GROWN-UP GALA IS KIDS’ PLAY
It’s wonderful when adults get a chance to feel like kids again — and hundreds of happy Hubsters got to free their inner children at the third annual Wonderball to support the Boston Children’s Museum Saturday night. A violinist (electric, playing pop songs) welcomed guests into the museum, which was transformed for an evening of food, fundraising and fun.
A spirited cocktail hour was followed by dinner and a rockin’ post-dinner dance party.
Big kiddos on site included emcees Janet Wu and City Councilor Tito Jackson, Rachel and Adam Hirsch, Laura Mendoza and Andrew Pappas, Rita and Adam Weiner, real estate developer Robert Beal, legendary adman and philanthropist Jack Connors, former state Attorney General Martha Coakley, Vanessa Kerry, daughter of Secretary of State John Kerry, co-chairs Phil and Julie Gordon and Aisha Al Riyami and Wadhah Al Adawi and Eve and Jonathan Rounds.
The bash raised more than $500,000, which will help support access to the museum, so that all children (regardless of their economic, physical or developmental challenges) are able to come and explore. Longtime supporter and trustee Larry Fish, chairman of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, explained why this 103-year-old Boston institution is so special to many.
“It’s about children, and at BCM it’s about a truest diverse community of children — all ages, all races, all ethnicities. The children’s museum is one of the most accessible institutions in the city. And where else do you go where you learn while you play?”
For more, go to boston childrensmuseum.org.
••• Local fashion designer Joe Malaika will host the fourth annual Excessive Fashion charity event on Friday at the Hilton Boston/Woburn. Mailaika will show his latest collection followed by a special performance by Tessanne Chin, winner of NBC’s “The Voice.” Emcees for the evening — the Boston Herald’s own Gustavo Leon (managing editor, creative) and Taralynn Asack, on-air personality for Dirty Water TV. Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased at eventbrite .com. Proceeds from ticket sales will directly support The Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber cancer research.
••• Boston-based True Colors: Out Youth Theater, the nation’s longest-running LGBTQ youth theater group, will receive presidential treatment tomorrow when first lady Michelle Obama presents them with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. True Colors is the first LGBTQ organization in history to receive this award.
The ceremony will be streamed live at white house.gov/live so you can cheer these youngsters on in real time.