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...
We are Hiring!
We have an important announcement to share with our Down syndrome community... Kimberly Lyon, M.A. CCC-SLP After two years of dedicated service, Kim Lyon, who supervised our Amina Grace Speech & Language Program has resigned. She had to make the difficult decision to leave for an opportunity that's a better fit...
Volunteer Spotlight: Tamara Fobare
"It’s like everyday is their “Best of All” moment. I feel connected to Winston even though he didn’t get to experience the impact of GiGi’s Playhouse." - Tamara Fobare It is our absolute pleasure to recognize an incredibly kind hearted and genuine woman who volunteers with GiGi's Playhouse Detroit, Tamara...
We Walked, We Ran, We Dashed for Acceptance
Our 2024 GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge was INCREDIBLE! On Sunday, June 23rd, we hosted our 5th annual GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge at Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, MI. The event included a 1-mile walk, the Kids' Dash for Down Syndrome, and tons of fun field day activities. This beautiful day was filled with...
Myths & Truths About Down Syndrome
There are lots of popular myths about individuals with Down syndrome that are problematic for many reasons, most of which are related to not seeing their full humanity. Don't worry, we're here to debunk those myths, and we hope you'll help us spread the word! The list below was put...
Little Hearts… Big Impact
“You want to be the pebble in the pond that creates the ripple for change” – Tim Cook. It’s no secret that the success of GiGi's Playhouse Detroit is primarily because of the hard work and dedication of our fabulous volunteers. For many, their efforts don’t stop when they leave...