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AutoNation, Inc.
Commits $3 Million to the
Museum of Discovery and Science to Name IMAX® Theater
Museum Also Announces $20 Million Capital Campaign to Fund
World-Class Expansion of Museum
August 15, 2007 Fort Lauderdale – The Museum of Discovery and
Science announced today that AutoNation, Inc. has committed $3
million to name the Museum's IMAX® Theater the AutoNation IMAX®
Theater. The Museum also announced today that it has embarked
on a three-year, $20 million capital campaign to fund an
expansion of the Museum that will effectively double the
Museum's public space. The expansion plan includes a new 27,000
square foot EcoDiscovery Center wing with exhibits that will be
dedicated primarily to the environment of Florida, including
interpretation of its unique ecology, the Everglades, and the
impact of hurricanes and climate change.
Kim L. Cavendish, President / CEO of the Museum of Discovery and
Science, said, "We are extremely pleased that AutoNation will be
taking a leadership position in supporting the Museum and our
expansion project. To date, we have raised over $10 million in
support of the project, which will result in a greatly expanded
world-class science museum."
"AutoNation is excited to support the Museum of Discovery and
Science and to do our part to ensure a successful expansion of
this important institution in our community," said Mike Jackson,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AutoNation.
Since the 'new' Museum of Discovery and Science opened in 1992,
nearly seven million people have been entertained and educated
with interactive and immersive exhibits, engaging educational
programs, larger-than-life films in the IMAX® Theater, and a
live animal collection. The new EcoDiscovery Center wing will
feature interactive exhibits with a special focus on the
Everglades' rich and fragile ecosystem and how global
environmental change is affecting Florida, as well as an iconic
indoor/outdoor fresh water otter habitat. Other highlights
include a simulated airboat ride through the Everglades and a
high wire gravity bicycle. The expansion will also include
laboratory / classrooms that will increase the Museum's capacity
for classes, camps, and school programs.
Construction of a new Visitor Pavilion will begin this fall,
opening up the existing lobby area for programming. The popular
Discovery Center children's area will be expanded to make room
for new interactive water play exhibits.
The Museum's campaign, called Building New Pathways to
Discovery is being jointly chaired by the following community
leaders: Tom Angelo, Esq. of Angelo and Banta, P.A.; Keith
Koenig, President of City Furniture; Terry Stiles, Chairman/CEO
of Stiles Corporation; and Jon Ferrando, Executive Vice
President of AutoNation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of
the Museum of Discovery and Science.
ABOUT AUTONATION, INC.
AutoNation, Inc., headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is
America's largest automotive retailer and has been named
America's Most Admired Automotive Retailer by FORTUNE magazine
in five of the last six years. A component of the Standard and
Poor's 500 Index, AutoNation owns and operates 321 new vehicle
franchises in 16 states. For additional information, please
visit http://corp.AutoNation.com or
www.AutoNation.com, where
more than 80,000 vehicles are available for sale along with AutoNation's E-Vehicle program.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY AND SCIENCE
The mission of the Museum of Discovery and Science is to provide
experiential pathways to lifelong learning in science for
children and adults through exhibits, programs and films.
Founded in 1976 as The Discovery Center, the nonprofit facility
serves approximately 400,000 visitors annually. Major
operational support for the Museum is provided through generous
support by Leadership Guild members including: City Furniture,
JM Family Enterprises, Inc., Sun-Sentinel and Wachovia.
The Museum is open seven days a week, 365 days a year; Monday
through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to
6 p.m. with extended IMAX® hours most evenings. General
Admission prices are $15 for adults; $14 for seniors; $12 for
children 2 to 12. Children under 2 are free. A General Admission
Ticket includes admission to the Museum exhibits and one classic
IMAX® film. The Museum of Discovery and Science is located
downtown at 401 SW Second Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
33312. For more information about the Museum, visitors should
call 954.467.MODS (6637).
ABOUT THE ® IMAX® THEATER
The IMAX®Theater-owned and operated by the Museum of Discovery
and Science, opened in 1992. The 300-seat theater is a showcase
of state-of-the-art motion picture technology. The IMAX®Theater
features a 60 ft. x 80 ft. screen and a 15,000 watt digital
sound system that delivers six discrete channels of clear sound
through 42 speakers. The IMAX® projector's 15,000 watt Xenon
bulb projects images of unsurpassed brilliance and clarity onto
the five-story-high screen. Both 2D and 3D films are shown in
the theater. 3D films are viewed using new lightweight XR 3D
glasses. The IMAX® experience is an unparalleled fusion of sight
and sound. For show times, visitors should call 954.463.IMAX
(4629). |
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