For Nannette and Brian Henderson, it all started with Family Science Night.
Fifteen years ago, Nannette heard about this interactive program from the Children’s Science Center and advocated bringing it to her children’s elementary school. It was a hit! “Teachers, families, older siblings: everyone was engaged. Kids who were dragged in by their parents didn’t want to leave!” Family Science Night returned, many times, as did the Hendersons. Even though their own children have grown, Nannette and Brian continue to volunteer with the Science Center, leading to a priceless full-circle moment last year when they volunteered for Family Science Night at their now-educator daughter’s elementary school!
We are deeply honored that Nannette and Brian, decades-long supporters, were inspired to join the Launch the Future campaign for the Northern Virginia Science Center. “Our children got so much joy out of their childhood visits to science museums. When we thought about all the places we traveled, we realized, wait! Why don’t we have this here?” The Hendersons’ support also honors the community builders who started it all. “So many incredible local women came together to create the Children’s Science Center Lab. It’s been so inspiring to see them pull it up from nothing into what it is today,” shared Nannette. “I can’t wait to see what comes next.”
Nannette and Brian will be honored for their investment in the organization with the element Mercury (Hg) on the periodic table installation in the future museum’s entrance hall.
Thank you to the Hendersons and to all the co-builders of this incredible community. Our dream today is bigger and bolder than ever—are you in? To start a conversation about how you can get involved, contact Jenn Brunner at advancementdirector@childsci.org.
