Thanks to the ISHA and NSSLHA Chapters of St. Ambrose, UNI, & University of Iowa!

In order to celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month in May, ISHA and NSSLHA collaborated on a fundraiser to support GiGi’s Playhouse! The three NSSLHA chapters in Iowa, St. Ambrose, University of Northern Iowa, and University of Iowa, had a friendly competition to raise money and items for GiGi’s Playhouse. The students at University of Iowa raised $235.09 and 111…

Read More

Parent Orientation Speaker Series: Activities & Programs Around Des Moines

Join us Tuesday May 14th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at the Playhouse for our monthly Parent Orientation Speaker Series. This month the topic is Activities & Programs Around Des Moines. We will have speakers from Very Special Arts, Best Buddies, Challenger League, Link Associates Leisure program, Miracle League, Special Olympics, and Courage League Sports, so…

Read More

Want to learn more about the Home and Community Based Services Waiver?

Join us at GiGi’s Playhouse- Des Moines Tuesday, April 9th from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Training Specialist Emily Roth from the Department of Human Services will present an overview of the HCBS waiver including but not limited to: registering and signing up for benefits, guidelines, and the renewal process.   We will have volunteers to supervise and…

Read More

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

      Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone who supported the GiGi’s Playhouse 2013 “i have a voice” Gala!!! From the attendees, sponsors, gala committee, board members, volunteers, auction artists, & to those who made donations, we absolutely could not have done it without you! Thank you so much for helping make…

Read More

Ringing in the New Year full of Dreams & Goals

Down syndrome Awareness

Looking Ahead to 2013 The Board of Directors is excited to begin reaching for the stars for 2013! Plans to makeover the Teen & Adult Area (of course they are willing to share it with the rest of us) are underway!  We dream for this area of the Playhouse to be a place where people…

Read More

Dreams & Goals made into Success

Down syndrome Awareness Center

2012 Dreams and Goals What a FANTASTIC year that will shortly be behind us, but looking back we can say, “GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines DID THAT!” We are very THANKFUL that each of you helped us obtain our goals and dreams for the year, without your support we would have difficulty doing so-THANK YOU! The…

Read More

Our World Turned Right-Side Up

Down syndrome Awareness

I did not realize our lives were being lived upside down until shortly after my daughter McKenna arrived in 2004.  Seven weeks premature, McKenna was a shock to our collective ‘systems’ the day she arrived; unexpected would be a HUGE understatement. For the first couple of months our lives were chaos:  a lengthy NNICU (Neo-Natal…

Read More

Therapeutic Play Center Idea Board

Therapeutic Play Center

     We have created a monthly “Idea Board” to be used with the new Therapeutic Play Center. Each month a different theme will be posted which will give everyone different ideas/suggestions of how they can use this amazing play area. Our main emphasis will give suggestions to enhance speech and/or communication. We are also trying…

Read More

Happy Birthday to our Superman!

Down syndrome Awareness Center

I was introduced to GiGi’s Playhouse by chance almost 2 years ago when I heard Megan speak at a chamber lunch. I knew immediately that it was a place that I wanted to be a part of. I was greeted with open arms by all and felt like I was being welcomed into a family.…

Read More

The Miss Amazing Pageant

Down syndrome Awareness Center

One of our parents contacted us about “The Miss Amazing Pageant”.  her daughter is already registered and she wanted to share the information with eveyone! Contact Maddie Lorenzen, who is helping coordinate The Miss Amazing Pageant for our area (Council Bluffs, IA). Follow this link for more information and registration:  www.missamazingpageant.com   The Miss Amazing…

Read More