Matt’s Impact Story
What bought you to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago? One of my friends, Jessie Jarosz, introduced me to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago. I was looking to give back to people with disabilities, and, she introduced me to the Wednesday night activities where I would volunteer until I started tutoring. What is your...
Imani’s & Olu’s Impact Story
What bought you to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago? A parent that I knew, whose child was born with an extra chromosome, shared about GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago with me, around the same time Olu was born. What is your most memorable moment of impact in 2023? For Olu and me especially,...
Reflection on Our Journey – A Story of Lily and Sean
From the moment we open the doors to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago, Lily knows where she’s going; she is headed straight for the gigantic mirror that spans the far wall toward the back near the kitchen. Her favorite place. She could spend hours dancing, playing, and making faces in that mirror....
Sweeping Change: LinkedIn Volunteer Day
As many of you know, GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago is 99% volunteer-run, so when we get the opportunity to have partners in our community come in and help us, we get very excited. This month, we had 20 extraordinary individuals from LinkedIn dedicate their Friday morning to volunteering and helping us...
Anna Machuga: GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago Impact Story
What brought you to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago? I came to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago to do my capstone experience as part of my occupational therapy (OT) doctoral degree at Rush University. I chose GiGi’s because I was always interested in working with the Down syndrome population and wanted to apply my...
Ryan Hearty: GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago Impact Story
What brought you to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago? I first got involved with the playhouse when I was living in Canada over 9 years ago. Coming to Chicago on a frequent basis, I found myself helping with events, programs, and even just attending some of the regularly held fundraisers. Once I...
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...
Mary Mangan: GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago Impact Story
What brought you to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago? I had heard great things about GiGi's Playhouse over the years from the Girls Scouts at my children's school who volunteered there. My dear friend and college roommate brought me into GiGi's Playhouse Chicago. Her daughter Samantha was born with Down syndrome. I...
The Ripple Effect of Kindness: Join us in a 25 Days of Giving Challenge
Did you know that random acts of kindness have a ripple effect on your body, mind, spirit, and the community? Performing random acts of kindness triggers the release of dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter in our brains. Yes! That means that acts of kindness, whether big or small, generate a sense...
The Magic of Scribbles and Splatters: Highlights from Art Explosion Jr.
GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago has been a favorite place of our families since our daughter, Lily, was born in 2018. We had an at-birth diagnosis that quickly sent us on a journey into the Down syndrome community and led us right to GiGi’s. We found people who could help us learn...
Beau Bates: GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago Impact Story
What brought you to GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago? I first got involved as a volunteer to support the build-out efforts of GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago. I felt that this is something that I could really help with and continued to stay involved as a Facilities Chair on the Board of Managers. Making...
A Friendsgiving Feast to Remember
As the leaves change colors and the air turns crisp, we are reminded of the warmth that fills the hearts of friends coming together for Friendsgiving. Friendsgiving is more than just a meal; it's a celebration of the shared memories within our GiGi's Playhouse Chicago community. This year, we hosted...