Volunteer Spotlight: Allie

At GiGi’s Playhouse Canton, our volunteers are the heart of everything we do, and today we are thrilled to shine the spotlight on someone who helps work behind the scenes to raise funds and awareness for GiGi’s Playhouse…Allie Shrake!

Allie brings an incredible passion and dedication to our Playhouse community. She has spent 12 years as an Intervention Specialist, nurturing and supporting students every day. Outside of her professional life, Allie is a devoted mom to three energetic daughters—ages 6, 5, and 1—and she’s also a volleyball coach. Fun fact: her husband is an intervention specialist as well, and a baseball coach, making this a truly sports-loving, education-focused family! Other times, when she’s not busy coaching or being a supermom, Allie loves running, going on family vacations, and especially hitting the beach with her loved ones.

Allie first learned about GiGi’s Playhouse through her students and their families, who shared the amazing programs we offer. She was inspired by what she saw and jumped at the chance to get involved when she was invited to join the Dash for Down Syndrome 5K committee. She says that the Dash has now become her favorite part of Spring! Now, whenever at the Playhouse, Allie thoroughly involves herself. She is a program volunteer, fundraiser, events supporter, committee member, and more, helping to organize the 5K, build the biggest teams possible, and coordinate volunteers. Even her favorite moments at GiGi’s happen not in meetings or planning sessions, but in the small, meaningful experiences—watching participants grow and thrive in our programs. Seeing that growth fuels her drive to make the Dash the best it can be, raising funds to ensure even more participants can benefit from GiGi’s life-changing programs.

We are so grateful for Allie’s energy, dedication, and heart. Volunteers like her remind us why GiGi’s Playhouse exists—to create a world where everyone, no matter their abilities, can learn, grow, and succeed.

Thank you, Allie, for all you do for GiGi’s Playhouse Canton! Help support Allie’s efforts by joining us for our GiGi’s Playhouse 5K: Dash for Down Syndrome on Saturday, May 30th!