Volunteer Spotlight – Colleen Hyland

Our first spotlight shines on Colleen Hyland! Colleen joins our volunteer staff with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Penn State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University. She is entering her fourteenth year of teaching at Granger Elementary in Highland Local Schools in Medina. She has been such a tremendous asset to our therapeutic programs here at GiGi’s! She personifies what Generation G is all about – making that conscious decision to be better every day! Thank you, Colleen, for all of your passion, knowledge and dedication to this Playhouse! Here’s her story:

“How blessed I was last December. I was enjoying Light Up Lakewood and I noticed green and red t-shirts all around that said GiGi’s Playhouse. My interest was piqued and I instantly took out my phone to find out what it was all about and in that moment…I found what I had been looking for! A place to volunteer. A place whose mission touched my heart. A place where I was meant to be.

As I sat at the grand opening, and again at volunteer orientation, I was so grateful that I had spotted those t-shirts a month before. I was beyond thrilled to become a part of such a wonderful organization. Selling Cavs’ raffle tickets, running around getting karaoke song requests at Fantastic Friends, and sitting in on LMNOP, I have loved it all and have learned so much from the other volunteers, our participants and our families.

As the Lead for our Playhouse Pals program, my mind is constantly thinking about program themes and activities that incorporate cooperation, learning, fine and gross motor skills, and, of course, fun! Getting together with these beautiful, talented children is the highlight of my month. Oh those smiles…they are everything!

We encourage the kids to give their Best of All. Well, these children and their families, along with the passion of all those involved at GiGi’s, encourage ME to be my Best of All.”