{"id":141979,"date":"2025-08-29T14:31:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T18:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/?p=141979"},"modified":"2025-09-11T14:58:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:58:41","slug":"meet-wilder-the-face-of-2025s-i-have-a-voice-gala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/uncategorized\/meet-wilder-the-face-of-2025s-i-have-a-voice-gala","title":{"rendered":"Meet Wilder \u2013 The Face of 2025&#8217;s &#8216;i have a voice&#8217; Gala"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouseorg.sharepoint.com\/sites\/Atlanta\/Shared%20Documents\/Events\/2025\/Gala%202025\/Photos%20and%20Video\/Wilder%201.jpg?csf=1&amp;web=1&amp;e=SzN0hx\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:416px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year, we are thrilled to introduce you to Wilder, the shining face of this year&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/gala\">&#8216;i have a voice&#8217; Gala<\/a>! At just 5 years old, Wilder already has a remarkable journey filled with joy, resilience, and milestones that inspire everyone who knows him.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouseorg.sharepoint.com\/sites\/Atlanta\/Shared%20Documents\/Events\/2025\/Gala%202025\/Photos%20and%20Video\/wilder%20parade.jpg?csf=1&amp;web=1&amp;e=x24ToJ\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:415px;height:auto\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Wilder joined us on our float in the annual Roswell Youth Day Parade in 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilder has been coming to GiGi\u2019s Playhouse since he was only six months old, and it has truly become a special place for him and his family. Over the years, he has grown surrounded by friendship, encouragement, and love. He especially lights up whenever the therapy dogs visit because to Wilder, every dog is a friend, and they seem to feel the same way about him! Whether it\u2019s playing in the sensory room, joining handwriting classes, staying active in GiGiFIT, or discovering his passion for music through LMNOP, GiGi\u2019s has been a place where Wilder learns, grows, and socializes. Most of all, he loves all the friendships he\u2019s made\u2014all of his pals from GiGi\u2019s are such an important part of his world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outside of GiGi\u2019s, Wilder is an active and adventurous little boy. He joined a local swim team this summer and, with a little support, swam his way to 3rd place finishes in multiple heats, showing that determination and courage go a long way in and out of the water. He also loves riding on the back of his dad\u2019s tandem bike, where he waves proudly to everyone they pass and sings his favorite songs at the top of his lungs. And when it comes to airplanes, Wilder never misses one\u2014spotting them in the sky is one of his favorite things.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouseorg.sharepoint.com\/sites\/Atlanta\/Shared%20Documents\/Events\/2025\/Gala%202025\/Photos%20and%20Video\/Wilder%20ski.jpg?csf=1&amp;web=1&amp;e=7YHpNE\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:296px;height:auto\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Adventurous Wilder enjoys a ski trip with his family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every day, Wilder works so hard to break barriers and reach new milestones. Thanks to dedicated therapies and teachers, he is mostly potty trained, can count to 30, knows his ABCs, can write all the letters in his name, and can speak in full sentences. He even has a killer leftie throwing arm that makes everyone think he\u2019s destined for the baseball field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Music, though, might just be his biggest passion. GiGi\u2019s LMNOP music therapy classes sparked that love when he was little, giving him confidence and joy through rhythm and song. Today, that spark is still alive and well\u2014Wilder loves slipping on his headphones, turning up his Yoto box, and singing along with all his heart.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouseorg.sharepoint.com\/sites\/Atlanta\/Shared%20Documents\/Events\/2025\/Gala%202025\/Photos%20and%20Video\/Wilder%202021.jpg?csf=1&amp;web=1&amp;e=I4LOBr\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:344px;height:auto\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Wilder enjoying music therapy at the Playhouse in 2021<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Wilder, GiGi\u2019s is more than a program, it\u2019s a place of joy, belonging, and possibility. Wilder is the heart and inspiration behind this year\u2019s gala, reminding us all what breaking barriers truly means. Join us as we celebrate Wilder and so many others who are Breaking Barriers at our &#8216;i have voice&#8217; Gala!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/gala\">Get all the gala details and reserve your spot here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This year, we are thrilled to introduce you to Wilder, the shining face of this year&#8217;s &#8216;i have a voice&#8217; Gala! At just 5 years old, Wilder already has a remarkable journey filled with joy, resilience, and milestones that inspire everyone who knows him. Wilder has been coming to GiGi\u2019s Playhouse since he was only&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1619,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-141979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1619"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141979\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/atlanta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}