Pacific Science Center gets $5.25 million grant for Science on Wheels program

SEATTLE, Sept. 3, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Pacific Science Center has secured a significant $5.25 million grant from The Laura Ellen and Robert Muglia Family Foundation to sustain its Science on Wheels outreach program, which brings hands-on STEM learning to schools and communities across Washington State. This is one of the largest gifts in the center's history and marks a pivotal step in addressing recent funding losses due to statewide budget cuts.

The loss of funding from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has put Science on Wheels at risk. However, the grant from The Muglia Family Foundation ensures that the program can continue providing high-impact, hands-on educational experiences to Washington students. The gift also signals a new beginning for the foundation's grantmaking efforts, which have only just formalized since late 2025.

"Science on Wheels has been a cornerstone of STEM education in Washington for over 50 years, and we are thrilled to have the support of The Muglia Family Foundation," said Dr. Jane Kim, CEO of Pacific Science Center. "This grant will enable us to reach more students and communities with engaging and educational programming, ensuring that the future workforce is well-equipped with the skills they need."

Laura Ellen Muglia, co-founder of The Muglia Family Foundation, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership. "We are proud to support the transformational programming that Science on Wheels brings to students across Washington State," Muglia said. "We believe that STEM education and hands-on learning are fundamental to the success of young people. The Pacific Science Center has a long reputation for inspiring curiosity through innovative and high-impact learning, and we are excited to be a small part of that legacy."

For more than five decades, Science on Wheels has delivered live science assemblies, classroom workshops, and interactive exhibits to students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade across the state. The program is designed to complement classroom instruction and support state science standards. With the new grant, PacSci aims to:

- Reach an estimated 350,000 students statewide with hands-on science learning opportunities. - Offer free and deeply discounted programming for low-income schools and communities. - Develop new curriculum that aligns with state standards. - Build new exhibits to keep the programming engaging, relevant, and high quality.

Pacific Science Center, a Seattle-based nonprofit science center, is committed to igniting curiosity in every child and fueling a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking in all of us. The center's mission and ongoing efforts to enhance STEM education are bolstered by this substantial support from The Muglia Family Foundation.

The Laura Ellen and Robert Muglia Family Foundation, established in Seattle in 2000, has spent the past 25 years funding organizations worldwide in entrepreneurship, technology, health and wellbeing, and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. This latest grant demonstrates the foundation's commitment to educational initiatives that benefit the broader community.

Both organizations hope that this collaboration will not only strengthen Science on Wheels but also pave the way for future partnerships aimed at enhancing STEM education and outreach in Washington State.