Posts by Mary Makulinski
Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day!
Each year, World Down Syndrome Day occurs on March 21st. This is purposefully done as the THIRD month on the TWENTY-FIRST day signifies the extra copy of the 21st chromosome that represents the genetic makeup of the Down syndrome diagnosis. Though we shout the worth of our “homies with an extra chromie” every single day…
Read MoreVolunteer of the Month – Emily!
Emily is rounding out her THIRD year volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland! Since starting in 2021, Emily has been an integral part of the success of Project Pulse. She volunteers weekly for the teen program and has grown as a volunteer and individual. Emily shares that she considers herself a shy person, but from the…
Read MoreBest of All – Jonathan
What is there not to love about our friend, Jonathan? When you first meet him, you may think he is a quiet individual. Boy, oh boy, once you get to know him though, his wit, humor, and personality cast a sparkle throughout the Playhouse. Since Jonathan is here on a weekly basis for GiGiFIT and…
Read MoreVolunteer of the Month – Rachel
Meet Rachel – our amazing Leaps and Bounds Program Lead. She is passionate about advocating for our friends of all abilities and she’s not afraid to speak up for those around her. Her heart of gold and ability-centered approach is evident in her well-thought-out and intentional lesson plans each month. She considers each individual’s goals…
Read MoreI wish someone would have told me…
Amy Stack, mom to Lael and 6 other beautiful children, shares her potent words on what she wished she would have been told after receiving her daughter’s Down syndrome diagnosis. I wish someone would have told me… As I cradled my sweet baby girl, falling in love with her almond-shaped eyes, snuggling her close to…
Read MoreCelebrate Down syndrome ACCEPTANCE Month
October is Down Syndrome ACCEPTANCE Month – an entire month dedicated to shouting our friends’ and children’s worth from the rooftops! We’ve collected some great ideas from other parents about what they’ll be doing to celebrate differences and encourage inclusion in our communities! Dimes for Down syndrome! You can try this idea at a school,…
Read MoreFamily Stories – Audrey and her Best of All
Audrey is a bright light who is at our Cleveland Playhouse several times a week. She can be found drumming during Project Pulse, making new friends at Games with Friends, and giggling throughout Teen Tastic. As Audrey has grown, she has become a leader amongst her peers. She always wants to to help those around…
Read MoreBest of All – Andrew
This month we are highlighting an individual who shines a bright light of joy wherever he goes. You can often hear his laughter echoing throughout the Playhouse, while also finding him helping and participating in GiGiFIT Kids, Destination Discovery, Drama Troupe, and Music Makers. He has grown up at our Cleveland Playhouse alongside his brother…
Read MoreVolunteer of the Month – Sierra
At GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland, we have a spectacular team of volunteers who lead our GiGiFIT programs. Volunteers who commit to three programs, back-to-back-to-back. They don’t commit to an evening at GiGi’s because they have to, they do it because they WANT to. Sierra is one of those volunteers. She started out as an intern to…
Read MoreFamily Stories – Annie
If you’ve ever been to our Playhouse you’ve more than likely met Annie. If you attended our 2022 Brew Ha Ha, you more than likely witnessed Annie end the Project Performance with the splits. If you’ve ever been to the Cleveland Clinic, you’ve more than likely seen Annie in action at work. If you’ve ever…
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