The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation awards $75,000 grant to Williamsville Planetarium

The Williamsville Education Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has received a grant in the amount of $75,000 from The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation in support of the Williamsville Central School District Planetarium. This generous gift will be used to support the equipment overhaul at the Planetarium, bringing the 38-year old facility into the digital age.

"We are thrilled with the gift from The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation," said Trey Measer, President of the Williamsville Education Foundation, Inc. "Their generosity will help the District make much-needed upgrades to this unique science learning lab."

The Williamsville Planetarium is the only operable school-based planetarium in the Erie-Niagara region. Last year, over 20,000 people visited the planetarium, which seats about 70 in an intimate domed theater. The Space Lab is available to every teacher, student and classroom in Western New York, offering 70 different shows in a multimedia theater with video, slide and special effect projectors.

However, after nearly four decades, both the projection equipment and the presentation software

need to be modernized. A new, digital star projector will be purchased to replace the existing slide and special effects projectors. Current slide programming will be converted to full-dome digital video and new state-of-the-art programming will be purchased. The total cost of the refurbishment is expected to be about $400,000.

According to Superintendent Howard S. Smith, the District hopes to fund the necessary upgrades through private sources.

"The District has made a commitment to sustain this incredible resource, but our goal is to overhaul the Planetarium without burdening our local taxpayers with the cost," Dr. Smith explained. "We are grateful to The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation for its support of this project and its ongoing commitment to provide learning opportunities for students across Western New York."

The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation grant continues the fundraising momentum sparked by a $200,000 New York State grant announced by U.S. Congressman Thomas Reynolds in late August. The Williamsville Education Foundation, Inc. is spearheading the District's efforts to refurbish the Planetarium through private resources.