Posts by Diane Husar

Are you a new parent? Are you expecting a child with Down syndrome? Congratulations! We are so happy you are here and we want to welcome you to our family with open arms and a big warm hug. We are so glad you found us and would love for you to connect with our Playhouse…

World Down Syndrome Day is right the corner!!! We celebrate this day, March 21st..3/21… to represent the three copies of the 21st chromosome that creates Down syndrome. How awesome is that?!?!?! Our annual carnival brings together families, friends, volunteers, and community members and it is a true celebration. There are carnival games, balloon creations, face…

GiGi’s Playhouse is a volunteer-run organization and we rely on the skill and dedication of volunteers of various levels of expertise to keep our programs vibrant, educational, purposeful, fun, and free. Since the first Playhouse opened in 2003, GiGi’s Playhouse programs have ALWAYS been free for our families.  Parents, family members, clinicians, and community members who…

Every program that we offer our participants, whether they are infants or adults, is educational and therapeutic in nature. With our littlest ones, we strive to provide them with the support they need to achieve important milestones for development. Our Open Play: 3 & Under program not only allows our newest families the opportunity to…

What if…you just accept. What if…you don’t question. What if…you simply open your heart to the possibility. What if…you ignore the negative. What if…you believe the positive will certainly outweigh the negative. What if…you follow your heart. What if…in the process, your heart is opened. What if…you just give this life a chance. What if…the…

1) How are you connected to GiGi’s Playhouse? In September 2012, I was contemplating retirement (in June 2013) from a long career teaching Special Education students.  I wasn’t sure what activities would fill my new found free time.  As fate would have it, I met Diane Husar at the first fundraiser for a future GiGi’s…

We MOVE because we believe that Keith’s future is bright and full of potential. We know that with the support of family, friends and GiGi’s Playhouse, Keith will have a happy, meaningful and productive life. We are grateful to GiGi’s Playhouse and all of the amazing volunteers that provide meaningful programs, tutoring and therapy that…

We started going to GiGi’s when our baby was a year old. For the whole year prior our nurse kept reminding us that GiGi’s was there and that we should go and that they were a resource for us. If we knew then what we know now, we would have gone when Alayna was first…

Calling all team captains!!! Are you ready to create your team? Today is the day!!! All you need to do is register yourself and create a team. If you were a team captain in years past, your team name will already be there for you. Again, the registration site is user friendly, but please take…

1) How are you connected to GiGi’s Playhouse Tinley Park? I first got involved in GiGi’s over three years ago, when a participant’s mom gave a speech at the high school I attended my sophomore year. I signed up to volunteer the very next day! 2) What free programs do you volunteer for? I volunteer…