The Virginia Living Museum has given its highest honor, the Golden Paw Award, to the city of Newort News for outstanding service to the Newport News museum.

Created in 1966 to provide science education to students in Newport News and surrounding areas, the Virginia Living Museum enjoys a long history of support from the city and is located on city land. The museum contributes $9 million annually to the area’s economy and is the most visited attraction in the city.

Students from every Newport News elementary school will visit the museum this year for a classroom program in the natural or space sciences.

The city’s support of the VLM confirms its commitment toward cultural growth. A symbol of that commitment is the designation of a portion of J. Clyde Morris Boulevard as the Avenue of the Arts.

It is also part of the city’s overall commitment to young people, as demonstrated by Newport News twice being named one of the 100 best communities in the country for its efforts to benefit children and youth.

The Golden Paw award recognizes the city as an economic partner with the museum. The city’s financial commitment of $6 million in 1997 toward the $22.6 million expansion led to the museum’s current 62,000 sq. ft. building that opened in 2004.

Mayor Joe Frank accepted the award on behalf of the city. In remarks, both the Mayor and VLM Board President Joe Witt referred to the city’s transformation over the past decade into a place where young people want to stay, build a career and raise a family. 

The award was presented during a dinner Oct. 5 honoring museum supporters. The award is a bronze bobcat statue by Eastern Shore sculptor David Turner.

The museum began giving the Golden Paw Award in 1995 to recognize outstanding service and support of the museum. Past recipients are: Warwick Rotary Club, Junior League of Hampton Roads, the Kelly family, George Goodson, Harry Wason, Mary Sherwood Holt, Cynthia Andrews, James B. (Jake) Thomas, Dr. John Mattern, II, the Abbitt family and Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.

The Virginia Living Museum is a private non-profit organization that is both a museum and an education center. It is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News.

For more information call 757-595-1900 or visit the web site at www.thevlm.org.

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