Donor Spotlight >> 

The Emadi Family

My wife Reesa and I had visited other Children’s museums and were sold on the power of play and experiential learning.  When approached by a former board member, Ethan Morgan, to donate to the capital campaign to build OC’s children’s museum, we jumped all over the opportunity.      

Pretend City helps make better brains by promoting play in the “city” engaging children’s curiosities and imagination, all during important years when critical brain connections are being made.  Playing in various exhibits and other activities in the museum, children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  They get a real sense of the interconnectivity of the “city” and develop teambuilding skills. 

What are your favorite things to donate to at Pretend City?  Once the museum opened in 2009, the museum’s fundraising efforts shifted from capital campaign to annual campaign.  Like other children’s museums, Pretend City relies on annual funds to keep the lights on and provide all their services.  To help with the annual campaign, I helped organize the first Pretend City poker event in 2010.  The event was highly successful and a ton of fun for all those who attended.   

This past October, Pretend City held its 14^th annual poker fundraiser at Big Canyon Country Club, where we had yet another sold-out event which helped raise $225K for the museum thanks to the support of many generous people, some who have attended this event year after year!!  My continued participation in organizing and supporting this annual poker fundraiser is my favorite donation of time and funds to Pretend City.    

I wish everyone knew Pretend City is a vital resource for young families of OC from all socioeconomic groups and relies on annual funds to operate.  The capital campaign for a state-of-the-art Children’s Museum at the Great Park is underway and we need the community’s support to ensure construction/completion of this vital resource stays on schedule.