Bid From Your Couch!
2019 i have a Voice Gala is Here! We are truly disappointed that you weren't able to join us at the big event tonight but you can still participate in the fun! You can lend your support from the comfort of your own home by bidding on any of these...
EPIC, our new Adult Program!
Empowerment Participation Independence Community When you hear the word "epic" we hope you think of other words like "grand", "glorious", and "outstanding". When we picture the capabilities of adults with Down syndrome, we think EPIC! It's no secret to us that our participants are grand or outstanding, but now it's...
Vivica A. Fox to Host GiGi’s Chicagoland Gala!
We are thrilled to welcome actress, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Vivica A. Fox as our 2019 GiGi’s Playhouse Chicagoland Gala host! Also, we are pleased to announce Patti V. Vasquez from WGN Radio as our emcee. Musical guests, 7th Heaven will be there again this year to rock the dance floor! Join...
Gallery Debut In The News
GiGi's Playhouse Chicago Returns to Gallery Victor Armendariz Bruce Dempsey, the program leader and retired Art Professor, helped the Art Explosion! program participants put their spin on classic pieces like Edvard Munich's "The Scream" and Vincent Van Gogh "Starry Night" to name a few. His love and dedication to the...
Kids Club: No Secret Password Needed!
Not Your Average Backyard "Club" Have you attended a Kid’s Club program yet? You may think back to the days where you and your friends formed your own club in your backyard. Our Kid’s Club program has a lot of similarities and some important differences to the club you once...
GiGi’s National Leadership Conference: Stronger Together
We Are Stronger Together! The GiGi's National Leadership Conference was November 7-11 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel. Over 300 playhouse staff and volunteers attended this year for inspiration and learning. For instance, sessions focused on technology, daily operations, programs, marketing, fundraising, and leadership development. We heard amazing...
Free Seminar on Working With Young Adults With Down Syndrome.
Lauren Duffy: The Presenter Lauren Duffy is an occupational therapy student at UIC, currently in her 2nd year. She co-leads the TeenTastic program at GiGi's and recently presented information at the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association conference about the importance of promoting self-determination when working with young adults with Down syndrome....
Art Explosion! Returns to the Gallery
Artists at GiGi's Playhouse Chicago Thanks to our incredible two program leaders, Bruce Dempsey and Jenny Popova, along with the hard work and dedication of the participants and other volunteers, we had another successful fall season of Art Explosion! This year, the class created their interpretations of Matisse’s cut-outs; Kandinsky’s circles;...
26 Years Old, 26 (.2) Miles, 26 Hundred Dollars
On Your Mark, Get Set, FUNDRAISE! Irais Villa has always wanted to run the Chicago Marathon since she was little. She decided that since she turned 26 in May and the marathon is 26.2 miles this was the year to do it. Often times runners will choose a charity to...
Happy Anniversary GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago!
Cheers to 8 years! The Chicago location was the fourth playhouse to open their doors back in 2010! Eight years later we have more than doubled our space from the renovation in 2016, we've got over 14 programs running strong, 500 families living in our community, and over 400 hours...
“I am brave! I am strong! I am powerful!”
Best of All Moment Jenny, a program leader for many of our programs at GiGi's Playhouse Chicago, completed a Best of All sheet for Ahamad after he impressed everyone with his Karate skills back in August. She wrote, "Sometimes Ahamad can be a little shy and quiet; but, when he...
Join Us Again for our 4th Annual Dance-A-Thon
Show us your newest dance moves at our 4th Annual Get Down With Down Syndrome Dance-A-Thon! What is the Get Down With Down Syndrome Dance-a-thon? The Get Down With Down Syndrome Dance-A-thon is a three-hour dance party, complete with a DJ, fun and games, a photo booth provided by Picture...
