Grant pushes Mobius fundraiser past $500,000

A challenge grant of $100,000 helped a fundraiser for Mobius Science Center and Mobius Kids Children’s Museum hit a total of over a half-million dollars. Early totals of proceeds from Mixing for Mobius, held at the Mobius Science Center on Saturday evening, came to $510,000, a spokeswoman said. The grant, given by the Kalispel Tribe, offered to match donations at the event up to $100,000. Several donors in a row responded by offering $25,000 each, and the event total included a surprise gift, also of $100,000, from Berg and Co., Mobius Spokane announced in a news release. “Mobius does not receive public funding, so we depend on corporate and private donors to keep serving the community,” Mobius Director Marty Gonzales said in the release. The funds will go toward ongoing operations for Mobius’ two facilities. Mobius Science Center, which opened earlier this year, has had 6,500 visitors so far, the release said.