Honoring 38 Years of Leadership. Investing in the Next 35.
For nearly four decades, Marilee Jennings has shaped Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose into a place where every child is welcomed, every family belongs, and learning begins with joyful discovery. As Marilee retires after an extraordinary 38-year career, we invite our community to honor her legacy by investing in the Museum’s future.
The Marilee Jennings Future 35 Fund celebrates Marilee’s visionary leadership and the Museum’s 35th anniversary by ensuring that her commitment to children, families, and community continues for generations to come.
Multi-Generational Impact
Since joining the Museum in 1987 and becoming Executive Director in 2008, Marilee has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and guided the Museum to national recognition as a leader in early education, family engagement, and community partnership.
Under her leadership, the Museum:
- Championed play-based learning that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and confidence
- Expanded accessible, culturally-responsive programming so families of all backgrounds feel welcomed and celebrated
- Earned the National Award for Museum Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
- Built strong partnerships that broadened the Museum’s reach across the Bay Area and beyond
Learning Without Walls
Marilee believes that children’s learning happens everywhere, especially through hands-on exploration. She led one of the most significant expansions in the Museum’s history, bringing to life award-winning indoor and outdoor experiences, including:
- Bill’s Backyard: Bridge to Nature
- Exploration Portal
- Bubbling Up, the Museum’s newest interactive bubble exhibit
- Zoom Zone, the children’s playspace at San Jose Mineta International Airport
These spaces reflect her vision of learning as joyful, active, and deeply connected to the world around us.
Why the Future 35 Fund Matters
Your gift helps:
- Expand access for children and families regardless of background, language, or ability
- Sustain and evolve hands-on exhibits and outdoor learning environments
- Support culturally-responsive programs that reflect our community
- Strengthen the Museum during leadership transition and beyond
A Message from Marilee
“Serving this Museum and our community has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. From the very beginning, I believed in creating a place where every child could feel a sense of wonder and every family would feel welcomed. I’m so proud of what we’ve built together–indoors, outdoors, and in the hearts of the families we serve.”
Join Us in Building the Future
As the Museum begins its next chapter and conducts a national search for its next Executive Director, this is a powerful moment to honor the past and invest in what comes next.
Your support of the Marilee Jennings Future 35 Fund is more than a gift — it is a commitment to children’s potential, family connection, and a community where curiosity and belonging thrive.
