Spanish 
By Dan Taylor | dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com | The Press Democrat
PUBLISHED: April 29, 2026 at 3:23 PM PDT | UPDATED: April 30, 2026 at 6:59 AM PDT
The Time to Wonder Gala, held April 17 at the Backdrop in Santa Rosa, raised $605,000 for the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, far exceeding the organizers’ goal of $395,000.
“I am over the moon to report that this year’s Time to Wonder Gala was record-breaking,” said Solina Larum, the Santa Rosa museum’s deputy director.
The event drew about 300 attendees, up from roughly 200 last year. The evening included a garden reception, along with tastings from local wine and beer producers.
“What was so inspiring about the event wasn’t just the excitement in the room, but the ripple effect it will have,” said Colleen Mahoney, who chaired the gala. “More children in our community will have the opportunity to explore, discover and feel that same sense of wonder every day.”
The program featured a live performance by Play Marimba!, followed by a family-style dinner catered by Preferred Sonoma Caterers. A live auction and Fund-a-Need segment were led by Ellen Toscano, known as the Singing Auctioneer.
“I am deeply grateful for the community’s incredibly generous support,” said Collette Michaud, the museum’s founder and chief executive. “It has a lasting impact on the families we serve.”
Founded in 2005 as a mobile Museum-on-the-Go, the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County opened its permanent location on West Steele Lane in Santa Rosa in 2014. In 2025, the museum welcomed nearly 200,000 children and family members.
The museum includes an indoor Science and Imagination Gallery, a toddler area called Totopia, and Ella’s Art Studio. Outdoor exhibits feature a miniature Russian River display, a stationary helicopter and a pollinator garden.
