Patron Pig Pile

How does the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine give back to the community?

4,602 visitors enjoyed the Museum for free last year, via Free Fridays and donated passes. That s $32,214 in free admissions!
More than 100 families received scholarship memberships!
Staff, youth staff and volunteers lead at least 50 free programs and activities for our visitors each week that s over 2,600 each year!
We offer 10 different Traveling Tales backpacks which visitors can check out free of charge, so they can keep learning and exploring at home!
We host private playtimes for families of children with autism, free of charge!

How can the community give back to the Children s Museum & Theatre of Maine?

By contributing to the PATRON PIG PILE!

What is it?

The Patron Pig Pile is a new way for members and visitors to support the Museum & Theatre! When you make a $1 donation at the front desk, you ll get a ball all your own to feed to our piggies! The Pig Pile is an interactive teaching exhibit, introducing children to the concepts of donations and giving. Your donation is an investment in the Museum & Theatre our exhibits, programs, materials and our outreach efforts in the community!

How does it work?

To contribute to the Pig Pile, visit the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine front desk. When you make a $5 donation, the front desk staff will give you a ball and markers with which to decorate the ball any way you like! When you are ready to put your ball in the Pig Pile, the front desk staff will give you The Little Pig-Key. Place your ball at the bottom of the tube and use the Pig Key to press the button, then watch your ball whoosh into the Pig Pile! The front desk staff will give you a special sticker to wear to thank you for supporting the Museum & Theatre.

Why do we need it?

Most people who come to play at the Museum & Theatre pay an admission fee of $8. But each visitor we welcome costs the Museum & Theatre $11.61 in total operating expenses. That means for every visitor you see, the Museum & Theatre needs to raise an extra $3.61! Similarly, admission revenues for theatre productions do not cover the cost of sets, props and staffing for months of after-school rehearsals (which are offered at no cost to the children participating). Contributions help to keep our admission fees and ticket prices down and provide free and reduced admissions to people who need them, making the Museum & Theatre accessible to all the families of Maine.

Where does the money go?

The money we raise in the Pig Pile goes into our Annual Appeal Fund, which is one of the ways that individuals in the community can help support the Museum & Theatre. The Annual Appeal is not earmarked for specific uses - it supports all the important work the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine does every day!