JANESVILLE — The Children’s Museum of Rock County today announced Woodman’s Markets as a top donor for its capital campaign, saying the local grocery store chain has pledged $1.5 million to the project.
The CMRC announced last month that it would be finalizing designs for the 100 W. Milwaukee Street project based on its current fundraising total. In that release, it said the most recent designs were conceptual and were last updated in 2023.
The CMRC has raised $13.46 million to date for its capital project.
“We are thrilled that Woodman’s has pledged their support of this project,” John Westphal, CMRC President and capital campaign chair was quoted as saying in a news release. “Good things are happening here in Janesville and Rock County because of organization’s like Woodman’s giving back.”
Woodman’s has most recently been in the news for its pledge to the new sports and convention center slated to open later this year, but its commitment to the Janesville community goes much further back. In 1919 they started as a produce stand on Milton Avenue and continued to grow into a large regional grocer delivering value and selection to 19 communities throughout Wisconsin and Illinois, while also empowering employees to become owners through their conversion to an employee-owned company in 1979.
“Woodman’s is proud to be a part of the Janesville community for over a century, and happy to help assist in bringing a children’s museum to the city, where children can learn and play in an amazing environment. We look forward to the next century of continued savings, selection, and community involvement,” said Clint Woodman, president of Woodman’s.
CMRC representatives stated that the children’s museum will feature a Woodman’s market as part of its agriculture exhibit.
“Grocery stores and markets are always a popular exhibit with kids,” said Olivia McCarthy, CMRC Public Relations and Communications Director. “Our plans are more comprehensive. We want kids to be able to engage with every stage of the farm to table process… while also learning about modern farming techniques.”
In addition to finalizing its design plans, the CMRC is currently recruiting the museum’s first executive director. It hopes to have an executive director hired by the time construction begins.
According to CMRC representatives, the capital campaign will continue to accept donations until the project is complete. Those interested in learning more about the project, and ways to support it, can visit the CMRC website at kidsatplayrc.com.