North Bay Children's Center's Annual Flagship Fundraiser
A Night in Tuscany
An unforgettable evening featuring local food and wine, exciting silent and live auctions, and a beautifully curated dinner.
Save the Date for A Night in Tuscany 2027
September 25, 2027 | Gambonini Family Ranch
Thank you for helping us make 2026 a record-breaking night for children and families!North Bay Children’s Center celebrated a record-breaking 37th Annual A Night in Tuscany on September 19, raising more than $445,000 to support high-quality early childhood education, nutritious meals, enriching programs, and essential services for children and families throughout the North Bay. The sold-out celebration brought 340 guests together at the beautiful Gambonini Family Ranch in Petaluma for an unforgettable evening filled with community, generosity, exceptional food and wine, and music.
An Evening to Remember
Guests enjoyed a vibrant cocktail reception featuring a dozen wine and artisan purveyors, followed by a three-course dinner, more than 60 silent auction packages, and a lively live auction led by Senator Mike McGuire. Through the evening’s Fund-A-Need paddle raise, guests had another opportunity to make a direct and meaningful investment in NBCC’s programs and the children and families we serve. The celebration continued with a special musical performance by acclaimed tenor Daniel Rodriguez and soprano Marla Kavanaugh, who helped make the evening truly memorable.
Celebrating a Champion for Children
The highlight of the evening was honoring Dustin Valette as NBCC’s 2026 Champion for Children. Chef and Owner of Valette, The Matheson, Roof 106, and Valette Wines, Dustin was recognized for his commitment to the community and his longstanding support of children and families throughout the North Bay.
“The incredible generosity of our supporters makes it possible for NBCC to continue providing children with the early education, nutrition, and supportive services they need to thrive. This record-breaking evening is a testament to what we can accomplish when our community comes together for children and families.”
— Susan Gilmore, Founder and CEO, North Bay Children’s Center
A Look at A Night in Tuscany 2026
Join Us in Making a Difference
An incredible night of food, wine, community, and purpose awaits, all benefiting the life-changing work of North Bay Children’s Center.
Paivi works with the NBCC program, senior leadership, and human resource teams on Professional and Workforce Development to support the professional growth of teachers and center leaders and to build sustainable early childhood education workforce models of excellence. She manages training compliance, child development permit obtainment, renewal and upgrading and educational stipends and professional benefits. She also manages NBCC’s Apprentice, Apprentice Mentor, and Internship programs in Marin and Sonoma Counties and collaborates with Community Colleges, Apprentice Program Employer Partners and other NBCC Community Partners. Paivi received her Master of Science degree in Curriculum/Early Childhood Education from California State University East Bay. She holds a Vocational Teacher certification from Finland and a Life Children’s Center Supervision Permit from the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing. She has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit administration, early childhood program advancement, teaching, mentoring and leadership development in the United States and in Finland.
Mariah has worked in the insurance industry since her adolescence. Less than a week after graduating college, she accepted a position at Arrow as an Associate. During the last 13 years, Mariah has worked in almost every position available at Arrow to learn the intricacies of the business and build her skill set. Mariah has helped companies from start-up to enterprise-levels review market options and elect benefit programs that allow those companies to recruit and retain top level employees. Outside of the office, Mariah is passionate about her work in the community. Mariah focuses on organizations that work to create limitless opportunities for children and the handicap able community. She is proud to serve as the Board Chair for NBCC. In her free time, Mariah is the mother of two beautiful little dudes, married to a Kaiser numbers nerd and enjoys going on horseback rides around the Bay Area.
Jill St. Peter brings four decades of experience to the field of early childhood education. With a diverse background that includes roles as a Teacher, Site Supervisor, Early Learning Coach, Trainer, and her current position as Curriculum and Training Director, Jill has consistently demonstrated her unwavering commitment to early childhood education. Jill holds a Master of Arts degree in Education and Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development. This commitment to academic excellence underscores her dedication to advancing the field and ensuring the well-being of young children and educators. Jill is certified by West Ed as a trainer for the Program for Infant and Toddler Care and Beginning Together Inclusion. She is also certified by the Center for Optimal Brain Integration as a Trauma Informed Care Trainer. Her expertise has been showcased at esteemed conferences such as NAEYC, CAEYC, and Head Start. Her involvement in professional communities underscores her dedication to continuous improvement and collaboration. Jill has been an active member of the California Coaching Advisory Group, Trauma Informed Care Community of Practice, Sonoma County Quality Counts Consortia, Region 1 Coaching Community of Practice Leader, Sonoma County Coaching Collaborative, Hope and Healing Early Learning Collaborative, and the Evening of Honor committee. Jill’s passion for early childhood education and her extensive experience makes her an asset to the field, continually inspiring and supporting educators their mission to provide the best possible start for young children.
