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Play for Everyone

Money Shouldn’t Keep Kids from Play

New “Play for Everyone” will dramatically expand access to Glazer Children’s Museum, regardless of income

TAMPA, FL (July 17, 2025) – The Glazer Children’s Museum (GCM) is launching Play for Everyone, a new initiative to ensure all families can experience the joy of play, regardless of income.

Play for Everyone will provide three different free or low-cost options for families to visit the Museum on days and times that work for them—instead of only on a few, limited free days during the year.

Starting this fall, Play for Everyone will replace the Museum’s Free Tuesday program and reinvest those resources to allow families to visit with an Access Pass, Partner Pass, or Public Library Pass any day, at any time (see below for details). The Museum expects Play for Everyone to provide even more access to income-limited families opening doors for tens of thousands of visitors each year.

“Our goal is to create an inclusive, welcoming space for every child,” said Sarah Cole, Glazer Children’s Museum President and CEO. “With Play for Everyone, we’re taking a thoughtful, community-driven approach to access so families can visit when it works best for them, without the barriers of scheduling or cost.”

HOW IT WORKS

Effective October 1, the new initiative includes a suite of financial access programs, tailored to different needs across the community:

Access Pass

  • Families who receive SNAP, EBT, or WIC benefits can sign up for an annual Access Pass in person at the Museum.
  • The pass provides $5 Museum admission per person, per visit—for up to four people.
  • The pass is valid for 12 months, and guests are welcome to reapply annually.

Partner Pass

  • The Museum will work with trusted nonprofit partners to distribute thousands of free admission tickets directly to families they serve.

Initial partners include:

  • Children’s Board of Hillsborough County
  • Children’s Network of Hillsborough
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
  • Kennedy Cares Tampa Bay
  • Tampa Bay Fashion Foundation
  • Mary Lee’s House

Public Library Pass

  • Through Hillsborough Public Libraries, families can check out a four-person pass just like a library book—free of charge.
  • The Public Library Pass is also available at select locations in Pinellas, Pasco, and Polk Counties.
  • In Hillsborough, it’s called a Discovery Pass. Check with your local library for availability.

“Play is powerful. It’s crucial for raising curious, healthy, emotionally aware children in Tampa Bay. Our longstanding community partners know the power of play, and they’ve said, ‘I’m ready to help,’” added Cole. “So many of these organizations already serve families in crisis or transition. By partnering with them, we can get tickets directly into the hands of families that need a little extra support right now.”

ADDITIONAL EFFORTS

Play for Everyone includes other ongoing efforts at the Glazer Children’s Museum to provide access, regardless of income:

Title One Field Trip Scholarships
The Glazer Children’s Museum will continue to provide free admission for students and chaperones from Title One schools, ensuring cost is never a barrier to field-based learning.

Camp Imagination Scholarships
Up to ten percent of spots in Camp Imagination summer camps are reserved each year for scholarship recipients, making high-quality summer learning and play accessible to more families.

The new Play for Everyone initiative provides targeted access without limiting families to a specific day or time, improving the quality of the experience and ensuring support reaches those who need it most. The final Free Tuesday will take place on September 2, 2025. The Glazer Children’s Museum thanks the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County for their longstanding support in funding this program and helping tens of thousands of local families connect through play.

The Museum is seeking corporate sponsors, foundations, and community advocates to support Play for Everyone. Contributions help underwrite ticket costs, outreach, and scholarships to ensure all children can play, learn, and thrive. To learn more or get involved, visit GlazerMuseum.org.