VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Meet Lucia Watler
What about the mission of GiGi’s Playhouse appeals to you, personally?A place that is striving to create global acceptance for all is something that I can really get behind because no person should ever be treated different for who they are or what they look like. What do you love...
A New Life
I never did picture my life changing drastically like it did in 2020. It was as if my life did a whole 360, without me even knowing it. I never pictured being the legal guardian of my little sister Sandy Villarreal, who has Down syndrome. I thought my mom would still be with...
Appreciative of Our Passionate Volunteers
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, we are always appreciative of our volunteers; however, this month it is fitting to send out a BIG shout out to ALL our fabulous, passionate, and dedicated volunteers! Without our volunteers, we would not have the purposeful programs for our participants to attend at...
Gardening with Fantastic Friends
Getting a Little Dirty Spring is the perfect time to get outside and get a little dirty. That is exactly what a few of our Fantastic Friends volunteers and participants did. They took an outing to a local garden center, purchased plants (in everyone’s favorite colors of course), soil, and...
Volunteer & Program Highlight: Music Therapy!!
We are fortunate at our Playhouse to have a wonderful monthly Music Program lead by a phenomenal Music Therapist, meet Veronica Butler! Not only is she part of GiGi’s Playhouse Houston, but she also volunteers and leads the Music Program at GiGi’s Playhouse Sugarland too! I am personally an advocate...
Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Colleen! #bettertogether
Lately, I have been reflecting on community. I have been thinking about GiGi’s Playhouse Houston and how the members of our community are quickly coming together to fill our playhouse. Everyone has been creating new connections, meeting new families, new and established participants are coming, and we are gaining more...
Happy New Year from Your NEW Programs Coordinator!
Happy New Year!!!!! My name is Erica, and I am your program coordinator for GiGi’s Playhouse Houston! I am so excited to be part of the GiGi’s Playhouse Family. I have big dreams for this year, I want to grow our Free Purposeful Programs to help support individuals with Down...
Friendships Forged through Down Syndrome and GiGi’s Playhouse Houston
Davis and Theo were born three days apart, in the same hospital, served in the same NICU and coincidentally had the same pediatrician. In a wonderful gesture, the boy's pediatrician connected their mothers to support one another in their Down syndrome journeys. This journey lead them to our sister Playhouse...
The Best Birthday Gift
A Houston teenager uses her birthday every year to fund charities that touch her heart. This year, Lauren chose us. Each year, Lauren picks a different charity, researches it, and then presents the charity to her family and friends for donations in lieu of presents. To top it all off,...
Literacy Tutoring Launch and Tutor Spotlight
We love our tutors! We are so excited about our Virtual Literacy tutoring launch! We started tutoring last week and are serving 8 families. Participants range from age 4 to 46 and are already learning so much! Our tutors have jumped through many obstacles to make this happen in this...
Volunteer Spotlight- Ms. Veronica
Veronica Butler- Music Therapy Ms. Veronica is one of our most dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers. She is a music therapist at a local school and comes to volunteer her Saturdays to see the kiddos and provide amazing musical entertainment therapy sessions for our participants and their families. Her program is...
GiGi’s At Home… “a huge support for our family during this crisis”
A message from the wonderful Dyanna Jones, Mother of Cory: GiGi's at Home has been a huge support for our family during this crisis. Cory looks forward to the Live programs every week. He has enjoyed GiGi's Kitchen, GiGi's Fit, and GiGi's Dance. Next week, Cory plans to try out...