Posts Tagged ‘Central New Jersey’
How 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 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 MoreBringing Our Love for Karate to GiGi’s
by Brody and Luke Bouziotis About three years ago, we began volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse because we needed to complete community service hours for Boy Scouts. Since we had just earned our Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do, we decided to sign up to volunteer at the program named Karate Kickers. The program leader at…
Read MoreThank You Mia, Lily, Jessica, Luke and Brody!
Closing the doors for in-person programming due to COVID-19 was a necessary decision for the safety of our program participants and volunteers. GiGi’s Playhouse quickly leapt into action and created GiGi’s at Home. I was amazed by the number of volunteers who stepped up to create content and lead live programs. Within days of suspending…
Read MoreThank You for Your Support!
These are unsure times for everyone. It seems as if the whole world is on hold during the pandemic. In the midst of all the change, we at GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough have been fortunate to see that some things remain constant: good people continue to do good, and our surrounding community is overflowing with individuals…
Read MoreWhy I Tutor
by Kathy Fulham My introduction to GiGi’s was definitely different than many other volunteers, who oftentimes are relatives or friends of participants. Although I live in a different town and had never heard of GiGi’s back then, there was a precious part of my family history that, unbeknownst to me, connected me to it. I…
Read MoreFebruary 2020 Programs & Events
The February calendar at GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough is packed with special events and purposeful programming! Programs at GiGi’s Playhouse offer foundational learning opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. We continue to ask program participants to RSVP for all programs so that program leaders can accurately prepare. Special Events Valentine’s Day…
Read MoreGiGi’s Asks: What’s Your Why?
Why I Serve as a Program Leader by Virginia Abubakr How exciting it is to be able to share how I became connected to GiGi’s Playhouse and, as a result, currently serve as Program Leader of the Friends, Fun, and Fitness Program, which runs the second Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to noon.…
Read MoreJanuary 2020 Programs & Events
It’s a new year, and the January calendar at GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough is packed with special events and purposeful programming! Programs at GiGi’s Playhouse offer foundational learning opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. We continue to ask program participants to RSVP for all programs so that program leaders can accurately…
Read MoreIt happened in 2019 at GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough
2019 has been an amazing year at GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough. We expanded our programs, made new contacts within the community and continued to make a powerful impact on the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. Programming While we continued to offer the same programs that our participants have come to love, new programs were introduced…
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