Orthodontics Winner

If you’ve been a part of our journey at GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte, you know how much we value community. How much we rely on the volunteers, supporters, friends and local businesses who lift up our participants and give wings to our dreams.

Check out this amazing story about how community changes lives. It started at our “i Have a Voice” Gala last fall. One of our special donors was a local orthodontist, Dr. Sonny Long of Laxer, Long and Savage Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, who has a passion for helping children.

Dr. Long generously donated a full orthodontic treatment package valued at $6,000 for our live auction. That night, this incredible gift was bid on – and won – by a friend and supporter of GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte, Jake Mize. But Jake didn’t just stop there. In addition to his generous bid, he wanted to do even more for the people GiGi’s was created to serve.

Instead of keeping the braces package, Jake donated it to the playhouse, with the stipulation that it go to a participant with Down syndrome. A contest was created for picking the winner at random.

And the winner is…Kaydyn Buckley, age 15, who moved to the Charlotte area from Oklahoma with his family last summer and enjoys attending programs at GiGi’s Playhouse Charlotte. His mom, Kayla Blackshere, said their family is super excited and called winning the orthodontic package “truly a blessing and such a surprise.” Kaydyn began treatment with Dr. Long this spring, and was all smiles on a recent visit to the office.

Our hearts are full and our gratitude overflowing toward Jake and Dr. Long. This story proves the power of community. Together, we can do great things.

 Won’t you join us? We’d love to have your support for our upcoming Field Day of Dreams on June 22. Build a team, join a team or become a Community Supporter. Impact the future by starting now and registering here.