Posts Tagged ‘GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley’
#Best of All- Abi
Abi was one of those unexpected surprises that can really make a BIG impact. Thank you, Abi, for a great 10 weeks! You are always welcome to come back!!! Thank You GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley! “As I got the call at college this past spring that sent me home, the call that we all got…
Read MoreBest of All: DuPage County Homeland Security
Best of All- DuPage County Homeland Security Thank you to the DuPage County of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for providing us with donations in light of Covid-19! Talk about Best Of All! This week, we had the opportunity to interview Adrian Ocampo, their Emergency Management Specialist: Q: Tell us about your organization and what…
Read MoreInside GiGi’s: Our What
Inside GiGi’s: Our What What is GiGi’s Playhouse? We all know we are a Down Syndrome Achievement Center, but what does that really mean? Well let’s start at the beginning with a GiGi’s history lesson about the evolution of GiGi’s Playhouse from our Chief Belief Officer, Nancy Gianni: “My 6 year old son, Franco, created…
Read MoreSue Catalano: The Joy of Tutoring
Volunteer Spotlight: Sue Catalano Sue Catalano is one of our amazing tutors, and she has been volunteering at the playhouse for over a year! She is an amazing mother of 3, all now out of college. Sue was a teacher for 6th grade and pre-k before having a family, and now works part-time, spending her free-time enjoying yoga, golfing, going for walks, reading, and of course tutoring…
Read MoreInside GiGi’s: Our Why
Inside GiGi’s: Our Why Every week at GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley, we provide free purposeful programming for families in our community that have a loved one with Down syndrome. Have you ever wondered how we do it? Have you ever wondered what all goes on to make each and every program, event, and opportunity possible?…
Read MoreGiGi’s and Golf- Bret Shannon
Hello, my name is Bret Shannon and I am the current board president of Gigi’s Fox Valley. I love this organization and it has been an absolute pleasure being able to be a part of it. The Beth Shannon Memorial Golf outing was created by myself and my family as a way to honor the Memory…
Read MoreThe Importance of Developing Social Skills
The Importance of Developing Social Skills What are social skills, and why are they important? Educationalplaycare.com states: “Developing social skills in children prepares them for a lifetime of healthier interactions in all aspects of life. Social skills are an integral part of functioning in society. Displaying good manners, communicating effectively with others, being considerate of…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Amber
Volunteer Spotlight: Amber Amber has been volunteering with us for about one year now as a literacy tutor, but in the midst of the pandemic, she took on a new role! She has been leading Kids Club virtually, and we couldn’t be happier to have her! Amber is a senior at Waubonsie Valley High School, hoping to…
Read MoreGeneration G: Names
Generation G- Names Names matter. As my favorite professor once told me, “to name a self is to acquire a self.” Names have meaning, and often we hope they describe us well. My name is Abigail, meaning a father’s joy, and boy, do I hope that describes me most days! Picking a name for your…
Read MoreStay-at-home, Songs, & Sammy
In the Midst of a Pandemic- a Moment of Grace “When we began our journey under a stay-at-home order back in March, it quickly became apparent to me that this was going to be a very stressful time for all involved. I began to read various posts on social media of people who were trying…
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