Volunteer of the Month – Anya
Oftentimes, when our high school volunteers leave for college, we wish them the best of luck on their next chapter and let them know the Playhouse doors are always open. When Anya left to attend school at The Ohio State University, she didn't let that door close. Instead, she opened...
Best of All – Sylvia
When you walk into the Playhouse and observe Games with Friends or Project Pulse, you might think Sylvia is a volunteer. She effortlessly builds connections and converses with those around her. However, to your surprise, you will find out she is the caregiver for our friend Troy, whom she accompanies...
Finding Certainty Within the Chaos
Written by Kathleen Ferdico Mural The perils of parenting any child are daunting, but when you add the layer of an unexpected diagnosis the chaos can feel exponential. I remember the weight of feeling like I survived a year of Down syndrome when my son Johnny turned one. The next...
Best of All – Ana!
Ana walks into the Playhouse humming a Taylor Swift song and efficiently signs herself and her dad in on the iPad. Ana always has a twinkle in her eye and at the drop of a hat we know if given a microphone, she'd be on our stage singing her heart...
Volunteer of the Month – Cameron!
Every Thursday Cam energetically enters the Playhouse. Always eager to help clean, greet new community members, and create relationships with everyone in the Playhouse. What we love about Cam is his keen memory and how he truly cares to get to know his friends. If you share facts about yourself,...
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...
Volunteer 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...
Best 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...
Volunteer 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....
I 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...
Family 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...
Best 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...