Oak Ridge Children's Museum gala Nov. 17: "Party Like It's 2073!"

Special to The Oak Ridger
·3 min read

Festivities and fun in a futuristic setting will be on tap when guests gather to “Party Like It’s 2073!” at the 22nd annual Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge Gala.

The Gala, set for 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, will be the final event of the year celebrating the Children’s Museum’s 50th birthday. The Gala celebrates the future - looking forward to 2073, when the Museum will reach its 100th birthday.

Guest speaker Amy Elliott of Oak Ridge National Laboratory will explore new discoveries in science and technology that could be seen in the future. Elliott, group leader in Robotics and Intelligent Systems at ORNL, specializes in 3D printing. She was among 120 women with life-size, 3D-printed statues on the lawn of the Smithsonian in 2022 during a Women’s History Month exhibit titled “IfThenSheCan.” The exhibit recognized women exceling in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, (STEM).

At last year’s Children’s Museum Gala, Pete Clark, from left, Chris Clark, and Penny Simon came in costume for the Atomic City Night Club, the Gala theme.
At last year’s Children’s Museum Gala, Pete Clark, from left, Chris Clark, and Penny Simon came in costume for the Atomic City Night Club, the Gala theme.

Gala visitors will have a chance to see robots up close, highlighting future technologies. They will appear with the robotics teams from Clinton High School and Webb School of Knoxville. The Robertsville Middle School Small Orchestra will provide musical entertainment during the event.

With its futuristic theme, the Gala invites guests to create costumes for the future and compete for prizes in the costume contest.

Frank Murphy, known as an improvisor on stage, on the air and online, will emcee the Children’s Museum Gala.
Frank Murphy, known as an improvisor on stage, on the air and online, will emcee the Children’s Museum Gala.

Frank Murphy, host of the “Frank & Friends” podcast and “Up Close with Frank Murphy” on East Tennessee PBS, will emcee the Gala. Guest DJ Matt Sieger, who’s day job is as a project director for ORNL’s Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, will spin music with a futuristic theme.

William "Bear" Stephenson, of Stephenson Realty and Auction, will again donate his skills to lead the live auction. The live and silent auctions offer opportunities for holiday shopping, and auction items include a Tuckaway Cabin getaway in the Smokies, an evening boat cruise on Ft. Loudon Lake, pottery by Bill Capshaw, an ornithology tour with Charles Nicholson, and a bass fishing trip with an expert guide, among many others. Gala guests will enjoy dinner by Birdwell Catering.

William "Bear" Stephenson volunteers his services each year at the Children’s Museum Gala.
William "Bear" Stephenson volunteers his services each year at the Children’s Museum Gala.

The Selma Shapiro Friend of the Child Award, presented annually at the Gala, will honor Tom Beehan and Kay Brookshire, two longtime supporters of the Children’s Museum.

The Gala also highlights the Children’s Museum founding in March 1973, when a Girl Scout troop with a Reader’s Digest Foundation grant set up a small exhibit area in the former Jefferson Junior High School library. Selma Shapiro, the museum’s director for more than 30 years, became the executive director a few months later, leading the Museum to expand into the former Highland View Elementary School. The museum now occupies more than 50,000 square feet in the building.

Through the years, the Girl Scouts’ initial interest in a museum of Appalachian culture was broadened to include the arts, science and history as well, with exhibits and interactive programs designed to delight and educate children and their families.

The Gala, held at the museum, 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, is the annual fundraiser for the Children’s Museum, providing critical support for the museum’s mission of educating children of all ages through play and discovery. Gala sponsorships are available at levels ranging from $10,000 to $500 and come with complimentary tickets and other benefits.

Tickets to the Gala are $125 per person. A table for eight may be purchased for $800, a savings of $200. Tickets may be purchased at: https://event.gives/cmorgala2023. If you can’t attend, you may donate at http://bit.ly/givetocmor. Call Beth Shea at CMOR at (865) 482-1074 or email her at bshea@childrensmuseumofoakridge.org to learn more about Gala sponsorships or for more information.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory manufacturing scientist Amy Elliott was among women in STEM featured with a life-sized statue in an exhibit, IfThenSheCan, at the Smithsonian to commemorate Women in History month. She'll be the guest speaker at the Nov. 17, 2023 Children's Museum of Oak Ridge Gala.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory manufacturing scientist Amy Elliott was among women in STEM featured with a life-sized statue in an exhibit, IfThenSheCan, at the Smithsonian to commemorate Women in History month. She'll be the guest speaker at the Nov. 17, 2023 Children's Museum of Oak Ridge Gala.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: "Party Like It's 2073!" at Children's Museum of Oak Ridge Gala Nov. 17