Family Story
GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center receives $12,000 grant from Variety- the Children’s Charity
GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center has received a $12,000 grant from Variety- the Children’s Charity to fund the expansion of their wellness program GiGiFIT to include children, teens, and adults. GiGiFit is a FREE fitness program aimed at helping kids with Down syndrome develop lifelong patterns for healthy living. GiGi’s Playhouse is a nonprofit…
Read MoreProgram Spotlight: GiGi’s Kitchen Kids
GiGi’s Kitchen is designed to emphasize the importance of health and wellness through nutrition education, kitchen safety, food preparation, social activities and a shared meal/snack. Under the guidance of program leaders, participants will learn about and progress through skills including measurements, food handling, knife skills, ingredient identification, palette expansion, and nutrition. Participants will be introduced to…
Read MoreThank you Variety- the Children’s Charity!
We Have Exciting News to Share! Thank you Variety- the Children’s Charity for believing in the potential of individuals with Down syndrome! Variety- the Children’s Charity has generously awarded us with a grant for $11,576 to renovate our kitchen, and as you can see from Paul’s and Leanne’s reactions we’re beyond excited! Variety- the Children’s Charity is dedicated…
Read MoreFun night out at the Iowa Cubs Game!!
Thank you Des Moines Pub Crawl and the Iowa Cubs for supporting GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines this past weekend. The rain couldn’t stop all the people from attending and having fun on and off the field. Addi enjoyed running down on the field, tossing around the baseball and saying hi to everyone that…
Read MoreStrike a Pose
Last week our son Pierce was asked to be a model for the 2020 GiGi’s Playhouse National Calendar. We had such a blast visiting the first GiGi’s Playhouse location in Chicago and meeting the founder Nancy Gianni. “She is living proof that miracles do exist. Fifteen years ago, she had no idea that the birth…
Read MoreMy new favorite holiday is 3/21: World Down Syndrome Day
There are many things in life we celebrate: birthdays, anniversaries, milestones, promotions – I mean there is pretty much a holiday every day if you look hard enough. However, one of my new favorite holidays is 3/21: World Down Syndrome Day. Being a relatively “new” mom to an amazing little girl with Down syndrome,…
Read More6th Annual GiGi’s Playhouse Holiday Vendor Fair
Come support the 6th Annual GiGi’s Playhouse Holiday Vendor Fair! Get some holiday shopping done while supporting GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines as well as local businesses and vendors. Save the date for shopping! We hope to see you there! We are now accepting applications for vendors, and we encourage you to apply today! You can…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight….Chastity Price!!
Meet Chastity Price! She is our wonderful host for not one but TWO of our programs at GiGi’s Playhouse. She is the 4th Friday host for Friday Friends and she also hosts Friends, Fun and Fitness. “I absolutely love volunteering at GiGi’s playhouse! GiGi’s is a very special place most importantly because of the participants,…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight
Meet Jenny Meade! In honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Week we would like to share a bit about our volunteer extraordinaire Jenny. Jenny has been volunteering with GiGi’s Playhouse since September of 2016, and we couldn’t imagine GiGi’s without her! Jenny volunteers with the GiGi University Internship program, and she is also a GiGi’s Math…
Read MoreOur First Mom’s Night Out of 2017 was a Blast!
We had so much fun at our Mom’s Night Out on Thursday, and we can’t wait to host another one on March 23rd! We started off the night with some appetizers, wine, and conversation. We wanted to create a night where moms could have a moment for themselves, spark their creativity, and build community! With…
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