GiGi’s Playhouse Canton Youth Board
The GiGi's Playhouse Canton Youth Board is made up of dedicated and motivated group of high school students who see the importance of increasing awareness for individuals with Down Syndrome, as well as creating an environment that is accepting, generous and kind: the three fundamentals of the Generation G Pledge. The purpose of the Youth Board is to spread the message of Generation G through hosting events for members of the community and GiGi's Playhouse families and encouraging other high school students to commit to signing and carrying out the Generation G Pledge.
For more information on our Generation G Youth Board, please contact Sierra Coon at scoon@gigisplayhouse.org.
Youth Board Bios
Brenna Weirtz
Early Eagle College at Plain Township Campus
2023 Jackson High School graduate
My name is Brenna Weirtz and I’m a GiGi’s Playhouse ambassador and self-advocate. I started going to GiGi’s Playhouse in 2019 when it opened. I liked going to the teen fitness and cooking classes. Now, I love going to GiGi’s Kitchen Adult and cooking tasty dinners. I also volunteer with GiGi’s Kitchen Kids; it’s fun helping the kids learn to make snacks. I take improv classes with The Improvaneer Method and I’m looking forward to performing in my first improv show. My favorite activities are singing, playing basketball, and running track.
June Price
Lake High School, Grade 11
My name is June and I am a member of the GiGi’s Playhouse Youth Board and I am also a volunteer at GiGi’s. One of my most favorite things to do is run! I do cross country and track and I love to stay physically active. Spending time with my family by doing things like playing board games or going out to dinner with them is also really important to me. My friends are a huge part of my life because they always find a way to make me laugh and have a fun time. At GiGi’s Playhouse, I absolutely love getting the opportunity to work with the younger kids because they are all so playful and energetic. At the moment, I am currently involved with LMNOP and I am also a Co-YB chair with Adison!
Adison Wierzbicki
Lake High School, Grade 11
I have been volunteering at GiGi’s for approximately two years. I am the Co-YB chair of the Youth Board and I usually like to assist with a few classes each month like Destination Discovery, LMNOP, Leaps and Bounds, and more! Outside of GiGi’s, I volunteer at my church watching the 4/5 year olds and I am also involved in our student ministries! I enjoy running and I am on my school’s track and cross-country team! Also, a fun fact about me would be that my favorite flavor of ice cream is cookie dough.
Ethan Tonni
Jackson High School Grade 10
Hi, I’m Ethan! I love helping my community because the community I live around is very important to me so that is one of the reasons I love volunteering my time at GiGi's. I love going on cruises to the Caribbean because it gives you more of a chance to explore the islands. At my school, I am in Track and participate in long jump.
Gwyn Blythe
Jackson High School, Grade 10
I started with GiGi’s in October of 2022 and ever since I have been part of changing the way the world views Down syndrome! I’m currently a Sophomore at Jackson High School in the global studies academy! At GiGi’s I am 1 of our GiGi’s Kids Kitchen leaders and I also am on our Gratitude Committee which makes our birthday cards, sponsor cards, and thank you’s! Outside of GiGi’s I am a babysitter as well as a dog sitter! I also enjoy spending time with friends and family! A good bonfire is probably my favorite!
Ava Weirtz
Jackson High School, Grade 10
I am a student at Jackson High School. Our family has been going to GiGi’s since it first opened. I volunteer in the Leaps & Bounds and LMNOP programs because I love working with the little ones! I love to crochet, sew, play with my dogs, and babysit in my free time. I’m on the track team at my school. I volunteer at the pregnancy center, and I am in the Bear Hugs club at Jackson High School. I am so grateful for GiGi’s Playhouse because so many people I care about benefit from it, including my sister, Brenna, who has Down syndrome.
Caitlyn Geisheimer
Jackson High School, Grade 12
Hi, I’m Caitlyn Geisheimer. I am a senior at Jackson high school and am dual enrolled at OSU ATI to pursue a career in animal science and large animal medicine. I’m also a part of JSA (Jackson school for the arts) where I have a focus on the visual arts. In the summers I work as an equine instructor at YMCA Camp Tippecanoe and during the school year I work in childcare. I’ve been involved with GiGis playhouse since the beginning of the youth board and have worked with the GiGi’s Kitchen Kids program and a literacy tutor.
Hannah Green
Jackson High School, Grade 12
-I have been volunteering at GiGi's since November 2022
-I volunteer with GiGi's I like to lead the GiGiFIT Teen class as well as attend as many youth board opportunities as possible
-I go to Jackson High School and I am going into 12th grade
-Some fun facts about me are I have a twin brother and a dog named Cooper
-Outside of volunteering I like to play volleyball
Ava Morman
Jackson High School, Grade 10
My interests include writing, sewing, swimming, hanging out with friends, and shopping. Another activity I participate in is Speech and Debate. Additionally, I am in my school’s JAGS program. Some of the volunteering I have done at GiGi’s is helping with the car wash, making a playlist for the Memorial Day Parade and GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge, and helping with Krafts & Karaoke. I also enjoy helping with Gigi's Kitchen program!
Paige Parson
Jackson High School, Grade 10
Hi! My name is Paige Parson. I'm a Sophomore at Jackson High School, I’m a part of the Youth board at GiGi's Canton, I'm also the leader of GiGi's kitchen Teen. I enjoy art, sewing, and riding bikes around Canton with friends. I am a part of Jackson High School's art program where I love musical theater, painting, and dancing. I’ve been a part of GiGi's for about 2 years and I hope to keep attending GiGi's even through college.
Sierra Crow, Youth Board Facilitator
Sierra currently resides in Jackson Township with her S/O Kyle and their two cats, Daisy & Duke (pun intended). She received a BBA (2018) & MSA (2019) from Kent State University and then became a CPA (2020) through the state of Ohio’s Accountancy Board. She uses her educational background in her personal life when working on tax returns at her place of employment as a senior accountant at Diversified Energy PLC. Sierra began volunteering with GiGi’s in 2021 serving on the finance committee and as the treasurer during 2022 and 2023. Additionally, during 2022 Sierra kicked off the Generation G Youth Board at GiGi’s Playhouse Canton, where she encourages middle and high school students to get involved. Sierra was drawn to GiGi’s Playhouse because she believes in the Generation G mission to be accepting, generous and kind. If Sierra could wish one thing for GiGi’s Playhouse beyond monetary restrictions, she would wish for building ownership/free rent!