Meet the Denver Playhouse Sweetheart

We’re feeling the love this month and wanted to share our appreciation for a special member of the Denver Playhouse team. She’s the smile you see when you stop by during office hours, and the sunshine you can hear through the phone when you call the Denver Playhouse. Meet our site manager and start-up team member, Cassie Sudbeck.

Cassie literally keeps the doors open and the lights on for the Denver Playhouse and so much more! Learn more about Cassie and what brought her to the GiGi’s Playhouse family.

• Tell us about you

  

  The Sudbeck Family

• I am a busy working mom of three wonderful children. My professional background is in the legal field as a litigation paralegal. However, with the birth of my youngest daughter, Izzy, who has Down syndrome, I found a new calling in life. I want to make sure she’s accepted as the wonderful and amazing person she is and has every opportunity available to learn and succeed, just like her older two siblings. I am honored to serve as the site manager at the very first GiGi’s Playhouse in Colorado and to continue to work as a paralegal, fostering and developing my personal and professional passions.

• How did you get involved with GiGi’s ?

  

  Members of the original Denver Start Up team

• I became involved with Denver’s Playhouse from day one! I learned about GiGi’s Playhouse while staying in the hospital with Izzy during her battle with cancer. I couldn’t believe that this amazing resource was not already in Colorado. So, about a year after Izzy completed treatment, I jumped at the first chance to work with an incredible group of parents and volunteers to help spread the word about GiGi’s Playhouse to our community and be a part of opening its doors.

• What is your WHY?

• It’s all about my three wonderful children. I love GiGi’s message of “Be Accepting. Be Generous. Be Kind.” My entire family, including my generous parents, have all been involved in helping to make GiGi’s a reality and success. My children can see that hard work and determination do pay off and that while adversity is still out in the world, they now have a place where they can come and talk with other siblings. We’re building them a network to grow on their paths to Being Accepting, Being Generous, and Being Kind. I love that my family now has a place where we can connect with other families and hang out.

• What does acceptance mean to you?

• Acceptance means that everyone, no matter their diagnosis, race, color, religion, etc., is welcomed and appreciated for what they can bring to the world. Each of us has a unique perspective and wonderful qualities that we share with this world, so no one should be made to feel like less than just because they do not fit a particular image of someone should look, speak or act.

• What are you most thankful for having GiGi’s in the Denver metro area?

• I am most thankful for the wonderful volunteers who have helped bring GiGi’s to Denver. They continue to help us daily, even with their busy personal schedules, to run our incredible, FREE, and purposeful programs — whether that’s serving as an incredible tutor to one of our students, fundraising and staffing at events, or helping out with everyday tasks at the Playhouse. I hope each and every volunteer knows just how much we appreciate all they do for all the families who walk through our doors!I get so excited whenever someone calls the Playhouse because they were driving by, saw our sign, and wanted to learn more about GiGi’s Playhouse Denver. It’s an incredible feeling to be a part of an organization with a mission and purpose of changing the way the world views Down syndrome and sending a global message of acceptance for all.

Come and meet Cassie at the Denver Playhouse.  Office hours are posted in the monthly calendar. We ask that you call or email in advance to schedule a Playhouse tour, which is available to any interested families, community partners, civic organizations, etc.