Donors needed for Myrtle Beach children's museum

The Children's Museum of South Carolina, citing the slow economy and low donations, announced Monday that it has released its executive director.

Executive Director Pam Ross was let go after her position was eliminated, said Brenda Spadoni, president of the organization's board of directors.

Spadoni said Ross has been executive director since the group began working toward its plans to build a 40,000-square-foot new museum at Broadway at the Beach roughly 10 years ago.

Ross could not be reached for comment Monday.

"We will continue operating, but a facility expansion now is impossible," Spadoni said in a statement. "We still have the dream of reaching all S.C. school children through special programs in an experimental learning center, but must wait until either a generous donor steps up or our economy improve."

The museum receives funding from a variety of sources and has been charging $8 admission, but the two leading sources are the city of Myrtle Beach and Burroughs and Chapin.

Ross' position ended on Monday Spadoni said, but the museum will continue to operate, including this week, with staffers running its operations.

She said board members will meet on Thursday to decide what should happen next.

"We are doing all we can to be able to stay open and stay a part of this community," she said. "It would be a real shame to lose what we have."

Dale Zeglin, treasurer for the museum's board of directors, said the action was necessary to help save the organization. He estimated the organization will save roughly $80,000 by the elimination of Ross' position.

"Right now the museum is running at a deficit to its budget of about that much or a little more," he said. He said Monday's action and others being considered will help shore up the museum for at least a year.

Zeglin and Spadoni said donations to the museum have been down for years.

Last year while making a request for support from the city of Myrtle Beach, Ross said without the city's financial help for its programs, the museum would have to consider offering fewer educational activities and less outreach to schools.

Spadoni said she is confident the museum stay afloat.

But for now she said, "We are having to restructure like other corporations."