Nov 25, 2020

Knight Museum donates $4,000 to local non-profits from 'Harry Potter' exhibit

Posted Nov 25, 2020 5:01 PM

By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post

The Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance had success with their “Harry Potter Adventures in Diagon Alley” exhibit and donated thousands of dollars to local non-profit organizations. 

The Harry Potter exhibit ran from Oct. 25 through Nov. 7. Kim and Max Galyen, with help from family and friends, crafted most of the Harry Potter shops and props from scratch.

Approximately $4,000 of free will donations collected from the exhibit were divided among CAPStone Child Advocacy Center, Community Table, The Food Pantry and Diaper Depot.

"We knew we would have several people in," said Jody Ringbauer, Knight Musuem and Sandhills Center Project Support Clerk. "But we had no idea the amount of money, donations and food that was brought in. It was unbelievable."

Between 4,000 and 4,500 people visited the museum to enjoy the Harry Potter exhibit. There was a family from Texas that drove 14 hours to check out Diagon Alley, and several visitors from Rapid City and Denver. 

"You don't realize how many people that actually live in this community...do not know the museum we have here," said Ringbauer. "And the quality that it is and that was nice to have those people coming in."

The Punishers and Guardian Bells motorcycle clubs helped the museum distribute funds to the non-profits.

"Those were the people that came in and helped take the money at night and donations," Ringbauer added. "They were the ones that actually went out and purchased...[items needed by] CAPstone, they can't receive monetary donations so we went out and got different items they had on their wishlist. "

The Knight Museum and Sandhills Center said they would like to thank everyone who helped raise funds including Becky Maser from the Grocery Kart. 

The museum plans on bringing back the exhibit next year.