GiGi’s Playhouse expands offerings with new facility

This article ran in the Des Moines Register on 2.22.15 Written by:Estela Villanueva-Whitman, Special to the Register GiGi’s Playhouse came to Des Moines with the goal of raising awareness about Down syndrome. Five years later, it has a new playhouse in Windsor Heights and plans to provide additional programming for more age groups. During the week, adults…

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Stars Shine Bright

Stars Shine Bright for GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines: Local Playhouse Recognized By National Achievement Office At International Conference November 11, 2014 (DES MOINES, IA): GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers announced 5 prestigious awards at its Annual Conference in Schaumburg, Illinois on Saturday, November 8, where nearly 200 board members, volunteers and staff from 30…

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Thank You to our Volunteers

   Des Moines volunteers make a difference every day at GiGi’s Playhouse. GiGi’s Playhouse recently honored its volunteers with a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner hosted by its Board of Directors at Mama LaCona’s Restaurant. In 2013, GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines is thankful to have received over 1,467 hours of volunteer service from    Volunteers at GiGi’s…

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Stars Shine Bright in Des Moines

November 25, 2013 (URBANDALE, IA): GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers announced 4 prestigious awards at its 10th Anniversary International Conference in Schaumburg, Illinois on Saturday, November 9. The “Super Star” award is given to a Playhouse that continually displays excellence in all aspects of mission readiness, programming, business operations and fundraising events. GiGi’s Playhouse…

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Pumpkin Patch Party

Thank You to everyone who came out for the GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines Pumpkin Patch Fall Party!  All over Howell’s Tree Farm you could see families and kids laughing, playing and loads of smiles!  From horse back riding (fake or real) to the corn box, haybale maze and on the tractor you could tell our…

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GiGi’s 5k & Buddy Walk

Carsten’s Crusaders Carsten’s Crusaders will be participating in our 8th Buddy Walk on August 24th!  Year after year we have had family, friends, and teachers rally together to show their love and support of Carsten, and financially support Up with Down, GiGi’s Playhouse and NDSA.  It feels great to be able to show support for…

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GiGi’s 5k & Buddy Walk

“#TeamKianna” Kianna is a 9 yr.old female with Down syndrome. We found out she had Down syndrome about 2 months before she turned 2.  She is in the 3rd grade at Oak Park in a cluster program. She enjoys reading and loves learning new things. While in the 1st grade she read a book to a…

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Thanks to the ISHA and NSSLHA Chapters of St. Ambrose, UNI, & University of Iowa!

In order to celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month in May, ISHA and NSSLHA collaborated on a fundraiser to support GiGi’s Playhouse! The three NSSLHA chapters in Iowa, St. Ambrose, University of Northern Iowa, and University of Iowa, had a friendly competition to raise money and items for GiGi’s Playhouse. The students at University of Iowa raised $235.09 and 111…

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GiGi’s 5k & Buddy Walk

Team “Kelsey Girl”   On August 9, 2010 at 6:00 a.m. a 7lb baby girl was laid in my arms. The nurses commented how special those numbers were. Everyone was unaware of another number that was going to become special. When I looked in her eyes I knew she had Down syndrome (Trisomy-21). Not only did…

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GiGi’s 5k & Buddy Walk

Team “Follow that Sam”   Sam’s team is “Follow that Sam” because he is go, go, go all the time! He keeps us on our toes as our personal exercise program. Thanks to Sam’s friendly nature we have met many new friends and will continue to meet more. Down Syndrome has not slowed him down and we want…

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