(Berkeley, CA) March 22, 2006—
Gina Moreland, Founder and Executive Director of Habitot Children's Museum has been Proclaimed "Early Childhood Champion of the Year" by Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and the Berkeley City Council. She received the Proclamation at the City Council meeting on March 21. Ms. Moreland will also be honored at a reception hosted by Berkeley's Early Childhood Commission on April 6.

Gina Moreland was cited for her fourteen years of service in establishing Habitot as the East Bay's Hands-on Discovery Museum, which annually welcomes over 80,000 Bay Area visitors to its downtown Berkeley location. The Museum's exhibits and programs provide early childhood experiences that have an enduring effect on a child's future learning ability in school and throughout life. Museum experiences also help parents and caregivers become informed about their child's development and actively engaged in their child's learning.

Upon accepting the award, Moreland said, "It is an honor to be recognized for creating this community center where young children's imaginations are encouraged, and creativity and curiosity flourish. We need to do all we can to inspire the problem solvers and inventive thinkers of tomorrow, beginning with our youngest citizens."

Habitot Children's Museum is a non-profit organization that relies on community support from individuals, businesses, foundations and government. Habitot has reciprocal relationships with other children's museums nationally through the Association of Children's Museums.

Location: 2065 Kittredge St., Berkeley, CA 94704 • 510-647-1111
• www.habitot.org

Hours:
Tuesday and Friday 9:30-5:00
Wednesday 9:30-1:00
Thursday 9:30-7:00
Saturday 10:00-5:00

Admission: $6 children, $5 adults, members and children under 12 months free