As the Larkspur Community Foundation gets ready for the return of the Rose Bowl Dance on September 19, there’s one person who has been deep in the details for months: event chair Molly Wuthrich. Molly also helped lead the planning for the 2024 Rose Bowl, so she knows firsthand what it takes to bring Larkspur’s biggest party to life.

A longtime Larkspur resident and longtime volunteer, Molly loves the community almost as much as she loves a good party. We caught up with her to find out how she got involved with LCF, what she’s learned from planning the Rose Bowl, and what she’s most looking forward to on September 19.

LCF: How did you get involved with the Larkspur Community Foundation?

Molly: Helen Heitkamp was a founding member of LCF and an old family friend. She pitched me on the idea, and her timing was good. I’d just finished volunteering as treasurer for my kids’ school’s parent board.

LCF: How did you come to live in Larkspur?

Molly: We moved here in 2003 when our kids were 2 and 4. My husband said he couldn’t teach our kids how to ride bikes in San Francisco! We moved in down the street from some good friends of ours, and our kids grew up together.

LCF: What do you love most about living in Larkspur?

Molly: The access to outdoor activities. I love being able to walk directly from our house up into the open-space trails. Our house is in the “Corte Madera part” of Larkspur, and it’s usually faster to walk or ride a bike than drive. I also do a lot of cycling right from my house.

LCF: You headed up planning the 2024 Rose Bowl for LCF. What was the most important lesson you learned?

Molly: Larkspur likes a good party! Everyone seemed super pleased that we were continuing the Rose Bowl Dance. We got a lot of support along the way, so it never seemed like too much of a chore.

I also learned that Ashley Hurd of Eventful Events is a tremendous event planner and so we are working with her team again this year!

LCF: What surprises you most about planning an event this big?

Molly: The range of support from the community. We have had incredible support from our sponsors, volunteers, businesses putting up posters, city employees giving us guidance, and people sharing stories of their parents or even grandparents going to the Rose Bowl dances.

LCF: What previous event-planning experience prepared you for running Larkspur’s most fabulous party?

Molly: In 2006 and 2007, I ran the auction fundraising parties for the SPARK Foundation. We brought the tent back to the Nordstrom parking lot, which was quite a big learning experience. Those parties also had more than 600 guests, so I’m not overwhelmed by the Rose Bowl Dance! But I had lots of help from many other wonderful volunteers and made good friends in the process. After two years, I stepped up to become president of the foundation for two years.

LCF: What are you most looking forward to at this year’s Rose Bowl?

Molly: Tainted Love, because I love to dance — and the food from Tavola Rustica, because I love to eat and will need to fuel my dancing!

LCF: It sounds like you’re ready for September 19!

Molly: Absolutely. I can’t wait!