing something essential for our kids and our community to truly thrive. Caregivers regularly leave the county to visit one of four children’s museums within an hour’s drive, taking with them not only their time but millions of dollars that could stay local.
By donating you’re investing in a place where over 26,000 children can explore, imagine, and learn right here at home. It’s more than a museum, it’s an engine for growth, connection, and brighter futures.
In a county facing higher childhood adversity, lower education levels, and lower incomes than our neighbors, the museum will be a safe, joyful space where curiosity is sparked, bonds between children and caregivers are strengthened, and life-long learning takes root. Your gift doesn’t just help build a building, it builds memories, strengthens families, and shapes Rock County’s tomorrow.
Double your donation now and let’s Transform Tomorrow.
