Lillie Honeychuck: GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago Impact Story 

What brought you to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago? 

I heard about GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago through a family member while looking for a long-term volunteering opportunity. I work as an actuary, so joining the finance committee and becoming a math tutor were a perfect fit. I was thrilled to join the board in 2023 as the finance co-chair; the staff and rest of the board have been so welcoming. GiGi’s Chicago is made up of an incredible community of families and volunteers. 

What is your most memorable moment of impact in 2023? 

I helped plan our 2nd annual BrewHaHa fundraiser earlier this year. During the event, I gave a speech to encourage donations for our free 1:1 tutoring programs. I had the opportunity to share a story about having a sibling with Down syndrome and explain how helpful GiGi’s programs are for our families. I also invited several friends to the event and was so glad to be able to introduce them to GiGi’s. And we raised $2,000 for our math and literacy programs!

What is your vision for 2024? 

I’d love for us to expand our outreach, not just in the number of families we serve, but also our familiarity within the Chicago community. I have loved being a part of this organization, and I think there are many people in Chicago who may not know about us yet but would be proud to support us through their time and donations. Every little bit helps in keeping our free programs going!