Annual Report 2021

Dear friends, I am thrilled to announce the publication of our 2021 Annual Report and share with your our big wins, highlights, and stories! Resilience has always been at the core of GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago. We continued to demonstrate our capacity to grow and thrive amidst challenging times in 2021. Of course, everything that we…

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GiGi’s Playhouse x HelloBaby Community Partnership

For many new parents, particularly those with limited resources and support, welcoming a child to the family can be both a joy and a challenge. Therefore, HelloBaby was created as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support, empower and inspire families raising young children in underserved neighborhoods in Chicago. HelloBaby provides free programming and…

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Intern Highlight for World Down Syndrome Day

By Marissa Iacullo, OTS    Hello GiGi’s Families! World Down Syndrome Day is on Monday, March 21st, and we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to highlight the amazing spring interns at GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago. These interns are hard working, creative, enthusiastic, and leaders at the Playhouse. They are representative of how important it…

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My Experience with Math Tutoring at GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago

By: Anna Parker, GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago Math Tutor   I have had the pleasure of tutoring Michelle in math for just over one year now. I am so thankful for this opportunity, as it has been such a fulfilling and rewarding learning opportunity. I feel that Michelle has taught me more about life and perspective…

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21 Goals for 2022

GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago staff and board members at our annual January Board Retreat at the Playhouse. Written by: Kali Schrey, Communications Committee Member It’s crazy to think that another year has come and gone, and as we transition from 2021 to 2022 it is important to not only reflect on where we came from, but…

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A Letter from our Leadership Team – Annual Appeal 2021

Dear Friends, Resilience has always been at the core of GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago. We continued to demonstrate our capacity to grow and thrive amidst challenging times in 2021. Of course, everything that we accomplished could not have been possible without the creativity and drive of our staff, participants, families, friends, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and many…

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GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago Hosts 7th Annual Dance-A-Thon

  On December 5, 2021, GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago had the pleasure of hosting one of our favorite annual events, our Dance-A-Thon with a virtual attendance option – all in effort to raise funds for an incredible cause! This was our 7th annual Dance-A-Thon and we are so grateful to our board members and committees for…

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A Monstrous EPIC Halloween: Read On If You Dare!

By: Shannon Lyons, Child Development Intern at GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago This past Sunday, GiGi’s Playhouse hosted a Halloween party with our adult EPIC group. The group celebrated the spooky season by watching ‘Hotel Transylvania’, decorating the Playhouse, snacked on Halloween treats and popcorn, and created a Halloween pumpkin craft. Disney’s Elsa, Sonic the Hedgehog, Spiderman,…

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GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago – Guests on the Moxie OT Podcast

  This month we are celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month!   Tune in and learn more about the role of occupational therapy at GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago on the Moxie OT podcast. In this podcast, Jenny Popova (Board President and volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago) and Hannah Hartz (volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago) discuss how they…

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