Sonia Manzano created generations of fans with her groundbreaking role as Maria on “Sesame Street,” which she retired from in 2015. The actress and writer probably added more to that total Friday night when she was honored with the Legacy for Children Award from the Children’s Discovery Museum.

“There was no children’s museum when I was growing up in the South Bronx in the mid-50s,” Manzano said, adding that movies of the day were her avenue for escapism from everyday life. “It occurs to me that the children’s discovery museum does exactly that for children in this community. It helps them wonder about the world around them. Sadly, these days there are fewer and fewer opportunities for children to wonder and speculate and dream.”