Donor Spotlight >>

Pretend City is a unique environment in Orange County. We first became familiar with the museum at a field trip that our daughter, Darcy, attended in the 1st grade. I remember all her classmates running around to play “pretend” mechanics, grocers, doctors and more. Especially memorable was the mini Trader Joe’s store with the tiny grocery carts.

It is very exciting for the museum to move to the Great Park and add more space, including outdoor play areas. Our Southern California setting makes it ideal to play in- and outside all year long. The vision and inspiration of the co-founders, Alex Airth and Sandy Stone, along with the strong leadership of our executive director, Ellen Pais, has made Pretend City an enlightening place that will foster community, connection and care for the children and families of Orange County for many years to come.  

As a school psychologist specializing in early childhood development, I was aware of the many studies that support the importance of play and imagination in a child’s early life. Supporting a children’s museum that primarily focuses on fostering this freedom to play has been an honor and although my two adult children are aged out of this space, I look forward to one day, hopefully, bringing grandchildren to Pretend City.