Back to School Tips and Ideas for individuals with Down syndrome!
✅ First Day Outfit for Mom’s Photo Shoot ✅ Backpack with ALL the Stuff ✅ Lunch Box ✅ Water Bottle ✅ Cool, Comfy Shoes Check, Check, Check and Recheck! What else? What else do we need in order to equip our kiddos for a school year of success? This...
Volunteer Spotlight – Catherine!
If you're familiar with GiGi's Playhouse, you know full well how much we rely on our volunteers and how they are truly the heartbeat of our Playhouse! We are excited to introduce you to Catherine, one of our amazing math tutors! We love Catherine's story and want to share it...
Best of All – GiGiFIT Kids’ Squat Jump!
We are so proud of the effort and focus from our GiGiFIT Kids summer class! Check out the video below of them nailing their variation of a squat jump! They have been practicing so much all summer. Standing up from a chair and using that momentum to jump forward works...
Sounds, Smells and Feels of Sweet Summertime!
Splashes at the pool Squeals down the slide Silly groans up a rock wall Hot dogs grilling Freshly mowed grass Blooms of lilac and lavender Warm sunshine Gentle breezes And _____________ You fill in the blank! With July already in our rear view, what will you do with the outdoor...
2nd Annual Dash for Down Syndrome – What a Morning!
Our hearts are so full after an incredible event! We have some amazing descriptions of what took place at our 2nd Annual Dash for Down Syndrome and we thought we would share them with you. "It was a beautiful morning in Lakewood, Ohio. Lakewood Park was bustling with folks of...
Volunteer Spotlight – Erin S!
A Speech-Language Pathologist by day, but a GiGi's Volunteer Superstar at Music Makers and Games with Friends - our volunteer spotlight is Erin Sweeney!! Erin officially joined our GiGi's family in March of 2022, but by how she interacts with our friends and families in the Playhouse, you would think...
Volunteer Spotlight – Marcus and Katie!
Moving right along in our Volunteer Appreciation Month, we have the incredible team of Marcus and Katie! These two incredible people have been our LMNOP assists for the past three years. We love and appreciate the time and energy they spend by helping make LMNOP one of our most popular...
Best of All Spotlight – Jennie!
Jennie has been coming to Fantastic Friends since we opened in 2016. You can often find her on the dance floor or behind the mic on karaoke night! Her dance moves and friendly spirit are both contagious! It has been awhile since Jennie has had a chance to come to...
Community Spotlight – Sigma Phi Epsilon
It's Volunteer Appreciation Month and we are so grateful for our team of volunteers at GiGi's Playhouse! We are incredibly thankful for the partners in our community! We want to show off one of our favorites - The gentlemen from Sigma Phi Epsilon at Cleveland State University! This group of...
Volunteer Spotlight – Anna and Darren!
Volunteer Appreciation Month kicks off with this dynamic duo - Anna and Darren! This couple has been volunteering at the Playhouse since the start of Project Pulse Adult in the summer of 2021. Anna and Darren jumped into the group not knowing what to expect, but both have blossomed to...
Go Get ‘Em – a Generation G message
If you follow college sports even just a little, you probably know this is Mike Krzyzewski’s final season as head coach of the men’s basketball team at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Coach K’s 42-year career boasts five national titles and 13 Final Four appearances. Impressive stats. And...
Participant Spotlight – Audrey!
Mary, our Project Pulse Lead, shares, "Audrey is a bright, ray of sunshine! She enters any session with enthusiasm and joy. Specifically in Project Pulse (which she has been in since 2019) her growth has been astounding. She comes into the group greeting her friends, finds her seat, participates in...