Strengthening Leadership to Fuel the Mission of GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago: Meet Your Governance Committee 

At GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago, our mission is to make a lifetime commitment to changing lives and providing hope through the consistent delivery of FREE educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community, using a replicable playhouse model. Behind the scenes, a dedicated group of board members works to ensure our organization is running with transparency, accountability, and a deep commitment to our community. This is where the Governance Committee steps in. 

Made up of board members Ryan Hearty, Evguenia (Zhenya) Popova, and Claire Tolman, the Governance Committee supports goals and initiatives of GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago’s Board of Managers. Our goal is to promote best practices in nonprofit governance and ensure that our board is equipped to lead with excellence and integrity. As a committee we focus on: 

• Board Recruitment and Retention: Ensuring all board members feel welcomed, informed and supported 

• Board Education and Supports: Providing tools and opportunities for growth and leadership development. 

• Board Evaluation and Engagement: Promoting accountability and supporting meaningful contributions from all board members. 

No issue is too big or too small – need help drafting a policy? We got you! Tech issues? We are here for you!  

As board members and volunteers, we bring diverse professional experiences and personal commitments to this role: 

I really enjoy being able to get involved in a variety of ways, especially when I can leverage skillsets from outside the Playhouse and use them to help build and grow success with our board, participants, and families. I spent years helping in a non-official capacity, but joining the board has been even more rewarding. Seeing a real impact from the work our teams do is what drives me to advocate for our cause. 

Having a background in business partnerships and ‘better together’ stories, I’m always looking for ways to bring my knowledge and experience to the non-profit table; swapping out go-to-market strategies for sponsorships and community partnerships. 

– Ryan Hearty 

One of my favorite parts of serving on the board is being involved in different committees and working together as a team. A personal goal of mine is to compete in the GiGi’s Fit 5K Challenge—something I’ve been wanting to do since last year and already started training with my personal trainer. There’s no better time than now! 

My experience as an Ambassador for Accessibility at Accenture shapes the work I do with GiGi’s and Best Buddies. It helps me pursue my dream of being a strong advocate for accessibility and increasing understanding of what it means to have an intellectual disability. 

– Claire Tolman 

As a long-time volunteer, one of the most fulfilling parts of board service is watching the Playhouse community—staff, volunteers, and families—challenge and inspire one another to do their best every day. Each year, we come together to celebrate our accomplishments, and I’m confident that both the number and impact of these celebrations will continue to grow. 

As an occupational therapist, I prioritize bringing a disability advocacy lens to everything I do and continuously consider how we can make our Playhouse as accessible and community friendly as possible. 

– Zhenya Popova 

We are always eager to connect with community members who are curious about board service, have ideas for future board initiatives, or want to learn more about how governance supports our mission.  

Interested in learning more or getting involved? Contact us at: chicago@gigisplayhouse.org 

Together, we’re working to ensure that GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago is positioned for long-term success—because every great mission needs a great team!