Volunteer Spotlight- Sharon Thompson

Volunteer Spotlight- Sharon ThompsonVolunteer Coordinator I became involved in GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley to continue the mission to “educate. inspire. believe”. I have worked with children with Down syndrome after working as a pediatric physical therapist for over 25 years throughout Chicagoland and Naperville and teaching physical therapy students for...
Katie and Taylor

Playhouse Inspiration- Across the Network- Milwaukee

Across the Network- Playhouse Inspiration Meet our new Teen Tastic Program leaders Katie and Taylor! Both leaders attend UW-Milwaukee and are in the MS Occupational Therapy Program. Katie decided to become a volunteer at GiGi's Playhouse because she strongly believes in the importance of providing meaningful opportunities for people with Down syndrome and their families....

Generation G- Sean Hickey

Generation G in Action- Sean Hickey Sean is working on becoming an Eagle Scout and chose GiGi's Playhouse Fox Valley for his project.  After some thinking about what would best benefit GiGi's Playhouse Fox Valley we decided upon a mobile kiosk. Sean states: "I chose to build a Mobile Merchandising...

Volunteer Spotlight- Sally Stearn

Volunteer Spotlight- Sally Stearn, literacy tutor This is my first tutoring opportunity.  I applied to volunteer right before covid hit, and then everything was shut down!  I am so excited to begin tutoring virtually!  My personal interests are: our 1 year old puppy, reading, writing, and a board position at...

Generation G- Little Pops

Generation G in Action- Little Pops Little Pop’s story is similar to GiGi’s Playhouse in that it started as a dream. Mike and Vicki grew up in NY, fell in love and brought their family to Naperville. Mike and Vicki struggled to find their calling until fate intervened and Little...
Charlie, GiGi's Playhouse Fox Valley Board Member

Volunteer Spotlight- Charlie Perrecone

Volunteer Spotlight- Charlie Perrecone Board member 2017-present Finance Committee Chair Charles Perrecone lives in the Roscoe Village area of Chicago with his wife, Maeve. Charles  has been involved with GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley since 2017. His initial involvement developed from a desire to give back to the community, but he...

GenerationG- Lauren Molloy

Generation G in Action- Lauren Molloy Be Accepting When Lauren learned that her daughter, Autumn, was going to be born with Down Syndrome she sprang into action. She was only 13 weeks along in her pregnancy but she wanted to learn as much about Down syndrome as she could. Part of...

Volunteer Spotlight- Across the Network- Westchester

Volunteer Spotlight- Across the Network- Westchester This Volunteer spotlight is our GiGi's Kitchen program leader – Carol! Carol began volunteering with us back in January of 2018, she came along to an orientation and that same day she observed our cooking program and was ready to jump straight in! Carol...

Generation G- CFFRV, Julie Christman

Generation G in Action- CFFRV                                          Julie Christman, President and CEO Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley "The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual...
Frank, GiGi's Playhouse Fox Valley Board Member

Volunteer Spotlight- Frank Catalano

Volunteer Spotlight- Frank Catalano Board President, Board Member 2019 – present Frank Catalano is a lifetime Chicagoan. In 1979 he graduated from Northern Illinois University of a Human Resource Degree. For the past 40 years he has been employed in the Commercial Property Insurance Industry.  Frank is active with the...

Meet Buddy

Meet Buddy “Buddy's given name is Graylen but he is called Buddy because of his love of others and the desire all have to be his friend. He is full of imagination and loves playing with his friends, siblings and toys. He loves to go to church, the park, play...

Meet Kayleigh

Meet Kayleigh I was born with an extra chromosome, which is called Down syndrome. That means that I have 47 chromosomes instead of 46 which means that it may take me a little bit longer to do things that other people can do like talking or other things.  But if...