The Children’s Museum of Tacoma’s “We Play! Piggy Bank Brigade,” a kid-led effort to raise money for the new museum’s pay-as-you-will admission program, ends Friday, museum officials announced today. The campaign called on Pierce County kids to support the power of play and the museum by collecting change. Each child who turns in a full piggy bank (64 oz. or larger bottle filled with coins or dollars) by this Friday will get to play in the new museum Dec. 26 through Dec. 30 before it opens to the public on Jan. 14, 2012. Filled piggy banks can be turned in at any KeyBank branch or at the Museum.

Historically, the Children’s Museum of Tacoma has offered free admission through a number of programs: First Fridays Free; Library Passes; and Free Market Play days. In 2010, 49 percent of visitors took advantage of one of these access programs. Approximately one-third of these visitors qualify as low-income. By eliminating cost barriers and increasing its size, the museum has a greater capacity to reach more families, engage more children in playful learning, and support more parents. The museum plans to raise a total of $1 million to support the pay-as-you-will admission fund for 10 years. A gift of $250,000 was donated by KeyBank in early 2011 to support this effort, and Piggy Bank Brigade funds will provide additional funding for the program.

The museum will open a new facility at 1501 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma in January. For more information about the new museum, visit http://www.PlayTacoma.org .