Posts by Mandy Drakeford

From our GiGi’s at Home virtual programs to our new partnership with All-American Stores, GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne has found several silver linings throughout the past year and a half. While the pandemic reduced foot traffic to our GiGi’s Genesis Health Bar during 2020 and early 2021, our team brainstormed ways to to expand our…

GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne is 99% volunteer-run, which means more than 200 volunteers assist us with a variety of roles throughout the year. As we gear up for our Fall 2021 programs, we’re looking for a variety of volunteers to join our team! If you’re interested in any of the positions below, please email our…

New partnership provides meaningful work experiences for adults with Down syndrome Fort Wayne, IN (May 6, 2021) – GiGi’s Genesis Health Bar and All-American Stores today announced a new partnership to expand career training opportunities to adults with Down syndrome. All-American Stores in Fort Wayne will now carry salads, wraps and sandwiches made by Ambassadors…

GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne is 99 percent volunteer-led. Each year, we host multiple high school and college students for internships in our Playhouse. Read more about our incredible interns and the work they’re doing to assist with our free, purposeful programs in our volunteer spotlight series. Tell us a little bit about yourself – the…

GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne is 99 percent volunteer-led. Each year, we host multiple high school and college students for internships in our Playhouse. Read more about our incredible interns and the work they’re doing to assist with our free, purposeful programs in our volunteer spotlight series.  Tell us a little bit about yourself – the…

GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne is 99 percent volunteer-led. Each year, we host multiple high school and college students for internships in our Playhouse. Read more about our incredible interns and the work they’re doing to assist with our free, purposeful programs in our volunteer spotlight series.  Emily, tell us a little bit about yourself –…

Each month we’re featuring a guest blog post from one of our board members and volunteers! This January, Lorri Meyer, Board Secretary, shares more about her experience with GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne.  For 27 years, I’ve been friends with Cindy Atkinson. After the birth of her and Doug’s first grandchild, Charlotte, Cindy called and asked…

Last week, four students graduated from GiGi U at GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne. In this guest post, our program manager, Lauren Clark, reflects on their time in GiGi u. Let me tell you about the four incredible students I had the privilege to teach this Fall at GiGi University. Jacob would spend his mornings at…

Grant from the AWS Foundation will help launch a new music program for individuals with disabilities AWS Foundation has awarded the Gilmore Inclusive Arts Grant to GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne for a new music program utilizing the Skoog instrument. The new initiative, GiGi’s Music: Skoog Lab, will create an inclusive music program to enrich the…

This holiday season, GiGi’s Playhouse will host socially-distanced Christmas Cookie decorating and virtual Santa visits on Saturday, Dec. 12th. To participate in the Christmas Cookie decorating virtually, register for a Christmas Cookie decorating kit that you can take home and tune in from your computer. To participate in-person, register for a 30-minute time-slot to join…