3.12.2003 ET

(CSRwire) Washington Park, Portland, OR - The magical experience of exploring CM2, the Children's Museum 2nd Generation, now begins before each visitor walks in the door, thanks to a generous donation of creativity by a group of eight Nike designers.

The "Thinga-Ma-Greeter," an interactive, kinetic tower offering an inspiring and whimsical identity to CM2's front façade, was officially unveiled on Tuesday, March 11, on the "front porch" of CM2. The 26-foot-tall Thinga-Ma-Greeter is a playful way to welcome visitors and stimulate the imaginations of arriving children as they discover that with a turn of any of the three wheels they can move an element of the tower far above them.

"Our work at CM2 is all about helping kids tap into their own creativity, imagination and sense of discovery," said Margaret Eickmann, CM2's Executive Director. "We are very thankful to the team of Nike volunteer designers who donated literally hundreds of hours to this wonderful design that will inspire visitors to CM2 for decades to come. They have been a valued partner to the museum, and we are thrilled that they chose to share their expertise and creativity with us."

This project has been a labor of love for eight Nike designers who were motivated by the chance to build something lasting and meaningful for the community," said Mark Parker, Nike Brand President. " We are proud to be associated with CM2 today and every day for what they give to all of our kids. And as you can see from looking up at the new tower, it's clear that everyone who volunteered on this project not only thinks about kids, but are, in fact, true kids at heart."

The Thinga-Ma-Greeter is the first element in a multi-phase vision for the front façade of CM2 that includes two additional interactive towers and a kinetic roof sculpture pending continued funding. In addition to the Nike design team, which collectively volunteered more than 750 hours to help CM2 imagine this vision, Nike also provided CM2 with a cash contribution of more than $58,000. Long-time Nike vendor RTC Industries, Inc. generously donated the fabrication of the welcoming tower.

"The design of the complete façade calls for three towers, each with a different feature," said Saturo Igarashi, a key member of the team of Nike designers who worked on the project. "While the second and third towers focus on visual and aural elements, the Thinga-Ma-Greeter was designed to allow a hands-on experience while identifying the museum from far away. When kids approach it, they'll be able to choose from one of three colorful wheels, each at a different height, then turn the wheel to move a corresponding component of the tower nearly 20-feet above them. The idea is for three kids to get together and move all of the wheels at the same time so that the components at the top tilt and appear as if they're about to spring apart."

About CM2:
CM2 is located just five minutes from downtown Portland, across from the Oregon Zoo. Hours are Monday-Thursday and Saturday 9am-5pm; Friday 9am-8pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm. Admission is $5.50 for everyone from age 1 to 54. Seniors (55 and up) are $4.50 and children under one are free. The museum's mission is to "inspire imagination, creativity and the wonder of learning in children and adults by inviting moments of shared discovery." CM2 is filled with hands-on exhibits and studio art programs for children age 10 and under. For more information, call 503-223-6500 or visit www.portlandcm2.org.

About Nike:
Nike targets to contribute 3% of its pre-tax earnings annually to non-profit organizations around the world. In its last fiscal year, Nike and the Nike Foundation contributed more than $29 million in cash, product and in-kind services, representing 3.2 percent of its pretax profits. Of that, more than $4.6 million in cash grants and product donations went to hundreds of nonprofits in Oregon, including individual employee contributions of more than $1.2 million, and more than 52,000 volunteer hours in support of causes our employees care about passionately. Nike matches each employee contribution to eligible charities dollar-for-dollar, and volunteer time at $10 an hour--twice that if the programs help increase physical activity among youth. 28 Nike executives serve on local non-profit boards, including Nike Americas Advertising Director Kassia Sing who has served on the board of CM2 since 2000. For more information about Nike's community involvement, visit www.nikebiz.com/community.

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