A Moment of Magic at GiGi’s Playhouse
On Saturday, April 5th, many GiGi’s families experienced a magical morning with several well-known characters from animated movies come to life, compliments of the University of Iowa’s chapter of A Moment of Magic. But how exactly did they appear at our Playhouse? And, what is “A Moment of Magic, exactly?...
The Link Between Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
Some time ago, I ran across a fascinating YouTube video that featured a young man with Down syndrome named Frank Stephens. Frank was testifying before congress to ask for increased funding for Down syndrome by stressing the value that he and others with Trisomy 21 bring to the world. In...
Adin + Music = Dancing!
When I think about 23-year-old Adin, I see him on stage at Fantastic Friends on a Friday night. But, unlike most everyone else, Adin isn’t singing karaoke to one of his favorite songs. No, he is dancing with his mom, Laura, and as happy as can be. You see, Adin...
We’re Going to Prom Gala Update
The 2025 GiGi’s “We’re Going to Prom” Gala was a fantastic success. The Hilton was decorated, well, “to the Hilt” and the event was better than any prom we attended in high school. No cliques, no acne, no chaperones keeping hooligans away from the punchbowl – just a fantastic crowd...
Making a Connection with Brian
At GiGi’s Playhouse, I meet a wide range of participants. I’ve met individuals with Down syndrome as young as three weeks old and adults in their 50s. Some are outgoing and very easy to get to know, including a few that would put Dale Carnegie to shame! And then there...
Introducing Steven: the Next TV Food Celebrity
If the Food Network ever needs a new on-air personality, let this serve as my nomination for Steven -- our resident connoisseur and our favorite “foodie”. Steven loves to help plan our Tuesday GiGi’s Kitchen menus, which can be a challenge because our courses are all vegan and nut-free. But...
Girl Scouts Cookies and GiGi’s Playhouse? What a Great Combination!
It’s Girl Scout Cookie season again, and two sisters in Grimes came up with a clever marketing idea to help them toward their goal of selling 810 boxes of those delightful treats by involving a cause near and dear to them. When seven-year-old Leah and eight-year-old Kaylee started their cookie...
Meet Addi!
This is seven-year-old Addi. It took this picture of her at GiGi’s with Sam Addi’s Aunt Natalie. Addi is the first GiGi’s Participant that I ever met -- on a day of several other firsts. It was my FIRST day on the job, my FIRST GiGi’s event (the annual Friends...
GiGi’s Has a Real Recipe for Success
This is the whiteboard that sits on the counter of GiGi’s kitchen. Each Tuesday, it displays the menu that the adult participants of GiGi’s Kitchen will prepare and have for lunch. But if you look a bit closer at the menu planned for this day, you’ll see that it’s more...
“Cleaning House” at GiGi’s Playhouse is a Team Effort!
GiGi’s Playhouse is fortunate to have many wonderful community partners, and there are two very special ones that we want to thank for keeping our facility clean and presentable -- Link Associates and ServiceMaster Green. Link Associates is a local community-based non-profit organization that provides services for more than 900...
GiGi’s and Waukee Schools
GiGi’s Playhouse is proud to serve more than 200 participants each month that tally more than 400 hours in programs like new family caregivers group, one-on-one tutoring and fitness classes. This helps us realize our mission to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global...
