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....
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...
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...
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...
Meet Jessie, Marissa, Jenny, and Leah!
Hi Playhouse families! My name is Jessie and I am a 3rd year student in the Occupational Therapy (OT) Program at Rush University! I will be spending the next 14-weeks at the Playhouse and cannot wait to meet you all. During my time at the Playhouse, I will be...
GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago Presents at University of Illinois Chicago AHS Celebrates
At the end of 2021, GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago had the awesome opportunity to share its mission and vision at AHS Celebrates event hosted by University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). In the session titled “Learning Together: An Innovative Community Partnership in Service of Individuals and Families with Down Syndrome” our very...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
LNMOP At HelloBaby
GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago has formed a community partnership with HelloBaby to expand access to therapeutic services for infants, toddlers and their families that are residents of the South and Westside of Chicago. HelloBaby is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “support, empower and inspire families raising young children...
Welcome to the Playhouse, Shannon!
Shannon Lyons is a third-final year Child Life Graduate Student at Erikson Institute. She will be interning with GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago for the Fall 2021 semester. Shannon grew up in a small town 4 hours south of Chicago. Her master’s degree major is a Master’s in Science: Child Development with...