EdVenture to Host A Red-Carpet Bubble Parade for Prisma Health Children’s Hospital Patients and Team Members’ Children to Unveil Newly Renovated “Eddie” Exhibit

Eddie has undergone renovation thanks to the generous support of Prisma Health

COLUMBIA, S.C., December 15, 2022 – Patients of Prisma Health Children’s Hospital and team members’ children are getting the red-carpet treatment at EdVenture Children’s Museum on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. Just beyond the entrance of EdVenture, a larger-than-life experience awaits them. Eddie, the world’s largest child, sits at a towering 40 feet tall. Thanks to a donation from Prisma Health, Eddie has undergone a bit of a checkup from his local healthcare provider. Prisma Health has sponsored a major renovation of Eddie, giving visitors a renewed and enhanced experience. EdVenture is unveiling the newly renovated Eddie by giving patients of the Children’s Hospital a first glimpse.

“There’s no better feeling than seeing the awe on children’s faces when they experience Eddie,” says Robin Stelling, director of Community Engagement, Prisma Health. “ 

EdVenture is such a vital part of our educational community.  
What better way to fulfill our purpose of supporting health and wellness within our community, than to help maintain Eddie as an attraction to educate children about their bodies in a fun, engaging and interactive way.”

Eddie’s purpose is to teach visitors about the human body, excite children about taking care of their bodies, and it also may pique interest in healthcare careers. Prisma Health’s sponsorship allowed EdVenture to refresh and maintain Eddie’s structure so the interactive exhibit remains a safe and healthy learning environment for visitors.

“Eddie has been the icon of EdVenture and a staple of our community for more than 19 years,” says Andy Marquart, EdVenture CEO. “After that long as a main attraction, it was time for not only some cosmetic updates to Eddie, but also some safety upgrades and enhanced interactions for visitor experiences, including accessibility. Prisma Health’s generous donation could not have been better timed.”

EdVenture is unveiling the newly renovated Eddie exhibit with a ribbon cutting ceremony and red-carpet bubble parade with PRISMA Health Children’s Hospital patients and team members’ children. Once the ribbon is cut, the children are invited to explore Eddie and grab a first glimpse at the new exhibit extensions.

“Every single child is unique and amazing. And every single child should be given an opportunity to learn and experience our exhibits without limitations,” says Marquart. “The four new extensions of the Eddie exhibit are one of the many ways we are constantly evolving and adapting to be inclusive. We want everyone to feel welcomed inside our space regardless of ability, finances or other challenges.”

Prisma Health’s generosity also supported extensions of the exhibit, including enhanced signage and 3-D displays of the heart, brain, lungs, and intestines. All of the new extensions are ADA-compliant, for the first time giving all children accessibility.The 3-D interactives will provide educational discovery of how the body’s most vital organs operate. In addition to these exhibit expansions, Eddie himself underwent upgrades and enhancements.

While the front of Eddie is a smiling child catching a dragon fly on the tip of his finger, visitors are able to explore the inside of Eddie as they travel around him and up a staircase. Stepping inside Eddie’s organs, visitors can learn how the heart beats, explore how the stomach digests food, and see how the blood travels through the body. These areas received new paint, floor tread replacement and safety cameras. Eddie is a one-of-a-kind experience that supports developmental growth and learning through hands-
on play and exploration,” says Lloyd McDonald, EdVenture’s Director of Facilities.

We are proud to expand Eddie’s experience to be available to all visitors thanks to the new ADA-compliant additions.” Admission to EdVenture in Columbia is $12 for children and adults. Members and children under the age of two get in for free. Memberships are available for as low as $89 per year that allow for unlimited admission to each EdVenture location all year long. Reduced admission is available under the museum’s “Yes, Every Child” program. The museum operates Monday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., is closed on Tuesdays, is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and on Sundays from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, visit edventure.org.

About EdVenture
EdVenture Children’s Museum is a 501c3 registered non-profit educational institution dedicated to creating new generations of lifelong learners through museum experiences, educational programming, events, and camps. The museum is based in Columbia with additional locations in Myrtle Beach and Hartsville.

About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a private nonprofit health company and the largest healthcare organization in South Carolina. The company has 29,500 team members, 18 acute and specialty hospitals, 2,947 beds, 300 outpatient sites, and more than 5,100 employed and independent clinicians across its clinically integrated inVio Health Network. Along with this innovative network, Prisma Health serves almost 1.5 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area that covers 50% of South Carolina. Prisma Health’s goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. Learn more at PrismaHealth.org.