Posts by Liz Kepniss
August 2021 Purposeful Programming
The full August 2021 program schedule is available on our online calendar for participants and volunteers to sign up, but you can read all the details below. Karate Kickers, Wednesday, August 4, 6- 7PM (ages 10+) The benefits of karate for people with Down syndrome are endless. Karate focuses on development of balance, coordination, discipline,…
Read MoreIn Person Programs Have Resumed at GiGi’s!
GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough has resumed in-person group programs! Keep an eye out for the weekly program emails, but the full program schedule is available on our online calendar for participants and volunteers to sign up. Going forward, all participants are required to register before attending a program. As space is limited for health and safety…
Read MoreJuly 2021 Programs
GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough has resumed in-person group programs starting July 5, 2021! The full program schedule is available on our online calendar for participants and volunteers to sign up, but you can read all the details below. Going forward, all participants are required to register before attending a program. As space is limited for health…
Read MoreMeet our Newest Board Members!
There are many ways you can help out at GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough, and joining our Board of Managers is one of them! Our Board is a dedicated, energized group of individuals from all walks of life—some are parents of children with Down syndrome, and others are not. There’s something we all have in common, though: to do all we can…
Read MoreWhy I MOVE for Acceptance
It’s no secret that I love being an advocate for the Down syndrome community. So when an event like the GiGiFit Acceptance Challenge comes along, I give it 110% of myself, both personally and professionally. I am not moving for acceptance just because I work for GiGi’s Playhouse. I move for my niece Zhara, I…
Read MoreHow GiGi’s Playhouse Plays an Important Role in the Inclusion Process
by Carol Croll Inclusion. It’s the buzzword that parents of children who have Down syndrome begin hearing as soon as their new baby is born. Most people think of inclusion as “just a school thing.” However, inclusion is everywhere! It takes place at family gatherings, community events, jobs, religious organizations, amusement parks, supermarkets, and any…
Read MoreCelebrating 2021 Volunteer of the Year Katherine O’Neill
How does it feel to be named Volunteer of the Year for GiGi’s? I feel incredibly honored to be named Volunteer of the Year, but to be honest, I was completely shocked to hear my name mentioned! This year was the first time I’ve attended a GiGi’s gala, so I wasn’t aware of the various…
Read MoreDown Syndrome and the Sibling Dynamic
by Megan Labuda There are many questions we have as parents raising a child with Down syndrome. My daughter Penny is 10 years old. In addition to rocking her extra chromosome, she is on the autism spectrum. I remember a particular concern came to mind when Penny was just around 12 months old and we…
Read MoreMeet our 2021 Gala Chair Renay Stover!
Introducing our 2021 Gala Chair, Renay Stover! As you may know, the Gala is our most important annual fundraiser, during which we celebrate the progress of our participants, recognize and thank our supporters, and also raise the critical funds needed to help us continue offering FREE programs to the Down syndrome community. Themed “A Party…
Read MoreInnovating, Automating and Empowering at the 2020 Leadership Conference
It is no secret that I LOVE MY JOB as the GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough Playhouse Manager! Anyone who has worked with me at the Playhouse also knows that one of my favorite work events of the year is the annual Leadership Conference in Chicago. As with everything else in 2020, conference looked a lot different…
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