“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.” — Fred Rogers

Discovery Museum is very proud to announce that CEO Neil Gordon has been selected by the Fred Rogers Institute as a recipient of the 2023 Fred Rogers Institute Helper Award. Neil was nominated for the award by his children.

Informed and inspired by the legacy of Fred Rogers, the Fred Rogers Institute Helper Awards honor and recognize the individuals who care for children and communities in ordinary and extraordinary ways in their daily and professional lives. The Fred Rogers Institute has a 20-year history of looking for “the helpers,” respecting the unique and essential contributions they make to children’s lives and supporting and uplifting their work. The awards are a new initiative developed in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Institute, in memory of Fred Rogers, and in thanks to the individuals we all look to as helpers.

The Institute shared some of what inspired Neil’s selection as an awardee: “When Neil began his tenure as CEO of the Discovery Museum in 2009, he launched a strong and steady drive to expand access and remove barriers to play. The Open Door Connections program provides families of children on the autism spectrum or with vision or hearing impairments free opportunities to experience the museum in a sensory-friendly, approachable environment. The ADA accessible 550sf treehouse sits atop an entirely accessible natural playground endearingly named the Discovery Woods. In 2018, the two-building museum became one state-of-the-art establishment, every aspect of which is now aligned with Universal Design principles to increase accessibility and inclusivity. Last year the museum served nearly 30 percent of its visitors for free or nearly free. In 2022, the Museum began their Prison Outreach Program, which seeks to help build positive relationships between incarcerated fathers and their children through play. Neil’s nominator, and daughter, shared, ‘If there were a lasting legacy I would ascribe to my Dad, it would be this: a dedication to not only holding play as a sacred right of childhood, but to removing barriers to play so that every child can experience its benefits.’”

As an awardee, Neil joins a wonderful group of helpers from throughout the country, including:

• Doreen Bortz, School Nutrition Manager, Robinson Elementary School | Starksboro, VT
• Dr. Adam Carter, Assistant Director of Call Center Operations – Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, PATH Inc. | Bloomington, IL
• Aide Cintron, Preschool Aide, Schubert Elementary School | Chicago, IL
• Gregory Donnellan, Director of Enrollment Management, Lawrence School | Bay Village, OH
• Eric Haapapuro, Middle School Science Teacher, Katherine Johnson Middle School | Fairfax, VA
• Rebecca Hutzell, Elementary Learning Support Teacher, Shanksville-Stony Creek Elementary School | Shanksville, PA
• Cornell Jones, Director of Street Outreach, City of Pittsburgh, and CEO of Operation Amani | Pittsburgh, PA
• Marla Pettit, Founder & Director, North Pittsburgh Children’s House | Butler, PA
• Pat Rumbaugh, Executive Director, Let’s Play America | Takoma Park, MD
• Dr. Joseph Sakran, Chief Medical Officer and Board Chair, Brady; Director of Emergency General Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine | Baltimore, MD
• John Storey, Jr. Deputy Fire Chief, North Strabane Fire Department | Hunker, PA
• Lisa Thompson, Special Education Paraprofessional, Bethel Park School District | Bethel Park, PA
• Tercell Wilson, Director of Operations and Kitchen Management, Earthen Vessels Outreach | Pittsburgh, PA

More information about each awardee can be found on the Institute’s website

Neil will be honored by representatives from the Fred Rogers Institute in an awards ceremony on site at Discovery Museum in October.

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About Discovery Museum

Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum that blends science, nature, and play, inspiring families to explore and learn together. The museum and its Discovery Woods accessible outdoor nature playscape and giant treehouse blend the best of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning on a beautiful 4.5-acre campus abutting 180 acres of conservation land in Acton, MA, about 20 miles west of Boston. Originally founded in 1982 and expanded to two museums in 1987, the museum reopened in a single, 16,000sf accessible building after a complete renovation and expansion in early 2018. Hands-on, open-ended exhibits developed by professional educators inspire curiosity and exploration, providing a fun and engaging experience for children and adults to discover their world together. Serving families and schools from towns throughout the region, the museum is devoted to informal education that enhances classroom learning. Discovery Museum is committed to accessibility and is a proud recipient of the Massachusetts Commonwealth Award, the only winner in the Access category, and a LEAD® Community Asset Award from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Discovery Museum was also recognized in 2023 as a Finalist for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Medal, the highest honor in the museum field. For more information, please visit www.discoveryacton.org. Discovery Museum is a community-supported non-profit organization.

Discovery Museum programming is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.