Our Volunteer of the Year for 2018 is…
We are beyond grateful for the 120+ volunteers who gave of their time and energy at GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland this year. Thank you to everyone who came to our volunteer appreciation dinner! We are proud to announce our 2018 Volunteer of the Year! This deserving person has invested their days...
National Leadership Conference
Wow! What a week! Our Cleveland team had a productive conference learning, growing and collaborating with our GiGi’s network. We truly are #strongertogether! "The GiGi’s Playhouse Leadership Conference was amazing! 5 days, 56 GiGi’s Playhouse locations, 300 leaders, 80 sessions, 40 speakers, 2 countries and one unstoppable voice for Down syndrome!...
Dana’s story
We are so thankful to bring you this incredible diagnosis story shared with us by one of our amazing mothers, Dana Carlisle. We hope this gives new parents that support and encouragement, as well as a reminder of what GiGi's Playhouse means to so many. This is just one of...
Literacy Tutoring Program Success!
The GiGi's Playhouse Literacy Tutoring Program uses a methodology with documented success based on the research by professionals in the field. Trained tutors work at the level of the child, continually challenging and encouraging him/her while utilizing a combination of personalized sight word and project-based approaches with commercially developed...
Reflections Through the Looking Glass…Ciara and Keller
We love the many unique ways our volunteers of all ages can become involved with GiGi's Playhouse. Whether it's serving on our new Generation G Youth Board, selling lemonade or being a peer mentor in one of our programs, we love the impact our youth can make at the Playhouse...
A Parent’s School Year Reflection…
It's the end of May and we pause to reflect on another school year gone by. Another school year of learning, growth, IEP meetings, hard moments and incredible moments. One of our moms, Kim, shares her reflection. We have loved seeing how much Adalie has grown from August! "Today when...
volunteer spotlight – Abbey Vande Velde
We love showcasing our families and our volunteers here at GiGi's Playhouse. We have countless volunteers who selflessly give of their time and their hearts to help us achieve our mission and help our participants and their families achieve their goals. Abbey Vande Velde is one of those amazing people....
Reflections Through the Looking Glass … Love Wins
We are so proud of our improv group for showing up and giving their all during their practices leading up to the Brew Ha Ha and then battling nerves and getting up on stage and performing – amazingly, I might add! - in front of hundreds of people! What we...
volunteer spotlight – Fred Tyus, Jr. – aka DJ FrediMak!
Here at GiGi's Playhouse, we have an incredible group of volunteers. These amazing people give of their time and energy, as well as their talent. One of the most favorite volunteers among our teen and adult groups is Fred. Fred is known to this older crowd as DJ FrediMak and...
Reflections Through the Looking Glass… Griffin!
I love those Best of All moments that I have the pleasure of witnessing as the Site Coordinator of our Playhouse. I sit here in my office as I type up these blog posts and reflect on those special moments through this one way mirror. To me and to everyone...
Best of All inspiration – Elijah!
Our latest Playhouse inspiration comes courtesy of an incredible five year old, Elijah. After just turning five years old, he became our first participant here at GiGi's Playhouse Cleveland to transition up from one therapeutic program to another. He had been attending Leaps & Bounds with his younger brother, Spencer,...
From the Heart of the Playhouse
Lizz Maxwell, our Site Coordinator, shares this incredible story: Donna walked through the doors one day a few weeks ago, drawn in by the beautiful children on the windows and the colorful sign that read "achievement center". After our introductions, she shared with me her desire to volunteer here. She...