Basketball star Isaiah Joe donates to Fort Kids Children’s Museum

Fort Kids Children’s Museum has reached its goal of exceeding $2 million in fundraising as 2024 comes to an end and has set a goal of raising another $1 million in 2025.

A generous end-of-year gift from Isaiah Joe, a professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, put the museum closer to its ambitious capital campaign goal of $16.3 million, with $7 million needed to commence construction, said Laura Wyerick, director of development for Fort Kids. Joe, who also played for the Arkansas Razorbacks, is from Fort Smith and is a Northside High School graduate.

“We are excited to share the news that with the gift and support from Isaiah Joe, the dream of Fort Kids is becoming more of a reality. With his help, as well as our supportive community, over $40,000 was raised in less than a month in order to surpass the $2 million goal by end of year,” Wyerick said.

Joe partnered with the organization for a basketball camp this summer at Northside High School, and along with the end-of-the-year gift, is planning another camp on Aug. 23, 2025.

“Hosting this camp in my hometown was an incredible experience. Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and knowing we’re making a positive impact in the community means the world to me. I look forward to another camp in 2025,” he said.

Wyerick said the museum board is hoping to get to $7 million by next summer but needs to raise $3 million in order to be eligible to apply for a grant that could provide up to 20% of construction costs.

The contributions will enhance the mission of Fort Kids to build a world of possibility and connection through play and help build a children’s museum on the Arkansas riverfront, according to the group. Museum organizers announced in June 2023 that the Robbie Westphal family donated 5.6 acres along the river, just south of the U.S. Marshals Museum, as the site of the future Fort Kids Children’s Museum.

The Fort Kids Children’s Museum is a registered 501(c)(3) company and has a board of directors. That board has hired the museum planning company Haizlip Studio, the firm that designed the River Valley Nature Center at Chaffee Crossing and the Amazeum in Northwest Arkansas, to help with the master plan. MAHG Architecture of Fort Smith is designing the future building.

Sarah Strom, president of the Fort Kids Museum board of directors, has said the museum will focus on three pillars: Education, focusing on literacy and STEM-based activities; development with a focus on the whole child; and mental health. Planned exhibits will include a Playful Town that will feature a full-size food truck, a doctor’s office, a garage and auto body shop, a bank, an airplane and more. There also will be a “river” water play/climbing area, a two-story climber, an art studio, a STEM space, and hands-on open-concept areas for children over 5.

“We are excited to see the momentum building as we get closer to our goal,” Wyerick said. “Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to making this vision a reality.”