GiGi’s Annual Leadership Conference 2024
65 Cities. 5 Days. 2 Countries. 1 Voice Last week, GiGi's Playhouse, Inc. hosted their Annual Leadership Conference at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. With over 60 Playhouses in the U.S. and 2 in Mexico, this gathering is an incredibly valuable meeting-of-the-minds. It begins with a tour of...
Welcome to the Team, Samantha!
We have news! After nearly six years of significant growth and sustainability, we are thrilled to be in the position of expanding our team of staff members. Our wonderful Site Manager of the last 2.5 years, Bethany Wells, is moving into the position of Marketing Coordinator, and will now support...
Volunteer Spotlight: Shannon Gierlach
We are honored to highlight a very special volunteer who has taken the reigns of one of our newest programs and made it soar! Back in December 2023, Shannon Gierlach answered a facebook post calling for someone to lead GiGi’s Kitchen Adult. Although she had no prior experience with the...
Rory’s “Best of All”
GiGi’s Kitchen Adult has become one of our participants’ favorite programs since its launch in January 2024. We love to see how excited everyone is to participate each Thursday, and it's even more thrilling when they take their enthusiasm home to practice what they learn with their family! This fall...
Sister Love: Celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Guest blogger: Elisa Kim, age 16 I have a younger sister with Down syndrome. More often than not, people think having a relative with Down syndrome is a burden or a challenge. This is not the case at all! Having a sister with Down syndrome is one of the most...
Volunteer Spotlight: Lynn Duncan
This September marked the 3 year anniversary of Lynn Duncan volunteering at GiGi's Playhouse Detroit! Previously an elementary school teacher, Lynn lives near the Playhouse and simply happened upon it one day. She inquired about ways to get involved and has provided weekly Literacy tutoring ever since! In her free...
Down Syndrome Awareness Month – Providing the Runway for Acceptance
Guest blogger: GiGi's Playhouse, Inc. We’ve all been there before — we walk into a room, and for whatever reason, we sense that all eyes are on us. For most of us this is a fleeting feeling, but for people with Down syndrome and their loved ones, it's often a...
Maevis’ “Best of All”
Guest blogger: Kathleen Tynes We all can appreciate a good routine; walking into a well-known place and knowing exactly what to expect is comforting. That’s why, when Maevis started Leaps & Bounds last spring (her first group program in awhile), she was understandably thrown for a loop! Maevis had become...
George’s “Best of All”
Please enjoy this very special "Best of All" story submitted by Taylor, mother of George (age 5): "Today was Georgie’s last day of the summer session of speech therapy at GiGi's Playhouse Detroit! He made HUGE strides this session and came so far. I never really know how to properly...
Volunteer Spotlight: Angie Hockey
Phenomenal Human Alert! Back in May of 2023, GiGi's Playhouse Detroit received a visit from a group of young students, parents, and other members of the Lone Pine Elementary PTO. They had just finished a "Crazy Sock Day" fundraiser for World Down Syndrome Day, and came to deliver a generous...
Eagle Scout Project – Complete!
GiGi’s Playhouse Detroit is an achievement center for individuals with Down syndrome, but our reach goes beyond the participant and encompasses their whole family. We pride ourselves in being a place where parents, grandparents, siblings, and caregivers can make connections and find support in community where they share unique experiences....
Volunteer Spotlight: Kathleen Offer
Guest Blogger: Elie Kim, sister of one of our participants and volunteer at the Playhouse - age 16 We are so grateful for our amazing volunteers and love any opportunity to sing their praises. Kathleen Offer has been 'offering' support, guidance, and friendship to participants at GiGi's for the past...