Benefit Guests, Left to Right: Stuart Hammond, John Thorne and Stephanie Thorne at the Circle of Friends benefit The Golden Age of Hollywood. Credit Liv Amend Steingart.
Benefit Guests, Left to Right_ Robin Sutton, Nick Nomann, Rachel Nomann, Gillian Sutton, Katie Nasoff, Cory Nasoff at the Circle of Friends benefit The Golden Age of Hollywood. Credit Liv Amend Steingart.
Circle of Friends President Annie Hewett with husband Mac Hewett at the Circle of Friends benefit The Golden Age of Hollywood. Credit Liv Amend Steingart.
Circle of Friends Members, Left to Right_ Jackie Enterante, Sarah Van Dellen, Alexandra Gentile, Maggie Jackson, Molly Carey at the Circle of Friends benefit The Golden Age of Hollywood. Credit Liv Amend Steingart.
Benefit Guests, Left to Right: Christine Bolger, Thomas Bolger, Megan Tsu, Jack Tsu, Elizabeth Angiuli, Joey Angiuli at the Circle of Friends benefit The Golden Age of Hollywood. Credit Liv Amend Steingart.
Benefit Guests Celene and Brad Lyddon at the Circle of Friends benefit The Golden Age of Hollywood. Credit Liv Amend Steingart
Benefit Chairs and Auction Chairs, Left to Right: Sabrina Doherty, Devon Midland, Alesha Dy, Alexandra Gentile at the Circle of Friends benefit The Golden Age of Hollywood. Credit Liv Amend Steingart.
Benefit Guests, Left to Right: Erik Bertellotti, Sara Jennings, Annie Hewett at the Circle of Friends benefit The Golden Age of Hollywood. Credit Liv Amend Steingart.
Kidspace Staff, Left to Right: Kathleen Hickey, LaQuan Hayes, Erik Bertellotti, Amanda Jimenez, Sara Jennings, Lisa Clements, Vince Dominguez at the Circle of Friends benefit The Golden Age of Hollywood. Credit Liv Amend Steingart.
Circle of Friends, the philanthropy organization dedicated to supporting Kidspace Children’s Museum, shined like movie stars at its Annual Benefit, “The Golden Age of Hollywood,” on Saturday, Feb. 3 at Oakmont Country Club as the group raised more than $440,000 – the most money raised for Kidspace in Circle of Friends’ 33 year history! Donations from the Benefit go directly to help provide free access programs at Kidspace to children and families in need.
For the costumed evening, around 285 guests embodied the classical Hollywood cinema era as they enjoyed a cocktail hour, silent and live auctions, raffles, dinner and dancing. Attendees included Circle of Friends Executive Board and Members, Kidspace Children’s Museum Board of Directors and Senior Management, Foster Love Executive Director Gianna Mulkay, and supportive community members from the surrounding areas, including Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge and Glendale. Highlights included inspiring speeches from Circle of Friends President Annie Hewett and Kidspace Children’s Museum Chief Executive Officer Lisa Clements; a heartwarming video about Kidspace’s Birthday Palooza event with Foster Love, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing positive experiences for children in foster care; and several thrilling live auction items, including a ride for two people on the Goodyear Blimp, a weeklong stay at a private lakefront home in Lake Tahoe, an exclusive July 4th party for 100 people at Kidspace, a four-night stay at Four Seasons Resort in Maui and more!
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity of our donors and the hard work of our members, who we could not have created a successful event without,” said Annie Hewett, Circle of Friends Board President. “This achievement underscores our members’ and community’s commitment to supporting Kidspace’s mission to nurture the potential of all children through kid-driven experiences. Thank you to everyone who made this record-breaking evening of fundraising possible.”
Established in 1991, Circle of Friends has raised nearly $5 million in support of Kidspace’s operating budget. The volunteer organization’s purpose is strictly charitable and consists of approximately 100 women from Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, La Cañada Flintridge, South Pasadena and the surrounding communities. For more information about Circle of Friends, visit www.kidspacecircleoffriends.org and follow on Instagram at @kidspace_circleoffriends.
Kidspace Children’s Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational and cultural institution committed to serving the needs and interests of children and families. The museum hosts nearly 380,000 guests each year on a beautiful, 3.5-acre outdoor campus with more than 40 hands-on exhibits, a live animal collection, and a variety of creative play spaces and water features. Kidspace offers a wide array of free and discounted programs, field trips, and digital resources for schools to maximize access for children and educators. For more information about Kidspace Children’s Museum, visit www.kidspacemuseum.org and follow on Instagram at @kidspacemuseum.
