A Life-Changing Speech Journey with GiGi’s Playhouse
A message from the Higgins family We want to thank GiGi’s Playhouse for connecting us with Lexie Chol, our amazing Speech and Language Pathologist. Christian is now 16 years old and has been in virtual speech therapy since 2020, when in-person visits became limited. Living in an area far from...
Volunteer & Program Spotlight: The Heart Behind GiGi’s Kitchen Kids
At GiGi’s Playhouse, we know that building confidence and independence can start with something as simple—and meaningful—as cooking a meal together. That’s exactly what GiGi’s Kitchen Kids is all about. And at the heart of this program is a very special family: Chef Tiffany, her daughter Chef Maddie, and their...
Donor Spotlight: The Garvin Family & Garvin Exteriors
At GiGi’s Playhouse Houston, we are constantly reminded that our mission is only possible through the generosity of the individuals, families, and businesses who believe in the power of acceptance and inclusion. Today, we are honored to shine a light on one such incredible supporter: the Garvin family and their...
Meet our new Program/Volunteer Coordinator!
Antonella was raised in Palm Beach, Florida, and is a proud first-generation American and fluent in both English and Spanish. In 2021, she moved to Houston to earn her B.S. in Health Science—Public Health, with a minor in Sociology focused on Health and Medicine, at the University of Houston. Her...
Volunteer Spotlight: Robert’s Journey of Service and Joy at GiGi’s Playhouse Houston
At GiGi’s Playhouse Houston, we are proud to be a place where passion meets purpose—and few exemplify that better than our volunteer Robert. Robert is a retired educator who dedicated over 40 years to teaching and school leadership—eight as a teacher and twenty-five as a principal. Even in retirement, his...
Spotlight on Sean: Spreading Kindness and Inclusion
At GiGi’s Playhouse Houston, we are proud to celebrate individuals who make a difference in their communities. One of those incredible individuals is Sean, an adult participant at GiGi’s Playhouse Houston who is proving that employment means independence, purpose, and the opportunity to help others. Sean thrives in his roles...
Participant Spotlight: Bode’s Journey of Learning and Growth
At GiGi’s Playhouse Houston, we are honored to celebrate the incredible individuals who make our community so special. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Bode, a determined and inspiring young adult who is embracing every opportunity for learning, growth, and independence. A Passion for Learning Bode joined GiGi’s Playhouse Houston...
The Sams Family’s Journey to Houston: Finding the Perfect Community for Declan and Liam
For the Sams family, home has always been about more than just a place—it’s about connection, opportunity, and support. Before settling in Galveston, they lived in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where most of their extended family still resides. However, after their son Declan was born in May 2022 with Down syndrome, they...
A Journey to Independence: Gwen’s Story
A Journey to Independence: Gwen’s Story Gwen Friedman has been a familiar face in our community for many years. Our dedicated volunteer, Bert, has known Gwen for a long time, as have many of our adult participants. I, too, have had the pleasure of knowing Gwen personally—I lived nearby and...
Alyssa and Teddy
Working with Teddy over the past semester has been an incredible experience. Teddy is so sweet and genuine, and his silly antics make me laugh every class. When I first signed up to tutor, I thought it would just be a fun experience to help a GiGi’s Playhouse participant with...
Participant Spotlight: Veronica and Kamila
Finding your community can be a journey. You want to find the people who have shared your experiences or who can offer guidance and support. Veronica was on that journey with Kamila when I met her. People say things happen for a reason, and I believe they do. I was...
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH — PROVIDING THE RUNWAY FOR ACCEPTANCE! We’ve all been there before — we walk into a room, and for whatever reason, it feels like all eyes are on us. For most of us, this is a fleeting feeling, but for individuals with Down syndrome, this is...