Building Stronger Communities, One Family at a Time
For more than 40 years, Sea Pointe Design & Remodel has helped Orange County families transform the places they call home. As a residential design-build firm, the company understands that a home is about much more than walls and finishes—it is a place where families grow, connect, create, and build memories together.
That same philosophy is what drew Sea Pointe to Pretend City Children’s Museum.
“Everything we do centers on shaping spaces where families live, grow, and build memories together. Partnering with Pretend City allows us to extend that same philosophy beyond the home and into a space dedicated to early childhood growth and family connection,” shared Lauren Mills, Sea Pointe President. “Many of our home remodeling projects involve working closely with clients to optimize their kitchen and family room spaces to create a welcoming gathering space for families to bond in quality time together.”
Sea Pointe’s support of Pretend City began with its first gift and expanded through sponsorship of the Playraiser: Building Big Dreams, Pretend City’s inaugural family fundraiser. The partnership feels like a natural fit: both organizations believe in the power of thoughtfully designed spaces to help people thrive.
At the Playraiser, Sea Pointe is bringing that connection to life through the Wrecking Ball Art Kidstruction activity, where children use their imagination to create something beautiful from the idea of a wrecking ball. For a company built around transforming spaces, it’s a playful reflection of Sea Pointe’s work—and a fun way to inspire creativity and big ideas in young children.
While Sea Pointe’s official partnership with Pretend City is new, the company’s connection to the museum began years ago through its remodeling clients and employees. Over the years, team members heard firsthand from families who were longtime Pretend City supporters about the difference the museum made in their children’s lives.
Those stories stayed with them.
Clients and employees described Pretend City as more than a place to spend a weekend. They shared stories of children gaining confidence, exploring their curiosity, and finding a safe and welcoming place where they felt comfortable and belonged. Hearing those experiences from our team members in addition to families whose homes Sea Pointe had helped create offered the company a powerful perspective on the museum’s impact.
“It showed us that Pretend City isn’t just a museum; it’s a vital pillar for local families,” says Lauren.
It is easy to see why the Construction Zone is among Sea Pointe’s favorite spaces at Pretend City. As designers and builders, the team loves seeing children pick up blocks, plan structures, experiment with ideas, and figure out how things fit together. The museum’s STEM and Art Studios similarly provide opportunities for children to turn curiosity into creativity and ideas into something tangible.
Perhaps, they say, Pretend City is even helping inspire Orange County’s next generation of architects, designers, and builders.
But Sea Pointe’s support extends beyond individual exhibits. The company sees Pretend City’s signature fundraising events as an important way to invest in the museum’s broader educational mission and help make its programs accessible to more families throughout Orange County.
Sea Pointe also hopes more people recognize that Pretend City is far more than a fun place to play. The museum serves as an important early childhood resource, offering families developmental and health screenings, educational opportunities, resources, and support that can help identify challenges early—before children reach elementary school.
That commitment to serving the whole community is what resonates most with the Sea Pointe team.
“As a family-owned, Orange County business for over 40 years, we know that a strong neighborhood starts with supported, connected families,” shares Lauren. “Pretend City’s mission goes beyond entertainment—it acts as an essential community hub.”
Looking ahead, Sea Pointe hopes Pretend City continues to ignite curiosity, creativity, and hands-on problem-solving in thousands of children each year. By giving children a miniature world where they can explore careers, build structures, solve problems, and imagine what is possible, Pretend City is helping shape the thinkers, creators, designers, and leaders of tomorrow.
And for Sea Pointe, supporting that work is an investment in the community it has proudly called home for more than four decades.
Their advice to others considering a first gift is simple: look at the real-world impact on local families.
“When you give to Pretend City, you aren’t just funding an exhibit—you’re providing local kids in our community with a welcoming space to learn, grow, and feel like they belong.”
For Sea Pointe Design & Remodel, that is a community worth building.
