GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati’s 2024 GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge Recap

June 15th, 2024 was a memorable morning at GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati’s GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge! It was a day filled with celebration, advocacy, and community, all dedicated to our incredible friends with Down syndrome. The sun was out and 200 wonderful individuals gathered to make this event the most successful event yet for our Cincinnati Playhouse!

Our day kicked off with our kayakers checking in and getting bussed up to their launch spot 5 miles up-river with the help of Loveland Paddlesports. Participants paddled for a purpose while our Kids Dash for Down syndrome and 2.1-mile walk & run took place! Individuals of all ages ran, walked, and dashed along the Little Miami Scenic Trail with joy and determination, embodying the spirit of unity that defines GiGi’s Playhouse.

Participants made their way to the finish line where families, friends, and community members gathered to celebrate the day’s achievements with music, face-painting, temporary tattoos, and ice cream from Special Neat Treats. Our little Dashers each received a medal for their accomplishments, and we honored some of our participants with awards that acknowledge their dedication to the GiGi’s Playhouse mission!

A big congratulations to the winners of our awards: The Generation G Award which was presented to the team with the most team members in attendance went to Selah’s Squad, with a whopping 50+ friends and family members there to support the small but mighty Selah! The Team Spirit Award was presented to Team Ashy B, a team with such dedication and support for their little one, that they created a team before even visiting the Playhouse! Our Best of All Award was awarded to Izzy’s Designer Genes, as the top fundraising team of 2024. And this year’s Get it Done Award went to Dan Shelton, for being the top fundraising individual!

We are so delighted to announce that the 2024 GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge raised $29,359! This remarkable achievement guarantees that we can continue offering our FREE purposeful programming, significantly impacting the lives of our participants and their families. Beyond the events of this incredible day, the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge brought our community together to connect and share their journeys, fostering a network of support and understanding. What an absolutely wonderful achievement!

None of this would have been possible without the support of our dedicated families, enthusiastic volunteers, and generous sponsors. Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, or cheered us on from afar. Your support means everything to us, because together we are making a difference. Reflecting on this day, we are bursting with gratitude and excitement for the future. GiGi’s Playhouse Cincinnati will continue to advocate for and celebrate our friends with Down syndrome! We are so excited to see what else we can achieve together next year!