Oak Park, Illinois - October 10, 2008 - Wonder Works, a Children's Museum in Oak Park, will host its annual Gala on Saturday, October 25, 2008 to celebrate the museum's fifth "birthday" and raise money to further its mission of fostering the creative spirit in children and families. The Gala takes place at Wonder Works, located at 6445 West North Avenue in Oak Park from 7 to 11 pm and will feature a live and silent auction, games of skill and chance, and food generously provided in part by Trattoria 225, Starbucks, Bar Louie, Cafe Winberie and Marion Street Cheese Market. Gala tickets are $100 per person.

Nevin Hedlund is the principal at Nevin Hedlund Architects, Inc, an architectural, planning and interior design firm in River Forest with extensive research designing religious facilities and commercial buildings. Nevin, along with Wonder Works founder Gale Zemel and a band of faithful volunteers created the children’s museum in 1991, but the museum lost its lease in 1995. In 2001, a board headed by Nevin raised money and purchased a building at 6445 West North Avenue in Oak Park to reopen the museum on May 24, 2003.

“Without Nevin and the rest of the board, Wonder Works would not exist. Nevin is not only the architect of the museum, but also guided it through a significant challenge to raise money and find financing for renovation,” says board president John Harris. “He was ahead of the curve from an environmental standpoint when designing the museum.”

Everything in the museum is reclaimed from within the building with environmentally conscious design includes low flush toilets, spray insulation, recycled carpet tiles and low VOC paints and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

“Nevin not only found a new home for the museum, but also designed it with our future mind,” says John Harris. “He continues to support the museum by providing pro bono assistance to finding it a new home and always supports the museum through golf outing.”

Tickets can be ordered by calling Mary Bodlak at 773.909.1040 or Wonder Works at 708.383.4815. Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Thomas Babbo: tjb@hmltd.com or Tim Brangle: ccs@ccstudioinc.com. Advertising opportunities are available by contacting Mary Bodlak at 773.909.1040 or mbodlak@wonder-works.org For more information visit www.wonder-works.org.

About Wonder Works

Wonder Works, a Children's Museum in Oak Park, provides a hands-on environment intended to strengthen the social, emotional and intellectual development of children up to age 10. The 6,400 square foot museum, located at 6445 West North Avenue in Oak Park, includes exhibits, educational programming, a retail store and a children's party room. The museum is open Wednesday thru Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday noon to 5 pm. Admission is $5 per person and free for members and children under age one. For more information about field trips, birthday parties and after-hours parties call 708.383.4815 or visit www.wonder-works.org.