Circle of Friends Annual Picnic 2025 - Alexandra Gentile, Jess Cavic, Jennifer Kohorst with daughter Audrey, and Sabrina Doherty
Circle of Friends Annual Picnic 2025 - Erica and Ted Forsyth
Circle of Friends Annual Picnic 2025 - Finley Doherty, Lucy Jackson and Olivia Doherty
Circle of Friends Annual Picnic 2025 - Katie and Cory Nasoff
Circle of Friends Annual Picnic 2025 - Katrina Bergh, Devon Midland and Danielle Takata
Circle of Friends Annual Picnic 2025 - Kidspace Museum_s Campout Campfire Singalong
Circle of Friends Annual Picnic 2025 - Members_ children enoying Kidspace Museum exhibits
Circle of Friends Annual Picnic 2025 - Sofia and Tristan Gentile enjoying Kidspace trikes
Circle of Friends Board Members at first meeting of 2025-2026 year
Circle of Friends, the nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Kidspace Children’s Museum, hosted its Annual Family Picnic at Kidspace Children’s Museum on Sept. 14, 2025. The picnic was Circle of Friends’ first event of its 2025-2026 year where members and their families enjoyed exclusive after-hours access to Kidspace’s hands-on exhibits, highlighted by the museum’s special Campout experience, featuring a lively singalong around a whimsical faux campfire. Along with exploring the interactive indoor-outdoor museum, guests gathered to reconnect over classic burgers from the beloved In-N-Out Truck.
“Our Annual Family Picnic is the perfect way to welcome our membership and begin a new year of commitment to Kidspace Children’s Museum,” said Circle of Friends President Jess Cavic. “Watching the children’s eyes light up as they explore the exhibits, sing together around the faux campfire, and simply enjoy time with loved ones reminds us of why we do this work. Moments like these with our community are what make our dedication to Kidspace so meaningful.”
A top goal for this year’s Circle of Friends is to surpass last year’s record-breaking donation of $389,239 to Kidspace through its largest annual event, a costumed benefit gala complete with dinner, dancing, and a live and silent auction, slated for early 2026. Additionally, throughout the year, members volunteer time to the museum’s philanthropic events, such as Birthday Palooza, which is Kidspace’s giant birthday celebration for siblings in foster care in collaboration with Foster Love and other community partners.
Since its inception in 1991, Circle of Friends has raised approximately $5 million in support of Kidspace Children’s Museum’s operating budget. Uniting women from Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, San Marino, Glendale and surrounding communities, Circle of Friends’ purpose is strictly charitable. Now in its 34th year, the volunteer organization continues its mission to provide children of all backgrounds with free and broad access to the arts, humanities and sciences through its support of Kidspace Children’s Museum.
For more information about Circle of Friends, visit the website www.kidspacecircleoffriends.org and follow on Instagram @kidspace_circleoffriends. For more information about Kidspace Children’s Museum, visit the website www.kidspacemuseum.org and follow on Instagram @kidspacemuseum and Facebook facebook.com/kidspacechildrensmuseum.
