Volunteer Spotlight- Jessica DeVries

Volunteer Spotlight- Jessica DeVries, Literacy Tutor Hello everyone! My name is Jessica DeVries and this will be my first time volunteering with GiGi’s Playhouse. I graduated from Aurora University this past December and I am hoping to become an Occupational Therapist in the future! I love doing anything active and outdoors, including biking, going on…

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Volunteer Spotlight- Devanshi

Volunteer Spotlight- Devanshi Tutor Name: Devanshi Kothari Tutoring at GiGi’s Since: Summer 2019 Personal Interests: Playing tennis, playing the clarinet, watching TV, reading! Why I choose to volunteer my time as a tutor at GiGi’s Initially, I started tutoring at GiGi’s because I was looking for volunteer opportunities in my local area. Now, however, I…

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Volunteer Spotlight- Joe Catalano

Volunteer Spotlight- Joe Catalano Board member 2019-present Leadership & Team Committee Chair Joe Catalano has been involved with GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley since 2014 and joined as a board member in 2019.  Joe is married to Kristin and proud father to Audrey and Samantha. After receiving a pre-natal diagnosis for their daughter Samantha, their family…

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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 eleven years in clinical labs…

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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 an adoption agency that I…

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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 did not know where. A…

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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 became co-program lead a month…

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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 Knights of Columbus as Grand…

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Volunteer Spotlight: Toy Box Project

Volunteer Spotlight: ToyBox Project GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley is partnering with the ToyBox Project this summer to create our first virtual Talent Show! An interview with Xansa and Vineeth, founders of ToyBox Project chapter in Aurora-Naperville. Tell us about ToyBox: Xansa: The ToyBox Project is a student led non profit based in the Aurora-Naperville area…

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Volunteer Spotlight- Brooke from NCC

Volunteer Spotlight: Brooke, intern from NCC  Brooke could have chosen from multiple outpatient clinical rotations, but she chose GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley because she really wanted to work with individuals with Down syndrome.  “I love that there are a bunch of different programs for the participants to chose from, and that they are all therapeutic…

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