Paying it forward through science

Community matters to John Stanoch. He believes that communities flourish when their residents have opportunities to learn, grow, and give back. To John, a lifelong Twin Cities resident, the Science Museum of Minnesota is one of the things at the heart of the local area.

“Experiencing the passion and joy people of all ages have when they come to the museum, interact with the programs and learn has been incredible,” John says. “SMM has established a leadership role, not only in science learning and education, but also with the courage to take on important and relevant issues like race with its exhibits.”

SMM’s commitment to youth education resonates with John. As a former presiding juvenile court judge, John saw firsthand how educational deficits among young people impact their future successes.

“Education is the gateway to having choices in your life that allow you to fully participate in our community and economy,” he says. “SMM’s educational outreach helps spread the word that science is essential, fun and can open doors to lifelong learning.”

After years of involvement with SMM as an interim president, board member, and emeritus trustee, John found that making a gift to the museum through an estate plan, known as a bequest, was an easy decision. “By paying it forward, I can help ensure that SMM is there for the enjoyment of future generations,” he says.

Like John, you can easily include the Science Museum of Minnesota in your estate plan to further science education. Contact Jenna Hadley at (612) 444-9204 or jhadley@smm.org‬ to learn more.