Z.V. Pate/Swink-Quality Oil & Gas Co., through the Z.V. Pate Foundation, has made a $25,000 gift to the Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham comprehensive campaign as general support for the project.

The new children's museum will be an interactive learning-through-play experience designed to aid in the development of childhood skills, imagination and creativity.

"Z.V. Pate and Swink-Quality Oil & Gas Co. are a shining example of the generous, community-focused corporate pillars that we are lucky to have here," said Russell Bennett, Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham campaign co-chair. "It has truly moved me to watch the individuals and companies across the Sandhills unite in support of a project so meaningful to this region."

Swink-Quality Oil incorporated in North Carolina in 1945 and is a distributor of BP, Shell, TOTAL, Gulf and Liberty brand products throughout the Carolinas. The company provides complete motor fuels, industrial and farm lubricants, home heating fuels and propane service for the surrounding areas including all of Richmond, Robeson and Scotland counties and parts of Anson, Moore, Montgomery, Chesterfield and Marlboro counties.

David Burns, chairman of the Z.V. Pate Foundation, and Gene McLaurin, president and CEO of Swink Quality Oil, serve on the Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham campaign cabinet.

"Being already invested in this community both personally and through my company, I feel indebted to our neighbors who make it such a wonderful place to call home," said McLaurin, who also serves as mayor of Rockingham. "It has been an honor to work with the community in building what we know will be a vibrant, enriching educational opportunity for all of our children."

The project's ongoing capital campaign, which was launched by the commitment of $6.6 million in funds from the Cole Foundation and the Richmond Community Foundation, continues to secure additional needed funds.

Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham will be the second Discovery Place KIDS site. The museum kicked off its official construction at a community event in March and anticipates an early 2013 opening.