Q & A with startup team member, Ann Poirier 

We are so excited to have Ann Poirier on the GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati startup team!

Ann is the person who writes all of our blogs, press releases, invitations and more. She was also recently voted in as our board secretary. Ann is the mother of four young children: Lucy (6), Alice (3, with Down syndrome), Calvin (2) and Peter (newborn). Because of Alice, Ann is passionate about additional resources in the Greater Cincinnati community from GiGi’s Playhouse.

Ann has a blog (WonderlandMommy.BlogSpot.com) and an Instagram account (@wonderlandmommyblog) that she uses to spread Down syndrome education and awareness. Here’s a little more about what inspires Ann.

1. Why did you join the GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati start-up team? 
   I joined the team because I’m always trying to do anything I can to give Alice more resources and advocate for her more. I enjoy learning more about Down syndrome and contributing however I can. I also love using my writing talent to write blogs, articles and more to help highlight the beauty of Down syndrome and the need for acceptance and inclusion.
2. What is your favorite thing you get to do as part of the start-up team? 
   My favorite thing is writing so many things for GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati. I love learning all about what’s going on in this space and communicating it to our audience.
3. What is your favorite memory, event or activity you participated in with GiGi’s Playhouse? 
   My favorite event was definitely attending the Meet and Greet back in early 2020 where we got to meet Nancy Gianni and GiGi herself! Nancy’s energy was contagious. She is so passionate about bringing the magic of GiGi’s Playhouse to as many locations as possible for the benefit of our awesome kids with that extra chromosome. And GiGi was a gem. She was so sweet and stole my heart!
4. What is the thing you look forward to most with GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati? 
   It looks like the new GiGi’s Playhouse location will probably be close to where we live, so I’m excited to have some nearby resources. I’m also really excited for Alice to be able to go there and see other kids like her. Just as importantly, I’m really excited for my other kids to be able to go to GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati and benefit from being surrounded by people different than themselves. We can’t wait to take advantage of all of the fun programs they offer at GiGi’s Playhouse!